patronizing advertisers

[Hakim]

I contacted the representative here on TBN and got some song and dance about how they use (UPS) ground shipping that if I would have asked they would have sent it via USPS but it would NOT BE THEIR (Messicks) FAULT if the parcel got lost in the mail....right then I decided I would never do business with them again.....
The USPS offers simple to use flat rate boxes that are easily insured (the same as UPS only much more reasonable)...

Actually it can be a huge hassle to prepare a package, take it to the post office, STAND IN LINE (up to 15-20 minutes) and fill out the various forms to get registration, delivery confirmation & insurance.

Many people may not realize how difficult it is to get the PO to pay for lost or damaged merchandise (think: almost impossible). If there is a lost package, you have to wait for SIX MONTHS after the package is "lost" before you can even file a claim with the PO. The sender (selling company) must be the one to file the claim. etc etc etc.

So most vendors insist to use FedEx ground or UPS, since you get door to door tracking, delivery confirmation, and instant pay for insured items (up to $100 insurance is included in the fee).

If your time as a buyer is worth even $15 an hour, you will be much better off paying that $15 S&H than going around to various stores looking for the item, because lately many stores do not even have standard, simple items in stock. Even WalMart is often out of batteries and similar items when I just "drop by" to pick some up.

For every $1 item that costs $12 in S&H, many items that cost several hundred may cost the same or less (software, small electronics, etc.).

Many vendors "eat" some of the costs of shipping, to make it more reasonable. As someone else just said, it kind of "balances out" over time.

Just some more "angles" to think about ...

 

[brin]

Hakim don't forget , at least I know, when I buy from Messiks I don't pay sales tax and that either offsets shipping costs or reduces it greatly and that savings plus my time, gas etc. makes it all worthwhile.

 

[TBDonnelly]

"patronizing advertisers"

Is Messick's Equipment now a paid advertiser?

Don

 

[/pine]

at least I know, when I buy from Messiks I don't pay sales tax

You don't have to pay sales tax on any purchase outside of your home state as long as the vendor is located outside of said state...

Actually it can be a huge hassle to prepare a package, take it to the post office, STAND IN LINE (up to 15-20 minutes) and fill out the various forms to get registration, delivery confirmation & insurance.

entities that are in the merchandising business have their own shipping departments...Even the average e-bay seller does not "stand in line" at the post office....USPS insurance is the same as that used by the other shippers...

I have been buying and selling merchandise online as long as there has been an "online"...I know all the ins and outs of the business...I also know when I'm being charged excessively...

 

[/pine]

Is Messick's Equipment now a paid advertiser?

if they are not, sorry my mistake...looking back now it is my second mistake regarding the subject...

 

[George2615]

You don't have to pay sales tax on any purchase outside of your home state as long as the vendor is located outside of said state...

Just a note for those in NY State. At Income Tax time NY State asks if you purchased anything out of state where you didn't pay sales tax. If so they want you to pay sales tax on the items purchased out of state.

I see it coming that eventually they will require reciprocity with other states to collect that tax or notify the state the purchaser lives in that an item was purchased out of state and how much it was so they can expect that sales tax.

Many people are internet shopping to buy out of state to avoid paying sales tax. It won't last forever. I don't know about other states income tax but I imagine there are a few that also require sales tax be paid on items bought out of state come tax time.

 

[MikePA]

You don't have to pay sales tax on any purchase outside of your home state as long as the vendor is located outside of said state...

entities that are in the merchandising business have their own shipping departments...Even the average e-bay seller does not "stand in line" at the post office....USPS insurance is the same as that used by the other shippers...

I have been buying and selling merchandise online as long as there has been an "online"...I know all the ins and outs of the business...I also know when I'm being charged excessively...

Perhaps this is what you meant, but the vendor can't have any presence within the state where the purchaser is. If they have a store in the purchaser's state, even if you buy online from their HQ in Texas, you pay the sales tax.

I have no idea whether Messicks has a shipping department, wouldn't surprise me if their parts department handled everything. Everything I've bought from Messicks has arrived via UPS and since a round trip to them is 40 miles, the shipping cost is always cheaper although I've never had an order of just 6 oil seals. Regardless of how they ship, there's a minimum amount of labor to fulfill even the smallest order and get it ready for shipping. As I mentioned before, the charge is for Shipping and Handling. If you feel you're being overcharged, don't buy from them. Not sure why you felt it warranted starting a thread. Hopefully, you'll update us if you find another retailer with lower shipping charges.

if they are not, sorry my mistake...looking back now it is my second mistake regarding the subject...

Messicks is not an approved advertiser.

 

[Hakim]

entities that are in the merchandising business have their own shipping departments...Even the average e-bay seller does not "stand in line" at the post office....USPS insurance is the same as that used by the other shippers...

Yes there are differences between small companies ("Messicks" would qualify in this discussion) and a large mail order form with a full time shipping & fulfillment staff.

While there have been some very positive improvements in the USPS, small individual mailers still have many problems complying with all of the various postal regulations. Some who sell on eBay are "power sellers" with tens of thousands of sales per year, and thus would have a fulfillment center handle all their mailing needs.

We have a body care company and ship dozens of packages most days. Many of the packages -- due to their small size and weight -- ship easily with prepared postage, and are just dropped off in the bulk receiving containers at the rear of most post offices.

Still, almost every day there are one or more packages that require an employee of ours to make some direct interaction with a postal clerk. The wait can be more than 30 minutes, especially at holiday times.

I understand your aggravation, but I also certainly do understand that handling special requests on small ticket items eats away any profit on such a small sale. I do not believe it is simply a matter of gouging.

I stand in line at the PO almost every day to pick up packages, special delivery, inbound foreign orders, etc. I can tell you that EVERY day I see several eBay sellers standing ON LINE with up to 20, 30 or more packages, waiting to process their orders.

"USPS insurance is the same as that used by the other shippers..." Not sure what you mean by this, or what the relevance is.

I am sure some vendors try to squeeze a bit of extra "profit" by boosting fees on shipping. But generally speaking, as one who sends and receives thousands of packages a year, I have found such vendors to be the exception, not the rule. In fact, many vendors -- such as Zappos (free shipping both ways), and Amazon, with options for "super saver" or free freight) have S&H fees that are reasonable for the service provided.

 

[/pine]

If there is a lost package, you have to wait for SIX MONTHS after the package is "lost" before you can even file a claim with the PO. The sender (selling company) must be the one to file the claim. etc etc etc.

Like I said...the insurance that UPS uses is no different than the postal service uses...I do not have to wait 6 mos. to file a claim...
I can also get tracking and delivery confirmation from the postal service...

If you feel you're being overcharged, don't buy from them. Not sure why you felt it warranted starting a thread.

I already stated I will not be doing business with them again...the reason I started the thread...I had read nothing but positive things about them in many different threads here as well as knowing a represenative is among the members...I was so dissappointed and my sentiments became the exact opposite of what I had read...I thought I would relate my experience...

 

[Muhammad]

Yeah, no worries about starting the thread---that's why the forum exists---to talk about tractors and related topics.