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Shipping and handling fees

I stopped by Puckerbutt.com to pick up some Carolina Reaper seeds. I picked out one pack for $6, reasonable, and I went to check out. The total came to $14. Another $6 for shipping and $2 for handling. I do a bit of shipping with my other hobby and I can ship up to a pound to arrive 2-3 days to just about any place in the country for under $6. So I'm going to spend $8 to ship a single packet of seeds? Most likely less than an ounce. I can ship that in a bubble envelope for less than $1.50 including the cost of the envelope.
 
I'll do without the seeds.
 
That's the biggest reason I didn't order from them. Crazy... I bought my seeds from Ocho Cinco on here for 25c a seed. He has a grow log on here and you can see the peppers his plants put out and a pic of the seed packet so you know they are legit. He shipped them quickly for next to nothing too.
 
S&H is a great way to hide price inflation from unaware shoppers and advertise a falsely low price. I see it on Amazon marketplace and Ebay all the time, and Never buy from companies who play that game. Even if the price is the same or slightly more overall, I will usually just buy from the company who didn't fudge the numbers to make their prices look cheaper. 
 
I was only using USPS SFRB around the holidays so no matter the order shipping was $5.80. I am now back to using the USPS API and allow First Class again and that is based off your shipping address. I only add .90 additional cents because I include tracking on all orders and that is the exact cost from USPS. I  never like to pay more for S&H than the product and that is a huge reason I am an Amazon Prime user :)
 
patrick said:
I stopped by Puckerbutt.com to pick up some Carolina Reaper seeds. I picked out one pack for $6, reasonable, and I went to check out. The total came to $14. Another $6 for shipping and $2 for handling. I do a bit of shipping with my other hobby and I can ship up to a pound to arrive 2-3 days to just about any place in the country for under $6. So I'm going to spend $8 to ship a single packet of seeds? Most likely less than an ounce. I can ship that in a bubble envelope for less than $1.50 including the cost of the envelope.
 
I'll do without the seeds.
 
Same deal with PepperJoe.
 
It seems like everywhere you go, no matter what you are doing, someone is figuring out a new way to slip it to you dry. Good for you Patrick for canceling your order. If it helps, Judy (Pepperlover) will ease your mind and sooth your soul. Top notch service. FWIW...
 
JoynersHotPeppers said:
I was only using USPS SFRB around the holidays so no matter the order shipping was $5.80. I am now back to using the USPS API and allow First Class again and that is based off your shipping address. I only add .90 additional cents because I include tracking on all orders and that is the exact cost from USPS. I  never like to pay more for S&H than the product and that is a huge reason I am an Amazon Prime user :)
Chris, Amazon Prime is awesome. Well worth the cost. 
 
Jusplayn said:
:shame:
Buckeye Pepper Company has free shipping, even if you just order one pack of seeds.
 
 
+1000, and Mike is pretty cool guy too. 
 
 
 
 
 
IMHO, I think this is because PBPC would rather have you go through their distributors than buy direct. Ever bought a phone from Samsung? It is about $600. Anyone paid that much from Verizon? I doubt it. 
 
Just a FYI, Ed Currie said if anyone calls the store direct to place an order, they can get a cheaper shipping quote option via USPS than available on the website.  Apparently the website pricing for shipping assumes a Small Flat Rate box with tracking and insurance.  He was having a lot of issues with people claiming ordered items weren't arriving so he had to take this route due to his company's policy to replace / make right on orders as it was getting to be expensive.  I'm told a package of seeds (or a few) can be shipped for a cost ranging from $2 - $2.80 (U.S. sales) by calling.  The higher number assumes tracking is included, the lower not.  If a customer takes the cheaper shipping option, they won't assume liability for the package in transit once it leaves.  In my experience, 99% of mail usually arrives when sent in country so not a huge deal to me on any small size order.  Hope this clarifies things some.  I'm not sure why this info isn't on the website.  Someone would need to call to ask them.  This was a reply Ed made on Facebook recently. 
 
Chris
 
I get $15 for a pack of what I call a 20+ pack of seeds, which is more like 22 to 25. Shipping is included. The seeds are from my very best plants that are totally isolated from all the other pepper plants. I call these seeds IR 1 because I am improving the original Carolina reaper genetics one generation at a time. IR 2s are already small plants for this spring.
Patrick, anyone who likes tarantulas can't be all bad. If you would like a free pack of 10 IR 1s, send me a message. Tom
 
Looks like I'm not alone. I really appreciate the offers and the lists of places to do business and save some money. You guys rock. Chris I appreciate the heads up on Puckerbutt shipping via phone contact, you're right he does need to let folks know. I guess if he is using flat rate with tracking he isn't making money off of shipping and is taking care of his customers. Guy can't fault that.
 
Micca I sincerely appreciate the offer, with the advice I've got from others here I'm going to do some shopping.
 
I've done business with Judy many times before and she is one of the most generous vendors I've ever encountered.
 
Thanks again everyone.
 
mmcdermott1 said:
So does DNA just magically change because you isolate?
No, I was just pointing out that they, at least won't get cross pollinated accidently that might make an unwanted hybrid. Many of my plants are being grown in a single greenhouse, where a few of the best plants are grown in another location.
 
I was going through my seeds and lo and behold I found a few Reaper seeds left over from last year. Knowing half a pack wouldn't be enough I got in touch with Buckeye Pepper and bought another pack. Same price as Ed with free shipping. Thanks for the heads up orangehero.
 
Thanks for the well wishes Micca, same to you.
 
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