Outrageous shipping. Rant

[jaydee325]

I try to order everything via Amazon Prime as I dislike hidden profit centers as a customer.

Some businesses justify shipping as a profit center by building labor cost of packaging and profit on the same into the cost of shipping. Those prices should be built into the cost of the part.

Gets worse: back in the 90s my distributors could do blind drop shipping from their warehouse to my clients with my company's name, address, and logo on the shipping labels. But tractor dealers apparently order their parts into their shop, then repackage and send back out, charging shipping. Or, when they do blind drop shipping from distribution to you, the dealer pads the shipping costs according to what the dealer wants to make in profit.

I use Prime too, but as I said before it is "Buyer Beware". I've often found goods listed under Prime at a higher price than another vendor showing free shipping. In those cases, I order off Prime. Sure, in most cases it is not the 2 day shipping that Prime offers, but sometimes the savings going off Prime is worth the extra few days wait.

 

[kevinj]

When I had my business USPS would pick up the flat rate boxes at the shop free of charge - no need to send somebody with it. Their service was every bit as good as what UPS was.

Call yer postmaster. If you have a proper prepaid label on it the carrier has to take it.

My work carrier was not taking boxes till I made a call.......

 

[Gator6x4]

I usually move on to another vendor or purchase locally when I see shipping cost is listed as "Shippng and Handling". Some places must hire some very expensive "Handlers".

 

[LD1]

I did get a $10 credit back on shipping after speaking with them this morning even though I said I was not interested in a refund. I was more interested in 1. WHY it cost so much (next day, 2-day gaurentee, or something other than standard). and 2. If this is standard practice of theirs to not use the most cost effective shipping methods? and 3. If it is standard not to confirm shipping/totals prior to charging the card.

They couldnt give an answer to why it cost so much, "he would have to get with shipping dept" but did verify that there was nothing special, no next day or 2-day etc.

He said they typically use only fed-ex. And that $10 is about the cheapest for any "package" no matter how small. (If it was only $10, even though it is higher than a USPS small box, I probably would NOT have even started this thread)

And according to him, no it is not standard practice to no confirm a total or ask a customer how they want it shipped. (If I was asked, I would have said as cheap as possible since I wont be re-assembling the head til the work is done at the machine shop....~3 weeks?)

so still not sure how they came up with $18.31 to ship. I went on fed-ex website and punched in their package dimensions of 6"x6"x4" and 1 lb from their zip to mine with pickup, and while not as cheap as a small USPS flat rate box, it was still a fair bit cheaper @ $10, which goes along with what he said. So the extra $$ to get the shipping to $18.31 is a mystery.

I am not saying I will never order stuff from here again, but it will be only after I have exhausted all other resources. And you bet I will be confirming shipping.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I understand your frustration. The one's that say shipping & handling charges. How much is shipping and how much is handling. Might as well say we're selling this for $4 but it'll cost you $10 to package it and $6 for shipping with a total of $20 + tax.

Since we're probably not talking about McMaster Carr I order from them and never even think about the shipping because it's only shipping I'm paying for and somehow their rates are lower than most. Had to order a fire extinguisher and it cost $25 hazard fee + shipping + the cost of extinguisher. Lesson learned.

I feel better now thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

True ... but you gotta watch when ordering that no parts are noted as coming from a different warehouse. That incurs a separate shipping cost; and it can be exorbitant. I had one small part out of a ~$130 order that was sent from a different warehouse. It was a 1/2ounce $2 item and came in a small padded envelope. The shipping charge was $10.85 -- The main part of the order was significantly bigger and heavier and cost $11.11 to ship in a box. ... McCarr said the ~$10 charge was correct :confused2: , but were willing to refund it.
larry

 

[JRobyn]

I really appreciate that some retailers (Harbor Freight) have flat rate shipping no matter what is ordered ($6.99 IIRC). At least then if you just need one small item, you can add a few more to justify the shipping and come out good. After all, it would take the same mileage on the vehicle to GO to HF and get just one small item or many.

I'm NOT Amazon Prime, but frequently order multiple items to qualify for free shipping, which is great. DID YOU KNOW, that if you need to return an item to Amazon and then re-order just that single item, a quick call to their customer service will usually get the shipping for the single replacement item waived?

- Jay

 

[LD1]

I can say that I am not an amazon member and have never ordered from them. Just cannot see the benefit.

No matter what I am looking for, I can always find it cheaper elsewhere. Usually on ebay which I do already have an account for. Lots of vendors sell at both places, and offer free shipping at both. By brother uses amazon alot, but for whatever reason, the things that I am always ordering, are never cheaper on amazon. Not saying they are more expensive, usually around the same price. So I just dont see the need to sign up and be a member if it aint gonna save me anything.

 

[4570Man]

Sometimes I can find something cheaper than Amazon, but never enough to make up for my free shipping from Amazon.

 

[Ford850]

A few months ago I found a replacement LED trailer marker light I needed on O'Reilly's site. I called the closest store, and it was out of stock but he said he could have it delivered from their warehouse in a couple days. So I said "sure, call me when it's in". Couple days later he calls and I go in to pick it up. I think it was about a $8 light. He says the total comes to $28. After I laughed, he said there was a special order fee, plus a shipping fee. I balked, and he eventually dropped the fees since he never told me there were charges.

 

[LD1]

Sometimes I can find something cheaper than Amazon, but never enough to make up for my free shipping from Amazon.

Wow, thats quite the opposite from me. I order all sorts of things, but mostly tractor stuff or tool/garage related stuff. Never have I found anything cheaper on amazon.

Question: do you get free shipping even if seller lists a shipping price?

 

[4570Man]

Wow, thats quite the opposite from me. I order all sorts of things, but mostly tractor stuff or tool/garage related stuff. Never have I found anything cheaper on amazon. Question: do you get free shipping even if seller lists a shipping price?

I'm usually not ordering tractor parts, so thats probably the difference. I have Amazon prime. Some 3rd party sellers don't accept Amazon prime. The best of both worlds is finding a 3rd party seller that does accept Amazon prime. That way I don't have to pay sells tax.

 

[k0ua]

Question: do you get free shipping even if seller lists a shipping price?

if you are a prime member, you need to look for the prime label. This is your 2 day free shipping indicator. There are some things that also ship free without being prime. We used to just do the $35 order gets free shipping thing, but then signed up for prime, because we order so much stuff from Amazon that it pays for itself. Beside the $35 thing causes you to hunt around for something you may or may not need to get to that price so you can get free shipping.. Lots simpler to just sign up for prime and in your searches check the prime box to see what you can find that qualifies for prime.. Sometimes things are a bit higher on prime than you can find elsewhere or non prime, but if you figure in shipping it usually works out. Plus you have the right of easy return with amazon..
I know I sound like a broken record in praising Amazon, but they just make things so darn easy..

 

[DFB]

My purchase today on Amazon included free shipping and no $35 minimum either.

I find new cordless power tools (at least the ones I want ) to often be higher on Amazon but have managed some really good tool buys but again takes time too search things out.

 

[LD1]

Here are just some recent examples:

Part # 309825 (old ford adapter to convert to spin on filter)....Amazon's best....$39.34 delivered, I ordered on ebay for $38.95 delivered
Wilton WMH11104 bench vise....Amazon prime $47.99....ebay $47.99 free shipping
Frigidaire valve 241734301 .....amazon $32.95.......ebay $32.75
Liftmaster 3900lm door opener....amazon ~$300.....ebay $239
Kawasaki oil seal for ATV 92049-1228......amazon $16.73 .......ebay $7.77

These are just a few going back through my ebay history. But I would say I only use ebay 40-50% of the time. Other times are direct from websites and not a 3rd party place like ebay/amazon

 

[DJ54]

On the other hand, 7-8 years ago, I was looking for an in-line diode, to keep the VR on one of the older tractors from drawing down the battery. Found it, pictured... Bad thing, it was in the UK. For giggles, checked the shipping, and it was $5+ change to ship 4. Checked price to ship 6, and it was the same price. Ordered 6, and was shipped Air Mail, and got them within a week. Go figure...

 

[Oaktree]

I can say that I am not an amazon member and have never ordered from them. Just cannot see the benefit.
....
So I just dont see the need to sign up and be a member if it aint gonna save me anything.

You don't have to "be a member" to use Amazon...it's not like Sam's Club or something.

We used to just do the $35 order gets free shipping thing, but then signed up for prime, because we order so much stuff from Amazon that it pays for itself. Beside the $35 thing causes you to hunt around for something you may or may not need to get to that price so you can get free shipping.. Lots simpler to just sign up for prime and in your searches check the prime box to see what you can find that qualifies for prime.

I don't bother with Prime...I really don't order enough stuff from them over the course of a year to make it worthwhile. Most of the time what I want/need qualifies for free shipping anyway. It's not like I need something yesterday most of the time. If what I need is under $35 I'll just hold off until I need something else.

I doubt very much I'd use their streaming service enough to justify the cost either.

 

[LD1]

You don't have to "be a member" to use Amazon...it's not like Sam's Club or something.

I am aware of that. but they are never the lowest price, item for item. So I never order, regardless of membership or not. Everyone else is talking about prime etc. Dont know nothing about it, but even the prices I see with free shipping, I can beat elsewhere

 

[Oldpath05]

What's the cost to join Amazon Prime, because I for one am not genetically engineered to pay$$$$$$ too save$$.
I buy a few thing's on Amazon and look up everything there, then I go over to ebay and 90% of the time the things I get are $5-25.00 cheaper, then IF what I get is junk, I get half or all my money back. I wonder if Amazon does that.............

 

[4570Man]

I think it is $80. I get my money back many times over.

 

[LD1]

What's the cost to join Amazon Prime, because I for one am not genetically engineered to pay$$$$$$ too save$$.
I buy a few thing's on Amazon and look up everything there, then I go over to ebay and 90% of the time the things I get are $5-25.00 cheaper, then IF what I get is junk, I get half or all my money back. I wonder if Amazon does that.............

that has been my experience also. Ebay typically cheaper or worst case...same price.