Thursdaily with Alaska Surcharge

[ellenmillion]

I like shopping for supplies, usually. It's spending business-earmarked money, not personal money, so my inner miser isn't as bothered by the expense, and I love finding ways to make my life easier and the business more efficient. And while I don't like 'stuff,' I adore useful things, and crisp, new office supplies are one of those things that makes me salivate.

But yesterday's experience was more of an exercise in biting back rage than anything else.

The first frustration was trying to order something through Amazon. Oh, NO, they told me. We can't possibly ship pieces of cardboard to Alaska. How unreasonable of me to ask! Nevermind that I have other pieces of cardboard in my shopping cart that pose no problem at all. So, I'll go look for them elsewhere.

Exhibit A.



Okay, I am the first to accept that there may be some additional expenses shipping things to Alaska. But this order would have fit neatly in a flat rate priority box for less than $12. And that's without a commercial account.

So, let's test their 'free shipping' offer.

Exhibit B.



*wipes tears of laughter away*

Bear in mind, this is a chain store with a local branch. I plan to go visit and see if I can find the items I'm interested in without paying $1206.40 in surcharge. I've also found a company that will honor free shipping to Alaska if I meet a large minimum, so once I confirm that I like the product, I'll probably be using them. I've ordered envelopes from them before, and they've been great to deal with.

I've made an Instagram account - I'm ellenmillion!

And that's the good news for the day. I'm getting cavities dealt with today, which is NEVER fun, and am looking forward to an afternoon of feeling like a stroke victim.

Comments

[frigg.livejournal.com]

LOL. That's utterly ridiculous!

[jake67jake]

But... you SAVED the $4.97 shipping!!!

OMG.. I had NO idea they did this to AK residents. It's cheaper to ship internationally!

Crazy.

I had a filling done a few weeks ago.. and just had my cleaning tuesday. My teeth still feel all nice and shiny :).

J

[ladyluna.livejournal.com]

That is ridiculous

[sholio]

hahahaha, oh dear GOD. D: Yeah, I've sometimes had things shipped to my Lower 48 relatives and then picked them up when I came down to visit and took them back on the plane, because it was way cheaper than having them shipped here. Obviously this only works for smallish, non-time-sensitive things ...

I've had good luck getting things through local suppliers, though, like you were talking about, since they get freight shipped up here all the time and therefore can just throw your special order in their regular shipment.

Considering what freight actually has to go through to get here, it's astonishing to me sometimes that our prices are as low as they are. It's like living on an island!

Wow!

[wyld-dandelyon.livejournal.com]

That's amazing.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[ellettra.livejournal.com]

Hahahahaha! WOW!!!!! And you don't even live in remote Alaska, right??? This is insanity!!!!

I'm adding you on instagram - I'm KKBeep!

[pixiewildflower.livejournal.com]

Good gravy on a biscuit, that's steep!

[scumpi.livejournal.com]

I am eager to press "why is there a surcharge" but cannot. So why is it? And so much?