The knobs/locks were rusted into place on my awning. I started shopping for new ones. I found them! The knob replacements are about $8.00 a set. The shipping for the 5oz items costd about 14.00 to 18.00 to ship. What kind of rip off is this? I'm so tired of people ripping of others. I've noticed this on most suppliers of "hobbies". They think if you can afford a hobby like camping, golfing, Jeeping, then you have money to burn. I don't play that game. I even went to one site and put the knobs in the shopping cart, and up came a "small order charge of 7.00! So they feel that if you don't order a large dollar amount, then they will charge you as if you had. Well, needless to say, I won't be using them for a small order not a large order! I don't always need a big order, but if you want my big business, then you better take my little order without penalizing me. Anyway, I didn't order from anyone on line.I went to Lowe's, got some knobs that look just like the ones you would order as Carefree replacements, bought some "elevator bolts", and fabbed my own set for under 7.00. Now, my awning is as good as new and I didn't even have to pay up to 25.00 for two little stinking knobs.Ok, off my soap box!Moved to Tech Issues forum from DIY.

The knobs on mine have standard 1/4-20 nuts, so I bought replacements knobs at a good hardware store for about $2 a set

Tee hee. Just be glad you don't do any on-line shopping where they have to ship it to Canada from the USA and charge $50 to send it to you. Meanwhile I can order a $30 solar controller on-line from Hong Kong and it is free shipping, no customs or postal charge right to my door! Why is that? Why can't you do the same thing from the USA? So much for the Can/US Free Trade Agreement!!! :( To answer the question though, I suppose they have to pay somebody to wrap the parcel the same whether it is a big or small parcel.

n7bsn wrote:The knobs on mine have standard 1/4-20 nuts, so I bought replacements knobs at a good hardware store for about $2 a set Me, too.We're lucky enough to have a Truevalue that still maintains whole rows with banks of drawers that contain all kinds of hardware. Even still uses the "write down the price" honor system for paying.We never buy specialized hardware of any kind without checking that section first, and nine times out of ten they have what we're looking for.

I ran into the same thing one time when I was trying to order some tiny flat plastic parts that cost about $4. So I called them and asked if I really had to pay that much shipping and the lady says "Oh no, of curse not". She just dropped them in an envelope and shipped them to me. So if you find a good price you may want to just call them.

I once worked for a mail-order, phone-in computer parts and supplies company. If you said the name you'd probably recognize it. They've been in business now for quite a long time. Their distribution center is in Wilmington, Ohio, literally across and down the road from Airborne Express. They took advantage of Airborne's overnight delivery service, so could take orders as last as 3:00 am and have it delivered by 10:00 am same day. Now they got a rate deal with Airborne for shipping, but back (then) it was still based upon the weight of the package.Now the cost of packing and shipping involves more than just postage. The company I worked at had a warehouse with metal shelves running perpendicular to a rolling conveyer and several people worked their areas. They were called "pickers" from the farming industry, like "apple pickers", only they picked items off the shelves in their specified zones.As the order when down the line, each "picker" would put the items into a tub with the order until it reached the end of the line.At the end of the line, there was about 10 people that did the actual packaging. They had to assemble and tape the box of the right size, check the items off the packing list to double check the items "picked" were correct against the order, pack it, seal it, and then label it.From there it went down a smaller line to be weighed, each one individually, and entered (scanned by bar code) for a report that went to Airborne for charges for the total day.Boxes were then placed in an airline "C" container, and transported to the Airborne terminals where millions of other packages were resorted, placed in different C containers, and loaded on an airplane destined for parts all over the country.So you know, there's more than just "postage" involved when you place an order over the internet, or do a call in order over the phone. There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes that very few people really understand. All that technology, supplies, labor costs, and warehouse costs cost a lot of money, so YOU have the convenience of having it shipped directly to your door.Some time later, I quit that job (I worked on the printers printing those invoices) and worked for a bank. One Christmas season I moonlighted at Airborne as temp help, and ended up learning how VERY complex a system they have to ship so many packages so fast all over the world, literately in less than 24 hours!So, $7.00 for an order is pretty phenomenal considering all the complexity to get that order to your home so YOU don't have to drive a thousand miles to pick it up yourself.

Can't believe some of the rip off suppliers! | Good Sam Community

38 Replies

monkey44
Nomad II
Mar 19, 2014
Chiming in here late - but, we find a lot of things are unavailable local - and so, online makes sense - Hmmmm, sometimes.

Unless you have to send it back, because it isn't exactly what you order - and if it's price, once you pay shipping, it's usually pretty close anyway.

It's more about convenience - you can shop from home. You don't have fuel, parking, traffic, hassles etc. For us, it's not so much about savings as it is about finding it and getting it delivered without all the shopping hassles, multiple stores etc.
Roundtwo-40
Explorer
Mar 19, 2014
Amazon is only free shipping over $35 IF it is fulfilled by Amazon,(be sure to check) if you are getting it from one of their other vendors all bets are off and you normally have to pay for shipping and handling.. When I order I wait till I have enough stuff to get over the $35 and rarely order from their other vendors for that reason.
camperforlife
Explorer
Mar 18, 2014
Some online retailers do like to gouge buyers but reading the comments here most people really have no idea about shipping costs. Yes USPS do have some pretty competitive rates but I rarely use them. Why? #1, my shipping insurance policy doesn't cover mail. #2 if there isn't good tracking or a signature you can't prove it was delivered and there are plenty of people who are happy to take the first one and insist they never got it so you will send a second one. I deal with Drs. and had this happen enough time that I require adult signatures. #3 there is a lot of expense to shipping beyond the shippers fee. Go out and buy a box and bubble wrap and see what that sets you back.

Anytime you can get a 2lb package shipped to you for $10 or less you got a deal.
mikestock
Explorer
Mar 17, 2014
I agree with MEXICOWANDERER. The internet is often a much easier place to locate what you need. For instance, try to find vacuum cleaner bags for a 35 year old Electrolux vacuum cleaner or even a replacement watch band for a Casio G5600. And then there was the automatic transfer switch for my fifth wheel. I shopped every RV dealer and electric supply warehouse in the area. Online I found several choices for the exact transfer switch I needed. I couldn't come within $100 locally for the DSLR camera I bought, new, online. Sometime the internet just makes more sense.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Mar 17, 2014
"Awright dood I think we can handle that - aw waydda minute I was thinking of somethin else; follow me (1/4 mile). It's NOT? Whycha tell me better?"

-Shopping 2014
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Mar 17, 2014
Too true. At my age spending some time researching an item online is easier than walking around a store trying to find the darn thing, and then finding a clerk to check me out, or being told "No, we don't have it, but we can order it for you".
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Mar 17, 2014
It is true, it is also AVAILABLE online. Try to find a 12 hour timer in Lowe's or Home Despot. Four to one shrink tubing, Four diopter reading glasses, TO220 6 volt regulators, garden seeds that freakin' SPROUT.

At $3.75 gallon for gasoline "shopping" isn't fun any more. Or smart.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Mar 17, 2014
It is only a "rip-off" IF YOU pay it.

I may be just old, but I buy most everything at a store.

I know, I know; "It is so much cheaper on line."

I don't find that true when you add in the shipping and handling. Which is exactly what everyone is complaining about in this thread.

If you want to buy on line, go for it.

I just don't have the patience or maybe even the life left in me, to research each item to death, before purchasing.

Carry on.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Mar 17, 2014
That's exactly what I've found: Amazon may not have the best price even when the free shipping is factored in. I usually shop around and have found quite a few places that are cheaper than Amazon even if you have to pay for shipping, and a lot of places that are cheaper also have free shipping.

I don't pay for shipping unless there is no other way to get what I need, and that includes Amazon Prime. And from what I've read they are increasing the number of items that won't ship free even with Amazon Prime.
mikestock
Explorer
Mar 17, 2014
Just shipped a 10 lb package from PA to LA FedEx HOME (ground service) and that cost nearly $14..

I too have found that it is very expensive to for personal shipping but most companies that ship a lot of goods only pay a fraction of what you or I will pay.

As for Amazon Prime: I am a member, as well, but when comparing identical products on Amazon you can often chose another supplier, pay shipping and still beat the Amazon Prime price. Besides that, if you spend $35 it's still free shipping. You just don't get the 2 day delivery.
I see that the renewal rate for Prime is going up from $79 to $99 next year. I'll probably pass.