Is this fair?

[Ivan 1]

Some company that ships for free (ground only) plus about $4 handling charge on orders over $150 is now trying to charge me extra shipping. I've been buying from them for a while. My orders are still over $150. Now they refer me to this line in their shipping policy (even though I've been buying same items from them in the past w/no surcharge):

NOTE: Oversized or overweight items may be subject to additional shipping charges.

I wouldn't have a problem with that if I indeed were ordering oversized and overweight stuff, but the thing is that I do not! The customer service lady refers to the surcharge as the oversize and "bulk" order surcharge (we're talking stuff like eight pairs of player's pants and then smaller items).

Now here is another paragraph from their shipping policy:

Oversized Items:

Shipping oversized or heavy items such as Leg Pads, Wheel Bags, Goals or Pucks(cases) cost extra. Applicable charges are noted on the product page. Oversized Items DO NOT qualify for our Free Shipping promotion.

NOTHING about "bulk" orders!

I place my orders online. Nothing noted about products being oversied or overweight on their product pages. If I were ordering overweight and/or oversized items (i.e goalie leg pads, a whole bunch of pucks etc.), I would get an automatic shipping surcharge at check out and wouldn't mind the surcharge then. The site is pre-set for the surcharge. But now they're saying they will manually charge me extra for bigger orders. Hockey Giant or Hockey and Goalie Monkey don't have that problem (when no overweight/oversized stuff is being ordered). In fact, I just placed a REAL big order with Hockey Giant. No surcharge. Only an additional 5% discount (no coupon codes were used, it was an individual offer on behalf of HG). I think what I'm being subjected to by that other company is being quite unethical. I just refuse to accept that. Any comments?

Most of other companies even give team discounts on bulk orders....

[TBLfan 25]

I wouldn't be too happy but it is their buisness and they can charge whatever they want.

[ken 0]

That sucks, but if its what they want to do, then not much you can do about it. They are probably considering it an oversized shipment because of the size of it.

Have you tried a LHS? Maybe they will give you a bulk discount and you won't have to deal with this shipping BS.

[Flack38 0]

Any chance this is Discounthockey.com?

They're a joke if it is

[usahockey22 0]

I think I remember this exact same topic coming up a while ago...It is a bit shady for the overweight/extra shipping cost marking not to be posted on the product page, and just not a good job of running the store.

If the extra shipping showed up in the shopping cart total, and you purchased it anyway, then it's your fault for not looking over the bill. If they gave you the total, you purchased it, and THEN they tried to tack on extra shipping charges (that were not included in the total), then you got screwed over and should demand a refund.

[chippa13 1844]

Are we saying 8 pairs of player pants wouldn't be a larger than normal box?

[Ivan 1]

I think I remember this exact same topic coming up a while ago...It is a bit shady for the overweight/extra shipping cost marking not to be posted on the product page, and just not a good job of running the store.

If the extra shipping showed up in the shopping cart total, and you purchased it anyway, then it's your fault for not looking over the bill. If they gave you the total, you purchased it, and THEN they tried to tack on extra shipping charges (that were not included in the total), then you got screwed over and should demand a refund.

Nah, the extra shipping didn't show up in the cart. They've been trying to charge me extra post factum. Now they're saying for larger orders I'll have to pay extra for shipping.

[Chadd 916]

1. Print copies of all pages that have shipping charge information on their website

2. tell them you want to know where this extra charge policy is listed on their website

3. If it is not listed, an extra charge would be a federal offense because it is an interstate transaction

If they change one of the pages to add this policy, tell them you plan on filing charges with the federal authorities.

I believe the FTC would be the correct entity.

[Ivan 1]

Are we saying 8 pairs of player pants wouldn't be a larger than normal box?

Nope, they shipped in two regualr size boxes I believe.

[nyhockey6 1]

I don't understand what the big deal is, your ordering 8 pairs of hockey pants which are going to have to be shipped out in more than 1 or 2 boxes. I would consider that oversized or overweight which is part of the companies shipping policy.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

I don't understand what the big deal is, your ordering 8 pairs of hockey pants which are going to have to be shipped out in more than 1 or 2 boxes. I would consider that oversized or overweight which is part of the companies shipping policy.

So, if he pays a price for something, and they come back, AFTER he has paid and says "give us more" he should be fine with that?

[usahockey22 0]

Of course that's a logical thing to assume, but it is still their responsibility to include those charges in the total when he does the online check-out. Customers can't be expected to just bend over and take the extra charges when they've already put the card away and completed the purchase.

You should just call the place up, ask to speak to a manager, and explain the situation. If they still won't fix it, then I would get your credit card company to take back the charge on grounds of fraud...which is what it really is. And then post the dealer's name on here so they can't do it to more people.

[Chadd 916]

I really don't feel sorry for a webshop who actually loses a little on their shipping through their own shortsightedness and poor planning. The funny thing is a lot of LHS will give you a discount on big orders as opposed to trying to trying to make you pay more.

[Flack38 0]

Any chance these are custom/Team pants? I got a custom order from a store recently, they charged me a "Handling" charge of like 20 but the items were drop shipped directly from the manufacturer. The shipping rate was the standard / pound ship rate via UPS.

I thought that was pretty dirty. Although I did get the Montreal/Tackla dealers price list out of the deal.... Boy was I shocked when I found out how much the pants really cost per item.

[Rustpot 1]

Any chance these are custom/Team pants? I got a custom order from a store recently, they charged me a "Handling" charge of like 20 but the items were drop shipped directly from the manufacturer. The shipping rate was the standard / pound ship rate via UPS.

I thought that was pretty dirty. Although I did get the Montreal/Tackla dealers price list out of the deal.... Boy was I shocked when I found out how much the pants really cost per item.

In this case, the store made $20 for handling the order for you. They didn't make any money on the pants (you said you got dealer price) and they didn't make anything on shipping. They need to make money somehow.

[Chadd 916]

Any chance these are custom/Team pants? I got a custom order from a store recently, they charged me a "Handling" charge of like 20 but the items were drop shipped directly from the manufacturer. The shipping rate was the standard / pound ship rate via UPS.

I thought that was pretty dirty. Although I did get the Montreal/Tackla dealers price list out of the deal.... Boy was I shocked when I found out how much the pants really cost per item.

In this case, the store made $20 for handling the order for you. They didn't make any money on the pants (you said you got dealer price) and they didn't make anything on shipping. They need to make money somehow.

It looks like they just included a copy of their price list in the box. They used to send me one every time I placed an order at the shop.

[Jason Harris 31]

I don't have a problem with a site passing oversized charges they receive from Fed Ex/UPS along to the customer.

However, from what you've posted, it seems they are violating their policy that you should have been forewarned prior to completing checkout. It almost seems they realized after they packed the order, "Oh, wow, these boxes are bigger than we thought."

I'd ask your credit card company to reverse the charges. At the very least, I suspect it would ultimately lead to them agreeing to waive the charges for this order.

[jimmy 194]

There was this well-know mail order place that was 30-minute drive from my store. Customers use to have stuff shipped to me (for customizing) from there. I use to laugh at the "airmail" charges they use to tack on to the shipping. These web sites make money on shipping and handling fees. You may think you are getting free shipping but you are not. They actually negotiate with UPS and Fedex for very reduced shipping so that your "handling" fee usually covers shipping. So, when you hit them up with an oversize order, they don't like that, so they have a loophole to charge you for it.

[blues_91 0]

There was this well-know mail order place that was 30-minute drive from my store. Customers use to have stuff shipped to me (for customizing) from there. I use to laugh at the "airmail" charges they use to tack on to the shipping. These web sites make money on shipping and handling fees. You may think you are getting free shipping but you are not. They actually negotiate with UPS and Fedex for very reduced shipping so that your "handling" fee usually covers shipping. So, when you hit them up with an oversize order, they don't like that, so they have a loophole to charge you for it.

That's VERY true. At work we get 1/2 off any of our shipments from FedEx because we ship out so much in bulk.

[TBLfan 25]

The label from hockey.lax.com for my OPS they sent me listed a price of $4.XX(USPS priority). Imagine how much of a discount a larger volume store gets and I don't believe fedex, ups or DHL lists actual discounted prices on the label.

[Flack38 0]

Any chance these are custom/Team pants? I got a custom order from a store recently, they charged me a "Handling" charge of like 20 but the items were drop shipped directly from the manufacturer. The shipping rate was the standard / pound ship rate via UPS.

I thought that was pretty dirty. Although I did get the Montreal/Tackla dealers price list out of the deal.... Boy was I shocked when I found out how much the pants really cost per item.

In this case, the store made $20 for handling the order for you. They didn't make any money on the pants (you said you got dealer price) and they didn't make anything on shipping. They need to make money somehow.

Oh no, Looking at this dealer price list they MADE money on me, I'm including all the small fees that the price list includes. (i.e. extra for drop shipping, handling fees.) I won't list the Prices of the 5000x's I/We got so I don't step on any toes but I felt like I was getting a good price seeing the "MSRP" but saw they made about 80 bucks per pair of pants (we got 8 pair)

Any chance these are custom/Team pants? I got a custom order from a store recently, they charged me a "Handling" charge of like 20 but the items were drop shipped directly from the manufacturer. The shipping rate was the standard / pound ship rate via UPS.

I thought that was pretty dirty. Although I did get the Montreal/Tackla dealers price list out of the deal.... Boy was I shocked when I found out how much the pants really cost per item.

In this case, the store made $20 for handling the order for you. They didn't make any money on the pants (you said you got dealer price) and they didn't make anything on shipping. They need to make money somehow.

It looks like they just included a copy of their price list in the box. They used to send me one every time I placed an order at the shop.

yeah, thats exactly what they did, but that's really stupid if its being drop shipped to a customer.

I'm now trying to get my hands on a Graf price list.

[Chadd 916]

It won't do you any good. Any dealer who sells too low will lose their account.

[Flack38 0]

why would they lose their account if its their profits they cut into?

I'd still like to see it just out of curiosity

[Chadd 916]

why would they lose their account if its their profits they cut into?

I'd still like to see it just out of curiosity

Graf is a very different company, that's actually one of the few things about them I actually like. It protects all of their dealers from one or two whoring themselves out for no profit. Graf realizes that having a lot of healthy dealers is better in the long run than three or four very powerful dealers and a bunch who struggle.

[Flack38 0]

why would they lose their account if its their profits they cut into?

I'd still like to see it just out of curiosity

Graf is a very different company, that's actually one of the few things about them I actually like. It protects all of their dealers from one or two whoring themselves out for no profit. Graf realizes that having a lot of healthy dealers is better in the long run than three or four very powerful dealers and a bunch who struggle.

I guess thats really cool for dealers, but not so much the customer.

It is something I can respect though.