topic Re: There is no such thing as ""free shipping and handling."" in Community Chat

There is no such thing as "free shipping and handling."

LilacTree — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 15:37:55 GMT

It is just added to the price by all vendors selling anything online or on TV.

I'd rather see the price and S&H separately. At least then I know what I am paying for the S&H and can decide if I want to buy it or not.

My purchases at QVC have declined by 80% or more since the start of these new policies. I do not trust them anymore.

If I absolutely love something I will sometimes buy it, while fully realizing I am buying an overpriced item. That doesn't happen often.

[I decided to post this after seeing several posts this morning wondering why QVC can't be like Amazon and offer "free shipping and handling."]

Re: There is no such thing as ""free shipping and handling.""

Krimpette — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 15:43:52 GMT

That may well be. However, when you still see a price so much lower elsewhere, it doesn't bother me if that lower price includes S/H.

Re: There is no such thing as ""free shipping and handling.""

scotttie — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 15:55:26 GMT

I like having the s&h included in the price. Otherwise at first glance I think I am getting a good price and then I add in the shipping and tax and find that ""no"" I don't need it after all!

Re: There is no such thing as ""free shipping and handling.""

Chalcedony — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 16:03:37 GMT

I believe that all buying decisions should consider total cost, including shipping and handling. It's my total cash outlay that, for me, determines whether an item is overpriced. To me, under-pricing an item, then gouging for shipping is much more egregious than pricing and item and its associated shipping fairly.

Re: There is no such thing as ""free shipping and handling.""

LilacTree — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 16:05:32 GMT

On 4/4/2015 scotttie said:
I like having the s&h included in the price. Otherwise at first glance I think I am getting a good price and then I add in the shipping and tax and find that "no" I don't need it after all!

Exactly. Remember, standard S&H was about $7 for a long time. So they simply added $10 to the price of everything and then added another $3 for S&H, a $13 profit. They are making out big time and encouraging us to return stuff incessantly, because they don't have to refund the full price of what we paid.

Re: There is no such thing as ""free shipping and handling.""

Qwackertoo — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 16:10:11 GMT

Comparison shopping pays well. Time well spent.

Although I have found mattresses, carpet and seems like something else where the mfgs. make it more difficult to comparison shop on purpose. Too many special names for the same thing. Specials for various stores.

Re: There is no such thing as ""free shipping and handling.""

ShowMe — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 16:18:15 GMT

Prices have increased quite a bit on the Q, and we all know why. It is so stupid on their part to think we don't know what they are doing. Oh my, I have cut way way back on ordering anything from them. Have a feeling a lot of folks will be doing this. Their lousy return policy is a big turn off as far as I'm concerned. So, if I am ordering something, am pretty darn sure I won't be returning.

By the way, not too crazy about their new home page system now. Where is the little place where we can return to home page.....?????

Re: There is no such thing as ""free shipping and handling.""

Marp2 — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 16:37:56 GMT

There is no such thing as ""free shipping and handling"" on Amazon either. The closest one can get to true free shipping and handling is using ship to store where offered.

Re: There is no such thing as ""free shipping and handling.""

hckynut — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 16:45:24 GMT

Hi Ford 1224, I do not arbitrarily buy any product, like it or do not likemit. I research everything I purchase, along with price comparisons. When I can buy the exact same item from another online vendor, with a much cheaper price/no S&H and no sales tax? Amazon can sell for a lower price, nothing added because S&H is free, it is because of their volume(volumn). Some of the things I purchase weigh many pounds, not ounces, and the S&H is not cheap, so my savings are increased. I could go into "markup" on manufacturing costs, maybe next time.

Re: There is no such thing as ""free shipping and handling.""

Tyak — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 16:48:53 GMT

Sometime, yes there is free S&H. I have ordered shoes from zappos dot com many times and the prices are exactly the same as in stores with absolutely no S&H. They also have free S&H when returning items.

Re: There is no such thing as ""free shipping and handling.""

LilacTree — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 16:51:53 GMT

On 4/4/2015 hckynut said: Hi Ford 1224, I do not arbitrarily buy any product, like it or do not likemit. I research everything I purchase, along with price comparisons. When I can buy the exact same item from another online vendor, with a much cheaper price/no S&H and no sales tax? Amazon can sell for a lower price, nothing added because S&H is free, it is because of their volume(volumn). Some of the things I purchase weigh many pounds, not ounces, and the S&H is not cheap, so my savings are increased. I could go into "markup" on manufacturing costs, maybe next time.

Ha ha, OK John. I doubt very much we buy the same products!

Re: There is no such thing as ""free shipping and handling.""

sunshine45 — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 16:55:52 GMT

On 4/4/2015 ShowMe said:
Prices have increased quite a bit on the Q, and we all know why. It is so stupid on their part to think we don't know what they are doing. Oh my, I have cut way way back on ordering anything from them. Have a feeling a lot of folks will be doing this. Their lousy return policy is a big turn off as far as I'm concerned. So, if I am ordering something, am pretty darn sure I won't be returning.

By the way, not too crazy about their new home page system now. Where is the little place where we can return to home page.....?????

just click on the large Q in the upper left hand corner.

Re: There is no such thing as ""free shipping and handling.""

chickenbutt — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 17:02:25 GMT

I'm a 'bottom line' person so either way it's the same. 'Free' or 'included' shipping just gives me my 'out the door' price without having to add it up myself. My brain doesn't work as well anymore, so it's a plus to have it all in one number for me. heh

I think it goes without saying that nothing is free. Everything is included somewhere. But as long as you look at the price out the door and decide if that is the price for you, you're in good shape.

Re: There is no such thing as ""free shipping and handling.""

Kalli — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 17:20:31 GMT

On 4/4/2015 chickenbutt said:
I'm a 'bottom line' person so either way it's the same. 'Free' or 'included' shipping just gives me my 'out the door' price without having to add it up myself. My brain doesn't work as well anymore, so it's a plus to have it all in one number for me. heh

I think it goes without saying that nothing is free. Everything is included somewhere. But as long as you look at the price out the door and decide if that is the price for you, you're in good shape.

I agree.

But must admit, I'm not much of a shopper so I like to figure it out quickly. If it becomes a long process to calculate the total price and compare totals, then figure gas $ to store and time taken that I could be doing something else, I'm not interested and will often talk myself out of buying the item.

Re: There is no such thing as ""free shipping and handling.""

Qwackertoo — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 17:21:39 GMT

On 4/4/2015 hckynut said: Hi Ford 1224, I do not arbitrarily buy any product, like it or do not likemit. I research everything I purchase, along with price comparisons. When I can buy the exact same item from another online vendor, with a much cheaper price/no S&H and no sales tax? Amazon can sell for a lower price, nothing added because S&H is free, it is because of their volume(volumn). Some of the things I purchase weigh many pounds, not ounces, and the S&H is not cheap, so my savings are increased. I could go into "markup" on manufacturing costs, maybe next time.

Yep. I've bought my last 3-4 bags of Blue Wilderness Dog food from Amazon. Free shipping. And while I'm sure it isn't *free* . . . it beats the heck out of driving 40 miles round trip to town, paying right close to 25.00 MORE vs. having it delivered in two days to my front door. 22 pounds I do believe. Never a problem on freshness and old expired bags either.

I buy lots of other HEAVY items and when I can buy it online, shipped to my front door for less, sometimes a lot less, sometimes maybe just a little less . . . the convenience factor sure helps too!

Re: There is no such thing as ""free shipping and handling.""

chickenbutt — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 17:31:05 GMT

Qwacker - same here with the dog food. I get my Wellness food at Amazon with free shipping. I get it on A/D, so I save even more and pay between around $34 and $41 per time. When we bought it at the PetSmart store it was $59.99. Same exact 30# bag of Wellness.

I guess it just illustrates that all 'free shipping' is not equal. I have never gone bonkers when I hear 'free shipping' but I look at the price and compare it to other prices. Whichever bottom line price, for the exact same thing, is best is the one I choose. (assuming it's a reputable retailer of course)

Re: There is no such thing as ""free shipping and handling.""

Lacey1 — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 18:02:38 GMT

On 4/4/2015 chickenbutt said:
Qwacker - same here with the dog food. I get my Wellness food at Amazon with free shipping. I get it on A/D, so I save even more and pay between around $34 and $41 per time. When we bought it at the PetSmart store it was $59.99. Same exact 30# bag of Wellness.

I guess it just illustrates that all 'free shipping' is not equal. I have never gone bonkers when I hear 'free shipping' but I look at the price and compare it to other prices. Whichever bottom line price, for the exact same thing, is best is the one I choose. (assuming it's a reputable retailer of course)

Hmmmmm. I was wondering about getting my dog food from Amazon. I buy the big bags at WalMart and it's tough to lug them around. I was worried they might send a torn/damaged bag, but if you folks aren't having problems-I might try it.

Re: There is no such thing as ""free shipping and handling.""

chickenbutt — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 18:11:59 GMT

On 4/4/2015 lacey1 said:
On 4/4/2015 chickenbutt said:
Qwacker - same here with the dog food. I get my Wellness food at Amazon with free shipping. I get it on A/D, so I save even more and pay between around $34 and $41 per time. When we bought it at the PetSmart store it was $59.99. Same exact 30# bag of Wellness.

I guess it just illustrates that all 'free shipping' is not equal. I have never gone bonkers when I hear 'free shipping' but I look at the price and compare it to other prices. Whichever bottom line price, for the exact same thing, is best is the one I choose. (assuming it's a reputable retailer of course)

Hmmmmm. I was wondering about getting my dog food from Amazon. I buy the big bags at WalMart and it's tough to lug them around. I was worried they might send a torn/damaged bag, but if you folks aren't having problems-I might try it.

It's totally worth it, not only for the price but for the convenience. If you get auto-deliveries from Amazon you additionally save up to 15% on each item. But even at the regular Amazon price it's less than PetSmart.

What I do, because I can't lift, is that I have a sign I put out on the front door for the UPS guy to please ring the bell & wait for me. (they are so nice) I put a half-folded moving blanket in my entryway and he sets the box atop that. Then I just pull the blanket through the house to my kitchen. Works great. But they will offer to take it wherever you want, in your house.

Sideline - (she says in her best Chandler Bing voice) - Could this website BE any slower??

Re: There is no such thing as ""free shipping and handling.""

Blahblahvampemer — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 18:20:00 GMT

In a way, my Amazon Prime membership is a joke. I don't care about the downloads, but maybe I should start watching...anyway...I probably place about 20-25 orders a year, and I'm definitely paying for that shipping when you look at it from a per-use basis.

Re: There is no such thing as ""free shipping and handling.""

Irshgrl31201 — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 18:24:45 GMT

I used to get quite a bit from QVC between jewelry, kitchen gadgets and beauty and I haven't gotten anything in a long time. QVC is simply not competitive at all but more importantly, they don't have the stuff that I want anymore. I have never bought any clothing from them as I have never seen anything I liked. I used to like the Arte de Oro jewelry from them and they don't have anything like they used to anymore with that either and I also like Taxco and the Silver Style on Sundays but it is nothing like it used to be. Not much of theirs appeals to me at all and if it does, I can almost always find it cheaper with cheaper or free shipping now too.