[Towertalk] Buying nuts and bolts - Rationalized gouging

[Robert Shohet]

Hi Tom,

> The out-the-door cost to ship an empty "free" box, when we did a cost
> analysis at Ameritron in the 80's, was over $4 in direct overhead
> cost not including postage or shipping fees.
>
> I'm amazed we complain about any vendor trying to cover those costs,
> and just break even.

Several reasons we complain:

1) The price of the item is always advertised prominently but the "handling"
charge IS NOT!
If the merchant was as proud of their handling charge as they were of their
product and price, they would ADVERTISE the handling charge just as
prominently.

The excuse that "My competitiors don't do it so I don't want to be at a
compeititve disadvantage" is a lame rationalization for the non-disclosure.

The truth is that people that charge handling charges generally don't want
it known until the order is placed because they KNOW that few people will
cancel their orders at that point.  Even better (for the vendor) is when the
salesperson never discloses the actual handling charges and simply lumps it
together with shipping on the bill and the first time that the unwary
purchaser sees it is they get their charge card statement - at which point
they are not going to go through the expense and hassle of returning it!

Yes, the purchaser SHOULD ask for the amount of the handling charge, but
more importantly, they shouldn't have to ask for it, it should be disclosed
and advertised prominently in advance.

2) The customer service in many companies absolutely stinks from order
processing to shipping to billing, etc!  So now we the customer are being
hit with a "surcharge" for inefficiency, lousy attitude and non-disclosure
on the part of the company and its employees.  This would make almost anyone
angry.

I would much rather face exorbitant part prices (which we already face) -
which ARE obvious up front and make a decision on that basis, rather than
play this guessing game of handling charge non-disclosure, which, to me, is
dishonest and sleazy.  Even if it were disclosed, IMO, a separate handling
chanrge is still gouging - but we don't need to revisit that thread.

As far as overhead goes, every business has it.  It's part of the cost of
doing business.

73

Bob KQ2M

> As for the price of parts? Anyone who sells anything to the
> government is not allowed to sell the part for less to anyone else,
> as was pointed out by others.
>
> I can buy an equivalent part from Motorola NOT sold to the military
> for about $15 less than a similar part that is sold to the military.
> 73, Tom W8JI
> W8JI@contesting.com
>
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