Whatever it costs to mail things to the Lower 48, the shipping rates invariably increase exponentially (I'm sure VFN's international readership can commiserate) when mailing to Alaska. Sigh..
Last week, or so, I did a little shopping in order to, literally, spice up some of my cooking adventures.
I was tired of using powdered garlic. I am a bona fide garlic lover, and the powdered stuff just didn't have the oomph I was looking for.
I also have an affinity for limes. I picked it up from my beautiful sister who spent six weeks in Mexico and Central America. She told me that the people she met squeezed limes on everything. (I tried it, and it turns out that Mexicans and Central Americans are right: food does taste better with a little lime!)
I spent entirely too much time on Amazon.com trying to find a place that 1)carried both minced garlic in water and lime juice, 2) wasn't some quote-unquote-gourmet-type-place-that-thinks-it-must-charge-seventy-five-times-the-market-value-in-order-to-appear-prestigious, and 3) shipped to Alaska. It's harder than you might think...
I was so thrilled when I found a store that fit those qualifications that I ordered right away. I was equally thrilled when the box arrived.
I didn't pay too much attention to the invoice until Steve pointed the total out to me.
Here's a closeup for those of you who missed it the first time. Yes, that's right $64.70. You'll also notice that the actual cooking supplies were only $3.99 and $5.49. THE OTHER $55.22 WAS FOR SHIPPING!!!
It turns out that the nice Amazon merchant did in fact ship to Alaska, but he/she charged over $25 an item to ship. Grrrrrr...
Now, gentle readers may be wondering why VFN agreed to such an outrageous price. Here's the truth: VFN didn't notice the shipping prices. VFN ordered a lot of other stuff on Amazon.com at the same time. When the editor-in-chief saw a big shipping number, she erroneously thought it was because she ordered lots of things.
Sigh... I think I'll go hang my head in shame.
9 comments:
OUCH!
That's gotta hurt! It's a good thing you didn't order any rocks or dumb bells..... You'd have been taken to the cleaners!
hey angie!
you could of called me...I'm in Anchorage...email me and I'll give you my digits. aries82_00@yahoo.com
Maamak
WHOA!!! choke, choke. That is ridiculous. I will now stop complaining for seeing milk on sale at one store after I already bought it at another store for more, and felt ripped off. (which just happened on Saturday) :)
Your friend in Anchorage beat me to the punch and could probably ship for even less, but I was going to say I would GLADLY shop and ship for you, Angie! And I'm sure I could pull it off for less than $25 an item. Especially with $9 priority flat-rate shipping boxes...(I wouldn't even charge a handling fee, to be sure!) Let me know if you want me to pick up anything for you!
Wow, I always think the two dollar shipping on half.com is a ripoff. I really need to be a little more greatful. The salsa below looks incredible by the way, I'm going to try it..
Way to go Steve, good eyes! Ah yes shipping to the bush gotta love it.
Angie, you inspire me! Your little cooking adventures and ideas make me want to be a better cook. I have total access to all these fresh foods and ingredients, yet do I use them? Not really..shame on me. I will do better. When are you coming to Utah next...ever?
Hey Angela! I am glad I found you. I have thought often about you over the years and then a couple days ago thought about looking you up on facebook!!
I look forward to keeping up with you now. I hope you are doing great!!
Holy crap. I don't have anything else to say.
Post a Comment