Is it me, or are shipping costs getting out of hand? I just ordered a few lightweight items from Ecklers (air cleaner ducts, carb fuel line, filters) - about $100 worth of parts - and shipping was $22.00! I hate to pay 20% just to ship a few small parts. I understand fuel prices, etc., but it seems excessive...and I chose the cheapest option!

It is hard to complain since getting parts is so easy, but I had to rant anyway...

 

Sure shipping is getting expensive. But I look at it like this. How much would it cost me to drive there myself and pick up the parts? If it's more expensive than their shipping I say I have no beef. I may not like the prices but if I need the part then it's the cheapest way to get it to me.

 

Unless i need something urgently, i wait until there are free shipping specials - like this weekend - Zip and Corvette America have free shipping, or % off merchandise this weekend.

 

It isn't the shipping cost that they are getting you with it is the handling fee that is their little hidden money maker.

I just had the same issue with a $2.50 part. I think shipping was around $10. I even talked to them because I figured that it was a computer thing that just set the price without knowing that it was going to cost less than $1 to mail it. The response was that they are in line with the other distributors and that they had to pay an employee to pull the item, package it, the cost of the packaging,etc and that I should wait to order until I needed more things to help cut my costs.

Frankly, I think this is a bunch of BS. I don't go to O'Reilly's and get told the price is going to be $5 but now I will also need to pay a fee to compensate them for unloading the box of parts off of the delivery truck and an employee for opening the box and another to stock the shelves and another to walk to the shelf and remove the item for me, etc.

Let's face the facts, they already charge more for parts than just driving down to the local auto parts for an alternator, brakes or whatever. The cost of the overhead has already been figured into the prices that they charge, just like it is at your local shops. My response to them was that I wouldn't wait until I needed more parts because I needed this one now (found it locally for pennies) and when I need more parts I definitely will not be back. There are some venders that charge more realistic shipping/ handling fees. I will use them.

If the part had been $7 or $8 and they charged me $2-3 to ship it I would have paid and been ok with it. I just don't like the business practice so I am stubborn and refuse to do business with them. I'm waiting for them to start charging a fee to log into their sites online and look at their products.

There my rant is over!

 

No, Ecklers shipping is rediculous! I ship small items all over the country and know what it costs as most of us do. Ecklers is profiting from shipping. I ordered 3 items that all together weighed a few ounces and it was $15 to ship!!! As long as we keep paying they will keep charging. As long as its cheaper than paying local sales tax I justify paying it. I would rather they charged more for the parts I ordered and shipped it for free, It would cost me the same but I would feel better about it and probably order more often.

 

I ordered rear bumper letters for a C5 and they charge $15 dollars to ship it. Yes it is a rip off but what can you do about it? I did find one site that shipped for $10.

 

I never buy anything unless there is a discount coupon AND free shipping. There hasn't been one in a few months though. If I need something small or it's an emergency I go on ebay, a lot of the sellers there have the same stuff and offer free shipping

 

http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/shippingrates/

Shipping is based on price not weight. It will even out when you order something inexpensive but bulky and/or heavy.

 

I had a couple of conversations with vendors about this when I needed a really inexpensive part that should be $1-$2 to ship and they were such frustrating conversations. I try to wait until I need a few things so I don't get ripped off too bad.

 

I've found Corvette Central not too bad. Buying off eBay seems to result in cheaper shipping for me. Bear in mind that I'm in New Zealand. No tipping. Maybe that's why I resent handling charges?

 

Note to vendors... the USPS will ship anything that will fit in one of their Flat Rate boxes to any address in the US starting at $5.35, less if it will survive the trip in an envelope. Supplies (boxes etc.) are FREE, you can do the entire transaction online and they will even pick the things up at your site. How about lessening the blow a bit and offering realistic freight with no extra charges... that's what your mark up is supposed to cover. I am not in the employ of the USPS, but I do use them whenever I can because they are still the best deal in town if the item fits one of their boxes/envelopes.

 

 

They aren't going to give up that extra money. As long as people pay it why should they? I wonder when they send me the wrong part and I have to return it if they are going to pay MY handling charges?

 

Why not just charge more for the item? Shipping based on price? I charge what I need to, to make a profit, then charge actual shipping. I choose not to make a profit (that everyone knows is being made when you overcharge) on shipping, it just leaves a bad taste in the customers mouth.

 

I sell parts for construction equipment at a major brand dealer with 22 locations in the South. I have worked in three different parts departments in the trade during the last 20 years and no owner I have worked for adds a handling charge to their freight bills to the customer. That service is part of "CODB"... the Cost Of Doing Business. We do charge inbound freight on special orders for customers, but our goal is only to recover that expense, not turn it into a profit center. There are so many options for vendors in our hobby that I cannot see anyone needing to b!tch about freight, backorders or attitude trouble from anyone in this field. Shop around and spend your $ where the vendor appreciates your business enough to make the experience as pleasant and inexpensive as possible.

 

It's kind of like the airlines. They can't raise their prices or people stop flying so they add on fees to get the money without you thinking about it or at least make it harder to comparison shop.

Most of the big venders are too overpriced right now. They have to find another way to take your money without you paying attention. For instance a well known vender vs a local parts store :

vender part store
Alternator $90 $50

Starter $120-180 $45

power
steering
pump $130 $50


People used to do it on ebay like crazy to avoid ebay's fees. They'd sell some item for $5 and charge $50 for shipping and handling. People would just look at the first price over the competition and ****** it without thinking someone would actually try to rip you off on the handling fee

 

I stopped doing business with Ecklers years ago over their shipping policy/cost. Since I'm the one paying to have my order shipped, it should be my choice of shippers. I requested UPS because their driver delivered my goods where I requested. Ecklers said its FedEx or nothing. I chose nothing.

Then there's the vendors who have an easy to use web page and good prices, but no actual product on their shelves ready to ship. So they process your credit card within minutes but it takes weeks to get what you ordered...from a third party. And if there's a problem, they just point you at the third party to correct it. It only took one order to know not to ever do business again.

Lately I have been buying from Zip Products or Willcox. But the latter quite often drop ships from their supplier, Corvette America. And even though Willcox's invoice states a UPS delivery, Corvette America uses FedEx. Perhaps unintentional, but I get screwed nevertheless.

Of all the Vette parts vendors I have used over the decades, the best service has come from Zip Products. I usually never question a shipping/handling charge knowing that most base their cost on selling price not actual shipping weight/distance. But I did email Zip once questioning what I thought was an egregious shipping charge. I got an apology, about $26 price correction, and an explanation why it happened, all within one day.

 

I've had the exact same problem. Ive called a couple different vendors back about $12 shipping for a $3 lightweight part. Same answer.

I understand that I have no business making an order for just a $3 part, and I am going to get dinged on handling. That business isnt making anything on selling me a $3 part and paying someone to put it in an envelope. I try to wait until I have multiple items but if I need something in a hurry, it's part of doing business.

What I do mind is when they put something heavy (bolts?) into a cheap envelope or cardboard sleeve and it FALLS OUT before it gets to me!

I'm also wary of making an order of multiple parts and they send them in seperate mailings, increasing the shipping costs.



The only problem with this concept is that if they do not charge you sales tax, you owe full sales taxes to the State of Colorado (look it up under "use tax") and people that think they won't get caught often get ugly bills with penalty and interest.

 

subscribe to the email newsletters of all of the Corvette parts/Accessories companies/websites and you will get a coupon code for free shipping I'm sure each week. Zip Corvette Parts is running free shipping all this weekend through midnight TONIGHT!

 

At least all you guys can get parts delivery a lot of times for free. Try putting one of these cars together when you have to deal with ever changing exchange rates ( that quite frankly we get screwed over in when it comes to PayPal), never mind customs and duty fees. That $29.95 master cylinder you see for sale in NY state costs $129.00 by the time the powers that be get done with you.....and the sad part is....it's a part that was made in my own country!!!