Misleading Amazon price cuts on tools

blueman · 2005-09-15T20:21:21+00:00

I almost got fooled on this, so I wanted to share this with others :)Amazon is heavily promoting the message: "Lowest Prices of the Season -- Prices dropped on thousands of items in the Tools store" Actually, this is misleading if not deceptive given that in truth thetotal cost to the consumer on many tools has actually increasedsubstantially.While Amazon has indeed dropped the "price" on some tools by anaverage of about 3-10%, it is has more than made up for it by:1. Eliminating free shipping over $25 on many items (including some that I saw with shipping charges of $49.99)2. Expiry of the earlier $25 off $200 and $50 off $250 promo codes (in fact to add insult to injury, the $50 off $250 code that was supposed to end 10/3/05, was cut short to end 9/12/05For example, previously, the Bosche 3915 SCMS was $347 with freeshipping and $50 off for a total price of $297. It now is priced at$304 (which seems like a substantial price drop) until you read thatshipping is now $49, for a total cost to the consumer of $353! or atotal price INCREASE of 22%Now, I know that shipping costs have increased, but just be honestabout it and don't talk about price cuts when you are reallyincreasing total price to the consumer.Not saying this is illegal, just misleading anddeceptive...

Sep 15, 2005 42 Replies

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maradcliff 20 years ago

Amazon.com is a company I would not go near with someone elses wallet, unless I hated the person !!!!

I even set a web filter in my HOSTS file to block them because too many sites link to them.

Just my opinion....

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Art Greenberg 20 years ago

Well, at least one item I just checked (Performax 16/32) is suddenly NOT eligible for Prime. It was before its price increased. I wonder what other products are no longer eligible for free shipping of any sort.

I joined Prime when it was first offered. At the time, I thought it made sense for me, given my purchase history and the stuff I was thinking about buying. It has certainly paid for itself by now (I've bought a lot of books, and some cookware, and taken good advantage of the free 2-day shipping), so if I can't use it for the rest of the year, I won't be terribly upset. But I won't renew my membership if the power tools on my wish list remain ineligible.

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fredfighter 20 years ago

I dunno about UPS but when I was in Copper Center, Alaska in

1993 I was told USPS express mail was only delivered twice a month. Regular (priority) mail was delivered once per week.

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