Shopping Information

Is It a Good Deal? What can make a Web purchase a good value ? We've heard it all - Best price on the net! This price for a limited time! Reduced price! - on and on... One of the key factors in determining if a WEB purchase is a value, is the shipping and handling charges. When you purchase from a brick and mortar store the transportation fee to the store, and stocking fee is included in the price. Yes, retailers do charge for shipping and handling but you just don't see it because it's included in the price of the item. This is a cost of doing business with the retailer thus it's passed on to the consumer.

With Internet shopping it's more obvious. Generally, there is a quoted price for the item and then at check-out time, the shipping and handling fee is quoted. Some sites will let you know ahead of time what their s&h fees are, especially if they are having a special that waves or reduces the fee.

A charge for getting the product to you is a legitimate fee. You buy a product from a site in San Francisco, CA with it's distribution centre located in the same city. You live in Columbus, Ohio and want the product delivered there. There is a cost in preparing and making that delivery. Whether the cost is included in the price or as an add on, we the consumer, will generally pay for it.

If you add the price of the item and the cost of the shipping and handling you get the "true" price you are paying. We are not going to get into the "tax" area here. This is for another article.

Beware of how the shipping and handling fee is being charged.

Example: A friend of the family was in the market for ladies gloves for Christmas presents last year. She had found a site that seemed to have a great value on the item she was interested in. She had decided to place the order. When she got to the check-out portion of the order she found that they wanted to charge her a $3.00 s&h fee on "each" pair of gloves.

Adding the $3.00 to each pair turned this "good value" into a no purchase. If the s&h fee had been a reasonable price for the entire order then our friend would have placed the order.

The figures:

Item: Ladies Gloves

Quantity: 10

            S&H Per Item                 S&H Bulk Charge

         (each)      (total)            (each)      (total)

Cost:     $11.95      $119.50            $11.95      $119.50

S&H:      $ 3.00      $ 30.00            $ 7.00      $   7.00

Total:    $14.95      $149.50            $14.95      $126.50

With the bulk s&h there is a $23.00 savings or 15% reduction in price.

The WEB is a great place to shop ! Now days you can find almost anything that you desire. You get the convenience of in home shopping , delivery to your door, and some super deals. But no mater where or how you shop you should always keep in mind the motto - Consumer Beware! Simply apply common sense and all should go well for you.

By Mr Mum