One must also take into consideration that when a business ships an item they have to pay an employee to wrap the item and secure it for shipping in a carton. Shipping supplies are not free either. Then they either have to pay someone to pick up the carton to ship it or take it to a shipping company. Again this costs the business for usage of the vehicle including gasoline, parking fees, wear and tear on the vehicle, and wages for the employee driving the vehicle to the shipper and back again. There is more to the cost of shipping than just the U.P.S., Fed-Ex, or Parcel Post costs. I just wanted to point this out so maybe this will help explain some of the cost to the customer. I know some businesses charge outrageous prices for shipping but others are simply trying to make an honest living and charge a fair price for their service.

 

All of that is true. But, there's also the cost of paying the person who takes the order, the person who keeps up the website, the person who unloads the truck from the manufacturer so that the part can be stored on a shelf at a reseller's warehouse until someone orders it, and so on and so on. Those are called the cost of doing business. While I don't suggest that boycotting Quadratec or any other business is right just because they charge for shipping/handling, I feel quite strongly that EVERY mail order and online business should quote a single price for an item, without extra expense and fees. There will be some who will wonder why they should pay the same "invisible" shipping fee when they live 25 miles from said warehouse as someone who lives 2500 miles away. But, conversely, that's no different than a bricks/mortar store when that person lives 2500 miles away from the vendor while the other guy lives 25 miles away. Generally, the price in both retail stores will be the same. Finally, Amazon.com has proven that eliminating separately quoted shipping/handling charges can be a profitable business model.

 

gifford888,

I'm just curious--what were you ordering that the shipping charges shocked you?

$150-250 to have a set of bumpers shipped LTL freight seems reasonable to me. Also keep in mind that UPS has a size limit. Anything over that size limit automatically gets charged at least the 70lb rate even if it only weighs a pound or two.

I've had nothing but great experiences with Quadratec.

 

I've had nothing but positive experiences when I've ordered through Quadratec in the past. Yes, their shipping is a little high, but nowadays, almost everyone's is (it's a sad reality of $3+/gallon gasoline).

Nothing against you personally, but if you're unhappy with ANY of their business practices, you have the power as a consumer to withhold your business from them. That'd be fine... but just because you're unhappy with a company doesn't mean you should come on this site and try to sway others to your way of thinking, and cost a site sponsor business.

 

I like QT's catalog, but there's a 4Wheel Parts in Orlando. I've doing my build plans and going between both company's web sites and catalogs and some cases it's a wash. I may find something cheaper at QT, but when you factor in the 40 mile drive to O-Town, the shipping may not be worth it.

The one thing I found cheaper at QT were, of all things, rims. I can get the Cragar soft 8's for $37 each with $25 shipping. The similar rim at 4WP is around $50. However, tires will be cheaper to get at 4WP plus I can get them mounted and out the door. If there's a problem, I can address it there instead of through e-mails and phone calls.

Bottom line, there are options. If you don't like one option, go to the next. If you want to boycott, hey, that's your perogative. However, don't expect the entire Jeeper community to back you. And, unfortunately, unless there is a large support for your boycott, it won't mean squat.

 

The catalog is a big reason I get stuff from Quadratec. For me its entertaining and easy to find stuff. Both 4 Wheel Parts and Quadratec could use some help with interactivity on their website -- actually all of the off-road aftermarket sites could.

 

I agree that their prices are a bit high. The biggest thing that annoys me with their online ordering is that more than half the stuff is backordered and they don't say so until some time after you order.

There are other alternatives sites that are cheaper including free shipping, several that are also sponsors with 2 to 3 times better service. I think calling for a general "boycott" is a bit much, but I also think that telling the thread starter he should be "scared" coming on a "front line web site" and posting is also a bit much.

The one thing I will say about Quadratec is that they have a nice print catalog and a good website, even if a lot of stuff is out of stock or not being made yet. Also, anytime I have asked them to cancel an order because it wasn't in stock, the did so immediately in a professional manner.

 

Boycott, who, what? Don't buy from them if you don't like the price. Just off the internet, did you try calling them to deal. Sorry if I didn't read the whole thread, just thought I'd give it a half assed glance and bitch.

 

Boycott them....who cares. I am happy with their service and they always ship super fast.

 

Well I was going to post saying that the shipping charges were very "mail orderish" considering they charge acording to the items price however I just ordered a Husky rear cargo liner that was $69.99 with $12.99 shipping charge. I ordered it yesterday morning (02/06/08) and it will be delivered tomorrow (02/08/08), I looked at the weight of the package on UPS's tracking site and it said 7.6 pounds. So for $12.99 Im gettin a rather large item that weighs almost 8 pounds, shipped within 2 days to my door for 13 bucks. I guess thats not too bad!!

Mike