Interested in everyones views around paying for shipping and meeting a certain dollar threshold to qualify for free shipping.
Personally, I hate paying for shipping. I know it costs the business money to ship items out to us, but I simply try my best to avoid it! It's hard enough trying to find an item within a price range you are happy to pay, only to see that increase by $10-15 for shipping costs.
Keen to get people's views on what they do.
I will pay for shipping if the overall cost is less than the cost of getting the item at a brick and mortar store.
The exemption to this is if I need the item asap and I don't have time to go to a brick and mortar store.
Sellers may now do listings without free shipping, as in the case of buyer mistake return, they do not have to refund that shipping cost.
It is just the total cost that should be considered, regardless if the price is quoted as 'free shipping' or if quoted as $xx + $xx shipping.
Yeah, I wish product manufacturing was free as well.
Free shipping just means that the seller has loaded their selling price with their posting costs already so I just look for the total cost of receiving the item and ignore what it consists of.
Do you think that sellers offering free shipping haven't already added shipping to their product costs? Probably due to it being hidden, they've added a markup to it as well for a little extra profit.
The companies who offer free shipping aren't charities. It's a psychological tactic to get you, and you got got.
Do you think that sellers offering free shipping haven't already added shipping to their product costs?
Not necessarily. Free shipping after a value threshold can be offered in the hope that a minimum purchase makes the whole transaction more profitable even though the final margin is slimmer, similar to a quantity break discount. Also it generally helps move stock, which, depending on the items, may be more valuable to the seller than the costs of shipping.
It's a psychological tactic to get you…
That part is certainly true.
It depends on what I am buying.
Are you asking if we prefer if the shipping costs were absorbed into the prices, or separate?
Otherwise you are just requesting something should be free, but that doesn't work in the real world.
Lowest final price.
This is OzB.
Free shipping whenever possible.
Sure it may be built into the price, but heck how would I know? I already compare extensively so I know if the items are a good buy. Even better if I can avoid shipping!
I know it costs the business money to ship items out to us, but I simply try my best to avoid it! It's hard enough trying to find an item within a price range you are happy to pay
So many things wrong with this sentence.
So you know there is no such thing as 'free' shipping, and the business is paying money to ship your item.
You don't like paying for shipping as a add on, but yet you can't find the item for the price you want that includes 'free' shipping included? Hmmm
That $10 item you want, is never going to be found with free shipping when it costs $8 to ship it.
Those that have spend $80 get free shipping, have a fudge factor in each item to cover the shipping costs.
Its simple maths really item cost + profit + shipping cost = sale/order price.
Let me clarify
I KNOW it costs money to ship an item out. However there are ways to get around it (look at the list I provided above). What I was hoping to get out of this (and quite frankly, I have - with the exception of this useless comment) - is do other people just pay the shipping, or do people pay the extra $$$ knowing they have the luxury of not having to leave their house.
I got my answer from other comments, yours not so much.
Mate your post is just full of entitlement dribble. cry you a river as you have to pay extra for shipping or cry you a river because the price is more then others but has free shipping.
I KNOW it costs money to ship an item out.
Then what the heck do you want from the seller? Shipping isn't free.
is do other people just pay the shipping, or do people pay the extra $$$ knowing they have the luxury of not having to leave their house.
You do know at the end of the day this is the same thing? Again there is no magic free shipping.
yours not so much.
Well one cell organisms struggle with real world concepts, its all SIMPLE math at the end of the day
$10 for item + $8 shipping is the same as paying $18 including free shipping or paying $12 per item with free shipping for orders over $80.
HAHAHA thanks for all the negs OP, your nice little entitled neg rant just proves my point.
Shop around and go with the cheapest ( including shipping).
I was looking at getting a backpack last year. It was advertised as #Australian-made and #leather on the 'gram for $150, which seemed like a great deal at the time. Found it selling at 2 online stores for the same price but at one you had to spend $75+ to get free shipping, at the other you had to spend $200+ to qualify. I dug a little and found that they were the same company , trading under different names.
And then I dug some more and discovered that while the bags were designed in Australia , they were actually made in China, and the 'leather' was in fact 'PU'. There are some dodgy, dodgy sellers out there.
Shop around and go with the cheapest ( including shipping).
OP struggles to come to terms with paying for shipping even if its cheaper in the long run it would appear.
He bought this helmet, which was $19.98 + shipping. He even posted it as a deal and received 62 upvotes. Was he expecting more votes and blaming the shipping fee for it? Is that the real issue?
Don't be disappointed Op. 62 is an honourable number of votes. The time to go into self-reflection is when you start getting negged.
Was he expecting more votes and blaming the shipping fee for it? Is that the real issue?
you could be right! As I can't really gasp at what the OPs issue really is either.
case by case basis.
Depends if bulk buying so shipping fee is shared by many items works out reasonable
I think the main answer is the simplest. Total price compared to other sites/shops is my sole criterion. I still do as much click and collect as possible. My other concern is the sometimes huge quantities of packaging, often unnecessary (eg to protect 4 tins of tennis balls). However, I try to avoid any sites that won't give you the slightest hint as to what the shipping charges might be until you get to check out - often, after you have to provide them with all your contact/address details.
Take it on a case by case basis…? If the item + shipping is cheaper than the item elsewhere, then you cop the shipping.