"Gerald Ross" wrote in message
...
Have you noticed that most of the woodworking supply companies have
quietly changed over to shipping charges being based on how much you pay
for rather than how much it weighs. This used to be a hallmark of bottom
feeders such as JC Whitney and Harbor Freight.

I first really noticed it when I ordered a couple of small gifts for my
grandson from Lee Valley. Shipping was $11.50. The order weighed 14 oz
including packaging.

I live out in the hinterland and everything comes by FedEx or UPS. Even
the nearest Lowe's is 40 miles away. This really hurts.
--
Gerald Ross
Cochran, GA

This subject comes up at least once or twice a year. At times, the charges
seem high, but the basic cost is fixed, no matter the value and no matter
the weight. Thee is a cost to process the order and do the paperwork. Then
the rest starts to happen. You need a carton, you need an order picker, you
need labor and packing material to get it all together, then there are the
actual UPS or whatever carrier charges. The $10 shipping really get
annoying when you need a $2 knob for the toaster. With tools and supplies,
it is an incentive to make a larger order.

The cost can vary considerably from one business to another. Amazon, for
instance, offers free shipping on $25+ orders. They are highly automated.
My company will not accept an order less that $300 and we ship freight
collect. We are not set up to handle small stuff.