Outrageous shipping. Rant

[PHPaul]

I'm a HUGE fan of Amazon Prime. $100/yr for "free" two-day shipping on all Prime-eligible items. I order something at least a couple of times a month, lately a couple of times a week.

Between the shipping, the free video library (TV and movies, plus Amazon original series...I never watch TV any more), and the Kindle library (I read a lot too) it's a no-brainer.

And I've NEVER seen anything to beat Amazon customer service.

Example 1: I ordered some "fold your own" cardboard storage boxes for keeping parts in while I rebuild motorcycles and such. Flat pack of 50. First 10 I tried to put together, the die cut was wrong and the tabs that lock into the slots were missing.

Called Amazon, they said "Well, that's just wrong. Keep them or trash them, your choice, we'll refund the full purchase price."

Example 2: I ordered a mess of my favorite T shirts (Hanes Beefy T with pockets) that I couldn't find locally. 4 of each in three different colors. When I changed colors, I neglected to see that the size stayed the same and wound up ordering two colors in the wrong size. Entirely my fault.

Contacted Amazon, they ate the return shipping and refunded the entire purchase price in the form of a gift card from which I reordered in the correct size.

I'll be their customer for the foreseeable future...

 

[DFB]

I took the 1 month prime free trial offer on my own account just before the recent holidays. 2 day delivery was really great. I did cancel it before the first billing though so I wouldn't be charged. But if you order from Amazon on fairly regular basis I think it's worthwhile and cost less than $2.00 a week. Really good option for a business. And if your anything like my boss when he decides he needs something and he tells me to get it (I have authority to make purchases charged to the business) I'm like supposed to show up the next day with it!

I think I will sign him up.

 

[4570Man]

I have had to deal with Amazon customer service a few times, and they are excellent. Unless they are drastically higher I'm going to buy from them. I got a free pressure washer with a Honda motor because of the excellent Amazon customer service.

 

[grayw0lf1]

I hate paying stupid shipping. Yesterday I ordere two small parts, about 2 lbs from a place only 2.5hrs drive from here. $18.

I was about to place an order with Messick's for 2 small bushings & 2 small differential washers... Over $21 in shipping. If I added a bearing (weighing 0.6lbs), it went down to $18. I prefer to order online, but with high shipping, its cheaper to go to the local dealer if I don't have a rather large order.

 

[CurlyDave]

With ebay, they used to not charge their ebay percentage on shipping, so sellers would sell a $80 part that cost $20 to ship for $20 and charge $80 for shipping. That way they only pay ebay fees on the $20 instead $80. Ebay got wise. They charge on the total order now. Plus they have a nice way to sort. Sort for cheapest + shipping. that kinda levels things out...

The other reason for doing this is that the cost of the item is refundable if you are not satisfied. shipping costs are not refundable...

 

[LD1]

The other reason for doing this is that the cost of the item is refundable if you are not satisfied. shipping costs are not refundable...

Good point, and I never though of that

 

[ultrarunner]

I try to use my own FedEx or UPS account and it often saves quite a bit on larger orders.

My brother had an order arrive a few weeks ago and the shipper added a home delivery charge...

He has a farm and with business permit and farm hours... eventually he was able to get it waived...

They said he is in a residential zone... his reply is there is nothing he can do about folks building around his farm...

 

[PILOON]

Well I experienced an EBay first recently.

Purchased a strobe tube based on brand, description and especially the image.

The image did not match the contents nor the part number. (contents switched by party unknown)
Returning for a credit would have cost me shipping X2= a total loss.

Without and pressure by me the vendor issued a total credit and instructed me to simply trash the tube!

 

[LD1]

I can say I have never had any eBay issues. So never had to return anything.

Regardless of vendor, or eBay, amazon, etc. If I order something and its an error on their part, mis-advertized, etc. I'd expect a full refund and them to pay shipping both ways.

If I goofed up and ordered the wrong thing, or change my mind, I expect to pay shipping both ways. No fair for them to pay for my mistake and vice versa

 

[banjodunn]

G'day a view from the other side is that all shipping out of the US to Aus is expensive recently I had to get a drive plate for a MF 6270 none in Aus and from memory $1600 odd looked aroun on the internet and could buy out of US for about $600 cheaper ( even with the rotten exchange rate ) BUT shipping was around $250 and 2-3 weeks, ended up getting one out of England for about the same price as US ( I think it was $20 dearer) and shipping was $70 ordered on thurs afternoon it landed on my parts counter the following tues morn.


Jon