So you are buying a widget

[tfelice]

I don't get the chance to post here much, but I do enjoy reading the forums. I have an off-topic poll I wanted to take that would help for some business research I am doing. Thanks in advance for the answers.

So you are buying a $50.00 widget that weighs one pound would you rather pay...

 

[fredtgreco]

$45 for the widget.

Most places will not refund yuour shipping if there is a refund. So I don't want to have no opportunity to refund.

 

[Pilgrim]

Originally posted by fredtgreco
$45 for the widget.

Most places will not refund yuour shipping if there is a refund. So I don't want to have no opportunity to refund.

 

[Peter]

As a matter of principle I would never pay 49X the price of a widget (or a whatchamacallit for that matter) on shipping.

 

[Pilgrim]

Originally posted by Peter
As a matter of principle I would never pay 49X the price of a widget (or a whatchamacallit for that matter) on shipping.

This is one thing I've noticed on ebay. Often I'll see something that looks to be a good bargain only to realize the seller is charging an exhorbitant fee for shipping, sometimes close to half the price of the item itself, if not more (and sometimes twice the amount of what shipping really costs). I wouldn't be surprised if people have jumped in and bid on something, only realizing too late that they're being gouged on the shipping.

 

[tfelice]

Originally posted by Pilgrim
This is one thing I've noticed on ebay. Often I'll see something that looks to be a good bargain only to realize the seller is charging an exhorbitant fee for shipping, sometimes close to half the price of the item itself, if not more (and sometimes twice the amount of what shipping really costs). I wouldn't be surprised if people have jumped in and bid on something, only realizing too late that they're being gouged on the shipping.

Very true. It's a hot topic over there. Based on the answers so far, I am assuming that even if the widget was $1 + $40 S&H (therefore cheaper than the other option) most if not all would still purchase the item under the legitimate pricing formula.

 

[Semper Fidelis]

Originally posted by tfelice
I don't get the chance to post here much, but I do enjoy reading the forums. I have an off-topic poll I wanted to take that would help for some business research I am doing. Thanks in advance for the answers.

So you are buying a $50.00 widget that weighs one pound would you rather pay...

$45 for the widget.

The $1 cost is obviously hyperbolic but typical of online stores trying to post the lowest price so it will bubble up in a price search engine. I like to use http://www.pricegrabber.com for tech equipment (along with some other price search engines.) It always factors in tax and shipping for a Bottom Line Price.

The other benefit for a $45 widget is that, if I use my AMEX Platinum, I can pricematch (Best Value Guarantee) at a later date if I find a better advertised price.

 

[JohnV]

Isn't anyone interested in the quality of the widget? The $45 widget is better quality, of course, so it costs less to ship: it takes a lot less bubblewrap, because its made better, and won't need to handled with care. The $1 widget just can't have enough bubblewrap, because it will arrive damaged no matter what.

The point is: don't pay $49 for shipping and handling when $5 gets you the exact same service.

So, I would buy two widgets for $1 and pay $5 each for shipping and handling. Then I'd use the one for spare parts to fix the other one.

Can you tell I'm Dutch?

 

[fredtgreco]

Originally posted by Pilgrim

Originally posted by Peter
As a matter of principle I would never pay 49X the price of a widget (or a whatchamacallit for that matter) on shipping.

This is one thing I've noticed on ebay. Often I'll see something that looks to be a good bargain only to realize the seller is charging an exhorbitant fee for shipping, sometimes close to half the price of the item itself, if not more (and sometimes twice the amount of what shipping really costs). I wouldn't be surprised if people have jumped in and bid on something, only realizing too late that they're being gouged on the shipping.

The seller pays a fee to Ebay based on the price of the item, not including shipping.

 

[Puritanhead]

We're hard up for things to talk about... I'm posting pictures of Army dogs, and you guys are talking about widgets.

 

[LadyFlynt]

What is a widget???

[Edited on 2-15-2006 by LadyFlynt]

 

[Bryan]

When a person says widget they are usually refering to an unspecified item for use in an example.

There are however a device called widgets that are used by Guiness to create foam in a beer can.

Bryan
SDG

 

[alwaysreforming]

$45 for the widget. At least then it seems like a quality product. Also, to charge such an exorbitant shipping fee gives the appearance of dishonesty and bad business practices. I would avoid such a seller. Its obvious that they're trying to "get over" on either the customer or ebay. Not good.

 

[LadyFlynt]

Now see, the first explaination is what I thought...but everyone seemed to actually have a specific in mind. I didn't know there was actually such an item called a widget. (figures it would have to do with beer considering this board!).

 

[tcalbrecht]

Originally posted by LadyFlynt
What is a widget???

[Edited on 2-15-2006 by LadyFlynt]

It's like a tuit, only square.

 

[gwine]

If it is truly a $50 widget then I am willing to pay $50 for the widget and $5 to ship it.

I was going to order a keychain flashlight and some button batteries. My $20 order that weighed less than half a pound was going to cost $12 to ship. Didn't happen.

 

[WrittenFromUtopia]

$45 for a widget.

Widgets are also items on Apple's Mac OSX operating system that you can store on your virtual "dashboard" and keep track of various things, such as the weather, stocks, time zones, news, sports, wireless hubs, gas prices, etc.. http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/dashboard/

 

[crhoades]

Originally posted by tcalbrecht

Originally posted by LadyFlynt
What is a widget???

[Edited on 2-15-2006 by LadyFlynt]

It's like a tuit, only square.

Your humor scares me sometimes...Probably because I get it.

I don't remember where I saw them but I actually bought a tuit once. A round one at that!