Amazon.com questions

[TxDoc]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00004TQEF/ref=dp_olp_2/104-3271651-9802350

1-Why the wide discrepancy in prices?

2-There seems to be a convoluted shipping charge system. Is that where you lose money?

I may be better just checking Ebay for what I am looking for?

Thanks

 

[dxdexter]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00004TQEF/ref=dp_olp_2/104-3271651-9802350

1-Why the wide discrepancy in prices?

2-There seems to be a convoluted shipping charge system. Is that where you lose money?

I may be better just checking Ebay for what I am looking for?

Thanks

I regularly purchase items from Amazon Canada and have on occasion used the US site. I pay nothing for shipping from the Canadian site if the order exceeds $39 and I have found the US site to be very reasonable as well especially on international shipping. I have nothing but great results and reasonable prices from amazon.
I should note that we can't buy tools on our site just books, DVD's and CD's.

 

[Danglerb]

As a matter of course I like to check, ebay, pricegrabber.com (or one like it), and amazon, just to make sure nothing special is going on. Using the part number with google.com is good too. Some places are better than others at showing the total shipped charges.

Shipping is often a deal killer, many places are MUCH worse than Amazon, and have large hard to find handling charges.

Amazon manages the web store for many small vendors, who set their own shipping rates and do their own shipping. Many small bookstores work this way with amazon, and its also possible to offer Amazon items on your own website and receive a commission on items people buy.

 

[Fast Orange]

As far as I'm concerned,I wouldn't buy anything from Amazon,no matter the price or circumstances.The occasions that I've made the mistake of ordering from them,they have done some form of bait and switch,or they have failed to deliver what was ordered without the whole process being an ordeal.
The last time I tried to buy from them,I purchased a M&D Smartool electronic level/angle finder module that was to include a 4' frame at no charge.Amazon's price was a bit higher for the frame and level than other vendors module only price,but the cheapest for both pieces.The module arrived as promised,but the frame was backordered.Every week for about the next 6 months,I recieved an e-mail that had to be replied to to keep the backorder from being cancelled.The frame was available for purchase on the website the whole time-with promised shipment in 2 working days.I had computer problems and was 3 days late answering thier e-mail 1 time and the ordered frame was cancelled.An exchange of e-mails with customer service proved fruitless.My last contact with them contained a concise set of instructions of what they could do with the frame when and if it became available again.

George

 

[M3Pilot]

I've bought a few things from them,tools,books,CDs,& such.Never any problems.

 

[Danglerb]

Amazon.com is great, has almost everything, often has the absolute lowest price, and I can order with a single click.

 

[wythors]

I have probably made close to 100 purchases from Amazon over the last several years and have never had one problem with them. I've bought everything from CD's to screwdrivers and have been 100% satisfied. I've had to return something once and they made it quick, easy and painless. I wouldn't hesitate to buy anything from them.

 

[-lecroix-]

Nothing but positives from me concerning Amazon.com ... I have purchased a TON of high-end camera equipment and have always been pleased with price, shipping costs and quality of item.

NEVER had them try to "bait & switch" me ... YMMV

 

[hiavia]

Excellent oufit, even if you buy form a private seller and do not recieve the item or it is damaged amazon will refund you. Highly recommended!

 

[ColdDuckTime]

Amazon.com is great, has almost everything, often has the absolute lowest price, and I can order with a single click.

That's my take, too. They've also been good on the few returns I've had.

One thing I try to do is use that amazon price watcher site to notify me if a price drops. If you order something, and it goes down at a later date (up to a certain point, dunno what the limit is) they'll refund the difference with a single email to them.

Another advantage to using them is that they have so much stuff, that you can avoid spreading your credit card number across the web at different online stores.

 

[timgr]

I've been very happy with Amazon - I buy lots of books (compared to most people) and they are fast and cheap. The "Prime" service will ship anything 2nd-day for no cost, but of course you have to pay a flat fee when you sign up.

Amazon stocks lots of stuff, but it's sometimes frustrating that some of the things I want aren't really sold by Amazon and don't qualify for "Prime" service. For what is available, and if you know what you want and don't need to see it, on average I get things faster and cheaper through Amazon than if I had to hit the streets and shop for them.

 

[timgr]

Regarding the negative comments by Fast Orange above, if you buy something that is not in stock, they will ship it to you when they have stock. I have bought one item, a snow brush / ice scraper, at a price of something like $2 (shipping included on Prime!), but it was not in stock. Later the price went up to $12-15 or such, but still not in stock. They sent me an email every few months asking if I still wanted the item. I kept answering yes (at that price I could afford to wait, and winter isn't here yet), and eventually it showed up at the price I bought it for.

I don't think this is bait-and-switch - I knew they had no stock when I bought the item, and waited for them to replenish their stock. It's tru that they offered me a chance to bail out of the purchase every few months, but the overhead of going to their site and clicking once to keep my order alive did not seem excessive.

 

[russlaferrera]

I made 2 buys from Amazon sellers in 2 days. Both were canceled, by them.

 

[TxDoc]

Sorry for my slow reply, but I appreciate the replies and help. Sometimes you see something new and it seems good, but you just don't know. I was like this about Ebay at first.

Thanks again.