March 1, 201511 yr Why do companies give better deals for online shopping? I would think they would give better deals in store so it could help keep jobs in the store and pay lease agreements. Anyone know?
March 1, 201511 yr By the time you pay taxes and shipping, the costs tend to be better on many in store purchases. Part of the idea is also enticing consumers to wait for their purchase, as shipping can take as little as 24 hours and as long as months depending on where you purchase from, what you purchase and shipping options.
March 1, 201511 yr Why do companies give better deals for online shopping? I would think they would give better deals in store so it could help keep jobs in the store and pay lease agreements. Anyone know? If you left it to most businesses, I would think they would close brick and mortar operations as online models for direct to consumer products are significantly cheaper than the brick and mortar models because of people and property costs.
March 1, 201511 yr Author By the time you pay taxes and shipping, the costs tend to be better on many in store purchases. Part of the idea is also enticing consumers to wait for their purchase, as shipping can take as little as 24 hours and as long as months depending on where you purchase from, what you purchase and shipping options. A lot of time shipping is free, especially Wal Mart, and they don't match their own online prices.
March 1, 201511 yr A lot of time shipping is free, especially Wal Mart, and they don't match their own online prices. You can find select exceptions to any rule, but the overwhelming majority of online retailers charge for shipping.
March 1, 201511 yr I think a retailer like Wal Mart has established their brand on being the low cost leader and they carry this over to their online operations. They have competition from vendors like Amazon and Target and auction sites like eBay. I imagine their costs to consumer will always be incredibly competitive.
March 1, 201511 yr Author You can find select exceptions to any rule, but the overwhelming majority of online retailers charge for shipping. If you buy certain amount it's usually free.
March 1, 201511 yr I believe the Amazon prime membership includes free shipping on all orders Free two day shipping. I've been a prime member for 5 years . MT ref is correct most online dealers do offer free shipping on orders over a certain dollar amount. Online shopping is only going grow there is no fighting it.
March 1, 201511 yr Free two day shipping. I've been a prime member for 5 years . MT ref is correct most online dealers do offer free shipping on orders over a certain dollar amount. Online shopping is only going grow there is no fighting it. And next day shipping is only usually an additional $3.99. I've been a Prime member for 4 or 5 years now, and buy stuff almost weekly. You can pretty much find anything you need and usually at a better price. And even if the price isn't better, the convenience of having it delivered to me beats driving to a store, waiting in line, etc.
March 1, 201511 yr And next day shipping is only usually an additional $3.99. I've been a Prime member for 4 or 5 years now, and buy stuff almost weekly. You can pretty much find anything you need and usually at a better price. And even if the price isn't better, the convenience of having it delivered to me beats driving to a store, waiting in line, etc. 100% agree. Prime is a life saver.
March 1, 201511 yr Brick and mortar is on the way out for dry goods retail. It is cheaper for retailers to include shipping in their pricing model than it is to maintain store fronts, pay taxes local to that store front, and pay retail employees to man them. For larger box stores, such as Walmart, it is cheaper to maintain a pickup location than a full store front. Not only are personnel costs reduced, but a smaller facility is needed and shipping is lower to the location, since only purchased items are shipped there. No inventory needs to be shipped, maintained, or valued for local tax purposes, as in a full retail store. Where I'm employed, in 2000, we had 10 locations from Cleveland to Miami. We reduced our product price and added an average shipping cost to it, creating a new price still comparable with our competitors. We then closed all but the main location and realized an increase in profit margin as well as volume. With the shipping built into the price we started receiving orders outside out normal business areas. Sears has already closed 3 stores that I know of, local to me. JC Penny is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. Grocery stores are the only retail outlets that I can see being left out of this trend. However, Publix has been experimenting with delivery and curbside pickup in larger urban areas.
March 1, 201511 yr And grocery is next target. Amazon is piloting " Amazon Pantry". Hebron and California DCs are test locations.
March 1, 201511 yr And grocery is next target. Amazon is piloting " Amazon Pantry". Hebron and California DCs are test locations. The Grocery store is pretty much the only brick and mortar store I regularly shop at. I sometimes still visit other retailers, but often just to be able to check out what I will eventually buy online.
March 1, 201511 yr I believe the Amazon prime membership includes free shipping on all orders You also pay for that privilege- a percentage goes to UPS per their exclusivity deal with Amazon. You pay for shipping, just not as you may be used to with other sites.
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