Why Doesn't Amazon Figure Shipping-Costs into Their Displayed Prices?
@mythociate (21432)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
November 8, 2012 8:10am CST
A book I especially like (so much that I mention its sales-page as my "website") was listed as more-expensive from Amazon than -from other places, but the possibly-free shipping actually made it less-expensive than the other places, as the other places' shipping was probably higher.
Really--naturally listing their offer first (either because it's their offer or because the default listing-order is 'by expense of product + shipping')--the best deal (the Amazon deal) gets listed as if shipping were figured-in.
But why must shipping be such an unpredictable variable that you can't just automatically combine it with the product-price?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@sjvenden27 (1840)
• United States
8 Nov 12
The variables change with each product; the weight, how far the package needs to be ship, and the type of shiping; regular, overnight, or 2 day delivery... The items for sale are not all in the same location.. Someone I know pays a flat rate for shipping to amazon every year... I am not sure of the cost; but if you regularly buy from amazon it may be something worth looking into..
1 person likes this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
8 Nov 12
It's like Me as a visitor to the US asking why the shelf price of an Item I pick up gets bumped up by variable sales and state taxes at the checkout..it depends where you're buying the item..That's what shopping around is good for..if ordering online,get the best delivered price,not the cheapest before shipping is added..at least you can go through the shopping cart options to find out what it will actually cost you,then quit the transaction if you have a better quote available elsewhere..
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
8 Nov 12
It would be unfair. SInce you live in OKC, if I send you a package from Norman it's only a few dollars. But to send it to New York or somewhere would cost a lot more. And to send it outside the US would be even more!However, they do have super saving something or other...where they offer free shipping on a lot of items that are above a certain price. I will order two things to avoid shipping because I figure I just as well get more than shipping for the money!
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
8 Nov 12
We Okies are smart shoppers ... coupons are only the beginning!