Shipping costs

Everyone keeps mentioning $100 $150 orders. I don't know the ratio between professional detailers and weekend warriors but I myself don't spend that much at one time. Nor will I ever wait to run out of everything to save up for that high of an order.
 
May seem expensive but i think the speed that i get my packages from AGO, the savings i make & the hassle free customer service AGO has makes for a great shopping experience. I'm a fair way away to ship to but to date have never had an order take more than 7 days (even when customs have their look) to get to me. I can make an order from a local (in NZ) company & it take longer & usually the cost of what i order is far more expensive than if i get it from AGO including shipping. Example - AGO has LC CCS pads - 6 pads for $55us - just 1 pad here will cost me $37nz which is around $30us at the mo. $125us i would save buying from AGO for the 6 pads even if the shipping cost me $120us i'd still be happy & get them faster??? :buffing:
 
AG sets it up so that you basically have to wait for 15-25% off sales to cover the excessive shipping costs. You almost feel you're getting a bad deal when you pay non-discounted prices (kind of like Harbor Freight with their ubiquitous 20% coupons.

I kind of wished they would do away with the constant 15-25% off promotions, keep prices as is and leveled the shipping costs a bit. A flat rate of $6.95 for orders under XX amount, etc
 
jmsc said:
Find one of the bigger online detail shops in a nearby state. For me they are located in PA, NJ, NY, NE, MD, NC, VA.
AG will match anything legitimately thrown at them. So just pass that by them and go with what works best for you.

But,,, once Congress decides to start charging sales tax on internet purchases, then we will have to find a new hobby or find something else to do.
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^This, gotta find the competitors and AG will match them! They also will match a manufacturer's price as well (i.e. check Carpro-us.com before buying any of their products on AG for specials).

Oh, and in NC some internet purchases are taxed...went into effect earlier this year.

frankprozzoly said:
Everyone keeps mentioning $100 $150 orders. I don't know the ratio between professional detailers and weekend warriors but I myself don't spend that much at one time. Nor will I ever wait to run out of everything to save up for that high of an order.
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I'm in the same boat frank, PM me if you want a resource or two to use for a price/shipping match.
 
Madness87 said:
You do realize Autogeek/PBMG has to pay Amazon fees such as referral fees for being a seller there? You either pay a subscription fee or per item fees. Now I don't know the total cost, but you can't really compare the two things. Not only does PBMG have to compete with several other companies there, or several other products that aren't available on Autogeek, but you have to factor in the greater reach for Amazon over Autogeek.net. Maybe they're purposely making less profit selling on Amazon because they know the average guy who sees a YouTube video of Souveran wax will probably search Amazon first. He may not necessarily want to buy off of Autogeek but feels comfortable buying off of AGO.

Remember, here, you also get use of the AGO forums that not only have world class information or tips from people like Mike P, but a place that is also free of advertisements. Don't get me wrong, lower prices are great. But that's the nature of business and this industry. I don't know, I'm a heavy Amazon user myself, but anytime I needed something AG stocks, I order from here, not only because I know that in case of any problems, people like Meghan, Nick are here to help, but also because if you are smart and keep track of the promotions and discounts, you can get pricing that cannot be beat, especially with larger orders.
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basically you are saying that as people who come here to share information (and provide free advertisement for products as well). we have to pay for anyone who shops on amazon, and anyone who doesn't join the forum.

it doesn't place any kind of logic on why amazon shipping for the exact same product from the exact same company is more than twice as much.


like people stated before, some don't drop 150 (or 130 after discount) on detailing supplies at a time, some people buy as they need it. personally if i run out of one product and have a gallon of others left i'm screwed into either not using whatever i ran out of like an apc, or ordering a singular item from AG and being forced into paying a higher shipping for no reason, because that same product can be bought from amazon for the same price but with a reasonable shipping price. they both come from the same warehouse.

and heres the kicker.... shipping isn't a way to profit, i don't care what company you have, sometimes flat rate shipping can save you time and money in the long run as a company, but not when it's grossly miscalculated to turn a profit on top of the product profit.


frankprozzoly said:
Everyone keeps mentioning $100 $150 orders. I don't know the ratio between professional detailers and weekend warriors but I myself don't spend that much at one time. Nor will I ever wait to run out of everything to save up for that high of an order.
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that really is the problem too, that once in a while people will really be spending 150 to get to that special free shipping point. but some people don't need more than 10-20 worth of supplies, it's sad that ag feels they can only cater to people who spend a lot, and not people who want to keep up their stock without making unnecessary purchases.
 
I'm enjoying the recent sale and shipping charges. :)

1 CP-1115 - 50 mL. CarPro Cquartz Fabric & Leather Coati 11.99
1 CP-5 - 2 Qty CarPro Cquartz Applicator 3.49
1 CP-31 - 1 L CarPro Reset Intensive Car Shampoo 24.99
1 CP-132 - 1 L CarPro PERL Coat Plastic & Rubber Protect 24.99
1 CP-DLUX - 30 mL. CarPro CQuartz DLux Plastic & Wheel C 39.99
1 FS-UPP16PC - 16 oz. Four Star Ultimate Paint Protectio 29.99
2 CLAY-CASE - Detailing Clay Storage Case 5.00
2 SON-720 - 16.9 oz. Sonus Trim & Motor Kote 19.98
1 RC-4001-KIT - Riccardo Yellow Clay & Lube Combo 39.99
1 MY-1010-01-3PK - 3 Qty 33 oz. Mercury Pro Trigger Spra 44.99
1 SON-230200-6X - 6 Qty 16.9 oz. SONAX Full Effect Wheel 79.95
1 TUF-TS401-128 - 128 oz. TUF SHINE Tire Cleaner 39.99
1 BF-320 - 20 oz. BLACKFIRE Wet Diamond Polymer Spray 24.99
4 SW-50 - 19 oz. Sprayway Glass Cleaner AEROSOL 15.96
1 DSM-1000-SP - Speed Master Wheel Brush Special 24.99
1 SEPT16FLASH - Forum Only Flash Sale -107.82
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub-Total: 323.46
Tax: 0.00
Shipping & Handling: 0.00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL: 323.46
 
ducksfan said:
It's not hard to find another website that has $6.95 flat rate shipping. Put it in the comments of the order, AG will match it. I don't see the problem. Another site offers equivalent discounts and $95 free shipping. Ag matches it.
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IDK about anyone else but why would someone go through the extra effort to price match? I would just order it from the company that has the cheaper prices...

Hopefully they still keep up the great sales during black friday/xmas time.
 
MikeC78 said:
I'm enjoying the recent sale and shipping charges. :)

1 CP-1115 - 50 mL. CarPro Cquartz Fabric & Leather Coati 11.99
1 CP-5 - 2 Qty CarPro Cquartz Applicator 3.49
1 CP-31 - 1 L CarPro Reset Intensive Car Shampoo 24.99
1 CP-132 - 1 L CarPro PERL Coat Plastic & Rubber Protect 24.99
1 CP-DLUX - 30 mL. CarPro CQuartz DLux Plastic & Wheel C 39.99
1 FS-UPP16PC - 16 oz. Four Star Ultimate Paint Protectio 29.99
2 CLAY-CASE - Detailing Clay Storage Case 5.00
2 SON-720 - 16.9 oz. Sonus Trim & Motor Kote 19.98
1 RC-4001-KIT - Riccardo Yellow Clay & Lube Combo 39.99
1 MY-1010-01-3PK - 3 Qty 33 oz. Mercury Pro Trigger Spra 44.99
1 SON-230200-6X - 6 Qty 16.9 oz. SONAX Full Effect Wheel 79.95
1 TUF-TS401-128 - 128 oz. TUF SHINE Tire Cleaner 39.99
1 BF-320 - 20 oz. BLACKFIRE Wet Diamond Polymer Spray 24.99
4 SW-50 - 19 oz. Sprayway Glass Cleaner AEROSOL 15.96
1 DSM-1000-SP - Speed Master Wheel Brush Special 24.99
1 SEPT16FLASH - Forum Only Flash Sale -107.82
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub-Total: 323.46
Tax: 0.00
Shipping & Handling: 0.00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL: 323.46
Click to expand...


i have spent thousands with AG over the last 4 years as well, both through amazon and on their store. but it still doesn't help that the shipping charges are different on two different sites for the same product, both sold by them. you could buy a bottle of cquartz and have to pay a crazy amount of shipping, on something that could come in an envelope package.
 
But you're not factoring in the fact that Amazon.com and Autogeek.net are two different storefronts. I don't know why you can't see this? Autogeek is their site and set whatever price they need, they pay Amazon to list their items there, and have to compete against several other products and companies. Don't you think it makes sense for them to court Amazon shoppers slightly differently than Autogeek shoppers? If you truly feel the price is so great at Amazon, order PBMG pproducts from there. But you'll soon realize, beyond one or two small things, that it makes much more financial and customer service sense to order straight from here. So while you look at a singular item that is priced aggressively to compete with other companies, you don't factor in that a larger order would actually be cheaper here, especially with discounts. Free samples, free shipping discounts often, 15-25% off coupons etc.

Autogeek is doing nothing out of the ordinary. Compare many different companies and industries, and often times, you'll see a product be sold cheaper on Amazon than their home site. Again, I understand where you're coming from, but not understanding the hostility. I mean, if you want that product, and you feel it's cheaper there, what's stopping you from getting it then?
 
I'm coming in on the tail end of this thread so forgive me if someone said this already. Maybe AG should do a member's fee once a year and then give members free shipping. Something like what Amazon does with prime. For the mass quantity that AG ships per year I'm sure the major shippers are giving them a deep discount on shipping rates. Or maybe AG could negotiate with Fed-Ex and UPS for better shipping service rates or let them compete annually for the best rate. Just a few months ago AG had free shipping over 50 dollars and now it's free shipping at 150 dollars. Whoa. Just my .02.
 
madness

They also pay for web and server fees to sell from this website also, there are fees associated with everything, you still dont understand that the extra costs incurred on what you claim is the more expensive storefront for them to sell from, are being paid for by the people who shop exclusively on AG. Amazon is just a middle man, the orders still go directly to ag from that site, same orders that get placed pm their website also, there is no reason to screw one loyal guy, over a random amazon shopper. You obviously dont see the point here, might as well just leave it at that, because your entire assumption is that everybody should be buying over 150 so they can save 20 bucks, and leave out anyone who only needs one or two things

Nothing is stopping me or anyone from getting it from amazon, but the point is that they are trying to make it up in sneaky shipping charges on items that cost at most 5 dollars in time and material to ship
 
Companies like PBMG use different channels (routes to market) and you may find different pricing strategies for each channel depending on channel and customer plus Amazon supposedly has rules on shipping costs like eBay.
 
To those using similar logic to: "AGO is charging what makes sense for them, cost-wise" to justify high shipping expenses, aren't you also ordering supplies based on what makes the most sense for you cost-wise? (Hopefully!)

Amz Prime for small orders / AGO when you need to bulk up? I'm a wknd guy, and I don't really ever need to "refresh" $150+ I just occasionally run out of P21S wheel gel or something. Why wouldn't it be in my best interest to shop around and pay the least?
 
Yep, Amazon Prime is a godsend if you need an item soon (like for the weekend).
 
Isn't Amazon prime like $100.00 a year. Thats not free shipping to me. Yes its a good deal to some but I'm not a fan of that business model.
 
Just saying that obviously PBMG/Autogeek know they're business best. At the end kf the day, this isn't personal, it's just business. You don't know what kind of deal they have with Amazon, what the fees associated with them are, what restrictions are placed on them etc. There's no grand conspiracy to nickel and dime anyone. Amazon is the world's largest online retailer and storefront. It's so large, that it's often used as an instant price comparison to almost every other site or brick and mortar shops. It's obviously very crucial to Autogeek/PBMG to make sure an effort to win a lot of customers there is made. Again I get where you're coming from, but you're cherry picking where a single item costs more due to shipping and ignoring when multiple items or large orders would be significantly cheaper ordering from here than there. Amazon and Autogeek.net are not equal, in terms of customers, in terms of products offered, in terms of costs or restrictions etc.

My point is, far too many people feel indignant when the answer is simple. Shop where you need to, and vote with your wallet. People shop at Autogeek because the selection is unmatched, the service is top notch, and that you can often get discounts and free samples. Would you rather they not offer PBMG brands or products on Amazon at all? If anything, they've done the detailing world a favor by having the products be available in a different place. Now someone who may never come to Autogeek or visit the forum, can still be exposd to their products. Again to reiterate, I'm sure there are reasons for every single price, shipping on Autogeek or Amazon. Profits, revenue, costs, all factor into it.
 
Search around. I got tired of waiting for sales and paying $150 for free shipping so I found another place that I can get any order shipped for $5. The only advantage to AG is that they literally carry almost every brand of detailing supplies and almost always have everything in stock.
 
It's like joining Costco. You have to buy a lot for it to be worth the membership.
 
solman said:
Isn't Amazon prime like $100.00 a year. Thats not free shipping to me. Yes its a good deal to some but I'm not a fan of that business model.
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30 day free trials. But even without Prime you get free shipping over $35 which is very reasonable.
 
solman said:
it's just business.
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That's what it boils down to for me. AG/PBMG wants to part me from my money. They dangle a free shipping at $150 carrot in front of me. I bite. If there is no sale, I wait for one, which isn't difficult because they run a sale fairly regularly. It's not hard for me to spend $150 either. I'm not going to buy little bottles of stuff I use all the time; I buy the largest size because it's cheaper.
 
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