Shipping & Handling

I know that I must not be the only one that is irritated by Shipping and Handling charges but being one of many does not deter my irritation or frustration.

Why am I irritated?

Let us address shipping charges. If we are talking shipping charges that are calculated based upon the actual charges for shipping the product to me, I am more-or-less amenable to it, albeit reluctantly. When it is based upon the cost of the product or the total order cost, I do not have any patience at all. The reason I have a problem with this is because the seller knows that the product is going to be shipped and that the shipment is going to include a specific and set surcharge for shipping. Yet they are dishonest enough to pretend that the price is one thing when, in reality, it should be shown as to include the shipping costs. The only time that I do not disagree with “add on” shipping charges is if the shipping charges can be avoided with a reasonable minimum order quantity or value – an example is free shipping on orders over $35 for Amazon products. Otherwise, shipping added to the purchase price and not part of the purchase prices is misrepresentation of the price of the item.

Now as to handling. That is even more ridiculous. Admittedly, you generally see this only on sales promotions from TV and Radio advertising and, from what I can determine, is a way of paying the boiler room that is running the phone center, it is once again a way of misstating the cost of the product.

Let’s face it. Shipping and handing are add-ons to the bottom line of the price of the item that nearly hidden from the customer and are in many ways of “bait and switch” pricing in a brick and mortar store. In fact, if such add-ons were added in a brick and mortar store they would encounter legal repercussions.