> > I don't think there is a low that requires that. The is of 
> course the
> > law of demand and supply...
> 
> Is it? Why is s/h something that is dictate my supply and demand?

In some sense. But what I meant was: there is no law that requires any
amount for S/H, neither an upper nor a lower limit. There is only the
laws of the free market that will weed out the suppliers that do bad
things. That is: "bad things" as far as customers identify those by
voting with their money.

> > the 's' might have been a third, but who are you to know 
> and decide what
> > the 'h' part of their fee should be?
> 
> Simple, competitors and personal experience in the industry.

> I know roughly how much s/h SHOULD cost, both based on my own 
> experience
> deriving those costs, and from what competitors charge for the same
> services. 

But they might using a different calculation scheme, and anyway: every
supplier is free to set his prices, including the price for shipping and
(especially?) handling. If someone asks me to ship FedEx I should (and
maybe will add) ~ $100 on top of the FedEx fee, because I must drive to
their office, fill in a load of papers, etc. If I could predict that I
was at home that full day I could let the FedEx driver pick the parcel
up at my place, but I can't be sure of that. So in my case that extra $
100 is reasonable. But if I already had to drive to FedEx, or if I could
arrange pickup, it would be much less reasonbale. How would you know?

I recall Olin's laments about sending a package to 'the rest of the
world'. For me that's easy: I have to go to the post office anyway, and
there I just drop the package in the big bag. Again: how can you know
which special circumstances apply?

> I guess it boils down to dishonesty, in my book, if you're 
> going to call a fee s/h, that's ALL it should be covering.

Agreed, but the 'h' is the tricky part. Although me driving to FedEx
could reasonably be included in the 's'.

I totally agree that
- a quoted s/h fee (or any other price) should be honoured
- it would be wise (but not required!) to let an on-line customer
determine the total amount (including s/h) online

But I definitely disagree with you about a known s/h (or any other
price!) being a 'rip off', except maybe in a monopoly situation.

Wouter van Ooijen

-- -------------------------------------------
Van Ooijen Technische Informatica: www.voti.nl
consultancy, development, PICmicro products
docent Hogeschool van Utrecht: www.voti.nl/hvu
 

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