Shipping is just another way to get more of your money

 

Just bought 2 door plugs from GM dealer 3 days ago. $2.98 plus tax each. Also bought 3 sun visor clips for $2 ea.

 

I made a mistake in the shiping price, it is $15.94 and I bought the two 'Hood to fender' seals and a foam air cowl cabin filter. But both items could fit into a single large envelope, but I know it's going to come is some sort of ridiculous big box with a lot of foam peanuts ? The seals two piece were $44.95 and the cowl filter was $10.95

 

Your absolutely correct Mr.Bill, I respect and agree with your point of view, from now on I just won't buy anything for the Vette unless I can find it locally. But two strips of rubbber and one piece of foam shouldn't cost 15.94 and the weight is less than 16oz.

 

at my employeer... minimum shipping & handling is now $9.95 to a business address... $10.95 to a home address; even if you only bought a one dollar item. And we now collect sales tax on out-of-state sales. I really yelled when being told to start doing that... but the Social'leros are tax hungry and the local offices are starting to levy fines on businesses that don't.

By the time you calculate the additional costs of the box, packaging materials, labor... it's break even. And I imagine it will be raised again by the end of the year.

The only way to avoid the S&H charges would be to buy the item locally - directly from our counter.

As much as I dislike Ecklers... their S&H fees aren't all that out-of-line.

 

Another example of why sites like Amazon, Newegg.com and Buy.com have become so successful. The handling portion of the cost should correspond to how much effort that particular product is exacting on your employees, but like someone else said the total cost of the product to the customer (not shipping & handling) should factor in overhead & profit. Shipping and handling should have a profit margin as well, but not an exorbitant amount

 

I think airlines are going to start charging for carry on bags

 

Hi There;
I try to buy most of my items at corvette shows or guys I know. If I can't then I have to do business & pay the S&H.
robsc501

 

I haven't bought anything from ECKLER'S since they bought out CLASSIC CHEVY INTERNATIONAL (CCI, tri five chevy parts supplier) years ago. Their customer service has never been well regarded by most enthusiasts.

But people complain when they buy from their local supplier/dealership and have to pay tax. People complain when they buy online and have to pay for S&H.

It's a similar issue as GMPARTSDIRECT. And here's another S&H rant thread...

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...charges-2.html

Start your own company, hire employees, pay for insurance, pay for health care, pay for overhead, deal with shipping companies, make your own parts or buy from outside vendors (with their own issues).

Report back on how your business is doing...

 

I recently bought some boat trailer parts, came to about $30 and was charged $18 for shipping and the parts were small metal pieces. I emailed asking if those shipping charges were accurate and they offered to refund me $8 and only charge me $10.

Sometimes it is worth it to ask though it is another step that most don't/should not have to take.

The cost of shipping is going up along with the price of gas and everything else.

 

And if they put it in an envelope and charged you $1.50 for shipping, and that envelope got torn in transit and one of the seals was damaged, you'd be on here bitching how they STUPIDLY put your seals in a simple envelope.

It's not just a profit game, they have to ensure that you receive the item in the same condition it was sent out in. If not, guess who eats the costs?

Damn, I get tired of the Corvette Tax whining Sure some items are overpriced because they're for Vettes, but usually it's a simple cost of doing business expense that the consumer never thinks about.



OK, I'm done now.

 

I realize there's the chance of damage. But were talking about two rubber seals that are about three feet long, and a custom cut piece of foam, The two hood to fender seals cost $44.95, last year in their catalog the same part cost $39.95. So right of the bat there's a five dollar increase. So they cost $44.95 and the custom cut foam air filter cost $10.95. So there's $55.90, Surely there is a significant profit margin in two strips of rubber and one piece of pretty standard foam.

But $15.94 in S/H is pretty much overkill. The U.S. Post office offers a single cost for whatever something will fit in that box. I'm sure you have all seen the commericals on network televison.

And maybe I wrong here, but I have been buying a lot of Corvette parts over the last twenty years, but it has been costing more and more with each year. And not a 2% or 5% or 10%, but rather every year it jumps by 20 or 30%. I don't begrudge anyone a profit, but lets look at the order of two 3 foot strips of rubber for $45.00 and a single piece of foam rubber for $11.00, Surely there is a good profit margin before we get to putting them into a $1.00 box & some foam peanuts, seal it and ship it to me. OK, But I'm just saying I've had it.

How many of you guys own boats? What's it cost to fuel up your boat at the marina? The gas costs a lot more than if you pulled up to your loace gas station. Why ? Simple, they know you have no other place to buy gasoline. OK, that's Capitalism. If you don't like it, sell the boat.

OK, I've had it and I'm not going to pay this overpriced operation anymore. That's how a free market and capitalism works. For all you guys who don't see my point of view, I respect your right to do that. I'm just saying I'm not happy with the current situation, and I'm not going to do it anymore. Thank you to all of you who see what I'm saying and I hope all of you are satisfied with the costs today, but maybe some day you'll see my point.

 

When buying mail order ANYTHING, the price comparison has to include the shipping and handling. There might be a dollar difference in the listed price, but when you add in shipping and handling the dollar the cheapest item may change.
As always ... BUYER BEWARE!

 

For the most part I think shipping and handling is over priced. Like someone else said....a small item comes in a box 10 times bigger than it needs to be....and another thing....esp Mid America....I don't need 10 of your glossy catalogs a year.....give me one catalog a year and use the saved money to lower your prices...................just sayin

 

For most, anymore......

 

I think we both make valid points.

I was in a foul mood while typing in my diatribe and jumped down your throat more than was necessary, and for that I apologize.

 

It would be nice if more businesses used the flat rate USPS boxes instead of UPS/FEDEX. Maybe they don't because of the automatic insurance ($100) that UPS/FEDEX offers?

 

i hate to be contrary, but isn't that what profit is supposed to cover??? to me a "handling" fee is nothing more than an additional profit being added to the purchase. i believe justifying "add ons" just adds to the problem.

 

A lot of people think that way; but are mis-informed. At our business we do a lot of mail order and have a lot of walk-in counter business. It costs us more in the manpower alone to ship an item - versus - handing it to a customer on the other side of the counter.

So what to do???
Add the handling/boxing/supplies costs to the mailorder pricing (pre UPS shipping charges) ... or price the item the same to all, but add a handling fee to those wanting items shipped (instead of local pickup)?