In a message dated 7/4/2005 5:51:42 PM Central Daylight Time, haxixe@gmail.com writes: I'd agree insofar as it seems somewhat sleazy to prominently advertise a sham price, then tack on an inflated "S&H" charge to the transaction to cover normal business expenses that would ordinarily be included in the markup , particularly for a small part that needs only to be thrown into a
small box or envelope and doesn't require a special trip to mail. That said , what difference does it really make if someone wants to call it a $4.50 widget with a $7.00 S&H charge or an $11.50 widget with "free" shipping as
long as no one is being actually mislead? It's an $11.50 widget either way,
if the price is too high don't buy it. To complain about a price after you've willingly paid it with full foreknowledge makes no sense to me whatever. On the other hand, I'd think for difficult to pack and ship items
like a complete bicycle, it would be entirely reasonable to charge $20-$25/hour for however long it takes to find and obtain a suitable box,
carefully wrap and pack the item and drive it to the shipper's and home again. That's all time one could be working on other stuff and getting paid
for it, why should that time be uncompensated as long as full disclosure is
Free market economy. He can sell it for fair market value, and if he wants to charge shipping to cover his costs that's up to him. No one is forced to buy and I haven't heard anyone say that they've attempted to negotiate price and shipping. Best thing to do is either a) suck it up and pay the price; or b) avoid the guy like the plague. Complaining about it does no good. CyclArt stands on its reputation.
Regards,
Carlo Carr
New Orleans, LA
(the latter)