Special SNOW sale!!!

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Actually, I had almost $100 of merchandise in my shopping-cart while I was ruminating the pros and cons, and checking where the shipping-fee thresholds were, even considering having the stuff sent to my great-aunt's Florida condo to save on costs, and I didn't see the Merchant Instructions (micro-print link) on any of the pages, and that's another reason why I was so surprised, because I was careful to avoid confirming payment, and then after removing everything except the Tickets, I go no options whatsoever, just a Thanks for Paying screen... I had to login to PayPal to find out where the money was drawn from! PayPal has screwed me in many sundry ways before over the years; but, I've never had an experience like that, i.e., no option to back-out of a purchase before completing the transaction, before---quite surreal.

Sorry to hear about your experience. I honestly cannot say why you were not given a payment option before you checked out. One of the reasons why we use PayPal as our primary means of accepting online payments is because it allows the customer a wide variety of payment options, including most all major credit cards, echecks, paypal balance, or direct bank account withdrawal.

Try as I might, I cannot seem to duplicate the results of your attempted purchase. Each time I go through a test order, I am given the option to change my payment method.

In any case, if you or anyone else ever has difficulty using the PayPal shopping cart system, please feel free to call our toll free number and place the order over the phone.
1-866-898-1192

Some folks even prefer to simply print out their order page and mail us a check or money order.

We are happy to accept your order by whatever means you feel most comfortable with.

[Riverkilt]

Ahhhh! I didn't even see that part...I'm used to the open box for a message...feeling much better that I knew not to put it in the promotional code box though and that I'm not the only blind confused one out there....

Know we can trust Matt to shake it out somehow, someway. Hope it does help with the lost revenue due to snow. Had the same effect on the agency I work at when the snows hit - lost a lot of revenue.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Just about 3 hours left, folks, to take advantage....

[Mael Coluim]

Just about 3 hours left, folks, to take advantage....

Aaargh, the pressure! I really want to replace my Mr. Anthony with a heavier Inverness Cape.

• Well, it’s a good cause.

• Last year was so wet and snowy.

• This January has been so cold and snowy!

• Wompet gave a good review on its suitability in cold weather.

• And Ron, it’s over $200 so free shipping!!!!!!!!!!!

Order placed!

[BEEDEE]

Great sale, thanks Matt!! Sprung for two pairs of these hose: http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/hose_specialty.htm

Now the jonesing starts - 6-8 weeks to go.

Brian

[M. A. C. Newsome]

A little more than half an hour to go....

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Sale over -- thanks, guys!

[thescot]

Well, pshaw! I guess I missed the SNOW deadline for the discount. I thought it was still on when I ordered this morning, but it doesn't look like it.

I, too, missed the "comment" button as well. And I must confess that I thought 9.50 for a small book and a pair of garter ties a little high as well. I don't think Ron was out of line or overly whiny; shipping charges tend to rub me wrong in general, but I have noted that when I sell something on eby it really does, as Matt pointed out, cost a bit more than the actualy postage.

But, so much for a' that an' a' that. I look forward to getting the ties in the mail and the book for a friend.

[seanachie]

Well, I don't think Ron was out of line or overly whiny; shipping charges tend to rub me wrong in general, but I have noted that when I sell something on eby it really does, as Matt pointed out, cost a bit more than the actualy postage.

I am not speaking to any specific merchant, certainly, but as I handle shipping for my company I have to scratch my head at times. I appreciate that it can be expensive to implement a system by weight on a web site. However, sometime pick with a random merchant 2 heavier items and then a small item like a kilt pin and then remove the kilt pin the difference can be substantial. My company is not a "heavy" shipper so I know our UPS rates are higher than places that do a lot of shipping. Then when you look at Priority Mail as an alternative, which several suppliers I work with use to ship. Wow! Anything that fits in the box ships flat rate:
Priority Mail Flat Rate Options
Price Size
Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope $4.90 12-1/2" x 9-1/2"
Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box $4.95 8-5/8" x 5-3/8" x 1-5/8"
Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box (FRB1) $10.70 11" x 8-1/2" x 5-1/2"
Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box (FRB2) $10.70 13-5/8" x 11-7/8" x 3-3/8"
Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box (Domestic Addresses) $14.50 12" x 12" x 5-1/2"
Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box (APO/FPO Destinations) $12.50 12" x 12" x 5-1/2"

[M. A. C. Newsome]

We don't use USPS Priority Mail for our standard shipping method for a few reasons, chief among them:
1) We wouldn't have the ability to track a package en route, which is something we really like to be able to do for our customers, and...
2) The USPS web site is really a PITA to use.

We are not the only ones who feel this way. I recently purchased a single spiral bound book from a publisher and my shipping options started at $7.50 for UPS Ground, went up from there for 2nd Day or Overnight through UPS, then finally my last option was for USPS Priority Mail for $25.95. They must have really wanted to discourage their customers from choosing USPS and it worked!

For the record, we do ship USPS for international shipments and shipments to a PO Box, but for all other shipments our standard method is FedEx Ground or Home Delivery. We have a few reasons for this, chiefly being:
1) For only slightly more than Priority Mail we get much better tracking ability for the package and automatic insurance on anything up to $100.
2) Much easier to use web interface.
3) Pretty darned good customer service in our experience.

Now I know some people have had bad customer service experience with FedEx, as people have had with USPS and UPS and DHL and just about any other shipping one might name.

But then again this thread was not really intended to be a sounding board for complaints about shipping companies or shipping costs. If someone wants to open a seperate thread for that, please feel free to do so in the Off Topic section.

As I started this thread to extend a special sale offer to our friends at X Marks, and that sale is now over, I hereby ask the moderators to close the thread.

Once again, thanks everyone for shopping with us and being supporters of our museum!