High Freight Costs From Retailers

FAOL Community Sound Off
1

I LOVE to do business with mail order places, but some are just way out of line with their shipping charges.

Unfortunately, my local shops don’t often have what I need and aren’t willing to order for me, so as a result I have to buy a lot from the web. But the other day I received a package from a PA retailer, (not an FAOL sponsor I think) and I was charged 800% over cost for the shipping!

I realize many have flat rates for freight based on order amount but, they really need to reconsider that policy when they choose to ship something US mail and when you get it, you can see the cost of the postage was $.63.

Come on now, $5.95 S&H on a $4.00 item that cost you $.63 to ship. I also had another company 20 miles away send me 20 spools of thread via 1st Class Mail and charge me $10.00 freight! Even worse are the companies that charge you based on the items RETAIL value. So an item which cost you $100 and cost them $50, (or less), costs them $3.00 to ship UPS and they want to charge you $20 shipping & handling. Really, I?m not kidding, I?ve seen this from quite a few companies.

The shipping and handling game is a real cash cow for some online retailers and they way they are taxed on this additional revenue needs to be looked at. I work daily with a shipping department and know all to well the actual costs and how they affect my P&L. I don?t use it as a hidden revenue source to make up for low margins or poor management.

Caveat emptor is the old adage but keep an eye on the freight costs from these merchants and avoid the ones who don?t let you calculate freight charges before you click the ?complete purchase? button. They do that for a reason.

2

Hey Bamboozle,

I depend on mailorder for most of my
purchases as well. I agree that shipping
and handling can sometimes be outragious.
I shop for bargins, and a bargin on
shipping costs is every bit as attractive
as a reduction in price on the line item.
Free shipping promo’s always get my
attention.G Sometimes, you really have
to be creative in your orders to achieve
a reasonable balance of payments. Warm
regards, Jim

3

Let’s say you order something and the S&H on it is sort of on the high side …when it arrives it doesn’t fit so you return it…since it is not defective ,etc. should you expect to be reimbursed for the return postage…or for that matter the original S&H ?

4

ducksterman:

IMHO if the reason for the return is NOT your fault, for example: wrong item sent, item broken, etc.; you should be refunded freight & purchase price, regardless of the cost. That’s something the better retailers do like L.L. Bean & Cabela’s.

If the reason for the return is your fault, high shipping costs or not, I feel the buyer should be responsible. This is fair to both parties. That’s why it miffs me that some rod companies expect you to pay inbound freight and sometimes a handling charge on a WARRANTEE repair. It just ain’t fair when it’s THEIR fault.

5

Who do you think is at fault if you order something of a size that you think will fit but it doesn’t…I had this happen recently with a Cabela’s item…ordered the largest size they had expecting that to easily fit but it ran on the small side so I had to return it…I didn’t ask for refund of the postage coming or going but ended up out 20 bucks…maybe I should have asked…makes you not want to order some things via catalog but this was an item I’ve only seen in their catalog.
IMO they tend to run a little high on shipping anyway since they charge by the dollar amount.

6

I’ll try not to sound like a commercial, but Little River Outfitters in Townsend TN charges no shipping on mail order/web orders. Nice bunch of guys (I visited there this week) and willing to chat and help.

(JC, if this is too commercial, please delete the post)

Clint

7

Why some companies want to sour their image with the customer by charging unfairly for shipping is beyond me. When a retailer is way out of line with their s/h charge, I won’t buy from them.

But I do expect to pay more than the actual shipping rate. Afterall, there is additional expense incurred for packaging materials as well as the time to pack and send. But that doesn’t mean I want to get ripped off.

More than once I have told a mail order retailer their s/h charge was unjustifiable and I would go elsewhere.

8

Some sellers, particularly on ebay make their profit on rediculous shipping charges.
I bought a carrying case for a lap top puter for $.01 cent on ebay…the shipping charges were $17.

9

Sportsman’s Guide…
One of the worst, good prices, the shipping is outrageous

Friends don’t let friends drive gas hogs

10

FYI, these guys charge NO S&H:
[url=http://www.kingfisherflyshop.com/index.cfm:0214a]http://www.kingfisherflyshop.com/index.cfm[/url:0214a]

I’ve made a couple of purchases from them and have been very happy. 1 small item was missing in the first order. I asked them to send it along in the second order, they did so and the interaction was very pleasant. Will repeat business.

Keepeth they back cast out of the freakin’ flora.

11

And I think we’re all getting " Bamboozled" by these shipping charges. But I can’t think of anything outside of life support/sustain products for which I would pay shipping charges greater than the cost of the item ordered.

Mark

I’d rather be in Wyoming!

12

For fishing equipment get a LLBEAN charge card for free shipping.

Bill

13

There are several things to consider when using eBay and other online auctions, and shipping is one of them. eBay passes all charges to the seller. They charge for posting, they charge them a percentage of the final sale, they own PayPal so if the buyer uses them the seller is charge a percentage of the transaction. If a rod sells for $200 and paid via PayPal and mails it insured with a ground transport, the seller is out $25 for the sale. That does NOT count the $3/gal for gas to go to the post office. It’s not unreasonable to charge a bit more for S/H.

However, there are outrageous things like a float tube I wanted from a firm in the north. The tube weighs 33 lbs and S/H was $70. Ouch. UPS Ground was $12. I think I could have driven the distance for less than $70. There was also a 3.3 oz fly rod S/H that was also $70. Seemed to be popular.

I have a question, Buzz. Was that computer case worth $17.01 to you? Remember, depending on the pictures, location, etc., it cost at between .20 and $4.00 just to post on eBay, and if you paid via PayPal add .70. eBay is going to charge based on final sale, not total sale, so it’s small: 5.25% of the closing value but I don’t know what the minimum is. Assume he had spare boxes, so he didn’t have to buy one, but he did have to drive to the post office, UPS or FedEx. Post Office charged me $9 for a jar of homemade wine jelly I sent to a friend in TN. I’m guessing the soft computer case weighed about the same. From his $17.01 sale to you, his profit might be between $5-$9. Not a heck of a lot. So, if you’re happy buying a $17.01, he probably is to because he got a bit more money than a garage sale for it.

A very good place, both on eBay and if you call or email is Anglers Habitat in Caldwell, ID. When I won a rod from him, I just called and asked if I could pick it up instead of him putting it in the mail. He said sure. But his S/H is not outrageous. If you need fly supplies, rods, building material, tools, anything from Batson or Sage, usual floats, cups, plates or a mug with a rainbow pattern, or want to give a small shop in the big pond world give Wayne a call or check him out online at [url=http://www.anglershabitat.com.:89470]www.anglershabitat.com.[/url:89470]

14

I agree completly. When you want carp specific gear, unless you live near one of teh few US retailers, you better get ready to start paying. I once ordered a can of bait and the shipping cost more than the actual item!

One thing I dont get is why the charge more for highre price items. Doesnt UPS (or FEDEX) charge based on weight?

15

You’re partially right, Anthony. Check out the UPS, FedEx, and USPS sites.

The sites will tell you it’s based on weight and location. It will cost the wholesaler or retailer more to send you a 1 lb. can of bait from MO than from VT. USPS goes by primary zip codes and weight to base their charges. UPS and FedEx charge by zones. The cost of fuel, especially when areas use heating oil and gasoline like it’s water, will drive up the cost of shipping. I think you get the idea.

You also have to factor in insurance. That is the reason why higher valued items will cost more than cheaper. A retailer will not take the chance that a $100 or a $200 item ‘might’ arrive undamaged.

Also, a retailer will often use its own box. Boxes cost money. Boxes with logos cost money. Most retailers will not reuse a box. That is tacky.

It all adds up, Anthony. Businesses are there to make money. It doesn’t matter that you order a can of bait for $5 or a lure for $2. It costs about the same to ship both.

You might want to seriously contemplate getting a part-time job at a fishing/outdoor store and get employees discount. Use public transportation to cut down on fuel. Working with inventory or cleaning may not be your idea of employment, but you’d have an income for your hobby, and you should consider all the experience you’d gain.

16

I know that the businesses need money too, and thats just the way it is, but I still dont like paying shipping. Since there are a good number of hardcore carpers in my area, my tackle shop(which is like a stones throw away) may start stocking carp gear. That would mean no shipping.

17

And I say I order one of those 1000 dollar fly reels and the shipping weight is 2 pounds. Then I order a 50 pound bag of maize for bait, which would go for about 5-8 bucks. I pay more for the shipping of the reel. I know it all evens out for the business but its not good for people who order light but expensive things.

18

I always add price & shipping, which equals “final price”. Sometimes, a higher “priced” item with lower S&H is the better buy, sometimes vice versa.
price $50.00, S&H $12.00= $62.00
price $56.00, S&H free= $56.00
price $40.00, S&H $15.00= $55.00…Also, don’t rule “customer service” out. Something ALWAYS there with the FAOL sponsors. That’s also worth something. I still prefer to support my local shops whenever possible.
Mike

You can call me Mike & you can call me Mikey…Just remember that this site’s about sharing!

19

Anthony,
No one likes to pay shipping. No one likes the cost of rising postage or gas. No one likes to pay taxes. No one likes to wait in line to buy something. No one likes to study for tests when they can fish. And you know–no one likes to go to the office when they can go fishing. So, unless you get a job as a off-shore fisherman or as a priest, things like this happen.

Reread my posting on insurance. I think you missed something.

Insurance costs money. Costly items also may mean more careful wrapping. We’re not talking about a box of flies that can be folded in bubblewrap or butcher paper and put in the middle of the box.

There is no reason not to pass on the additional insurance costs to the customer.

Next time you order another $1,000 reel, think about combining your order with your 50 pounds of bait. That way, when your expensive reel comes in, you won’t be carping about the shipping price.

Sorry about the pun–couldn’t resist.

20

As stated, I completly understand that there is insurance and other costs, but this is the sounding off forum, and I am saying that I dont like paying shipping, just like everyone else posted. The root of my argument is that there arent enough stores for me nearby, so i have to order things online.

Me buying an 1000 dolar reel? hahah. I havent spent that much money in my life. My 50 dollar cheapo has served me well so far.