Free Shipping for Online Orders, Buyer Beware

Take advantage of free shipping offers when shopping online, maybe.  Read the offer, especially if you’re in a hurry to get your order.  If you want it quick and it says 2-day shipping, do it.  If it doesn’t give a timeframe, you may have to wait several weeks.

Walmart 2-Day Free Shipping

My Walmart list was growing, but I truly dislike going to the store.  I have to go in the early morning hours while the shelves are full and before rude shoppers have a chance to mess up the store and deplete the stock, or risk going after work when the shelves are bare.  A couple of days ago I thought I’d give Walmart online shopping a try.  I had more than enough on my list to qualify for the free 2-day shipping.  Sheesh, that’s as good as Amazon Prime, but without the yearly membership.  Long story short, I chose to not pick up the order at the store because I was trying to avoid going to the store.  I ordered thirteen items:

1 Large California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Country Farms Super Greens Powder
2 Toothpaste
1 TUMS Antacid
4 pack Coconut Milk
2 Maxwell House Cafe Francais
2 Dishwasher Detergent

It came from three different carriers in a total of five boxes.  Three from FedEx, one from UPS and one from USPS.  Looking at the business model, I cannot for the life of me see how they are able to offer free 2-day shipping on that.

In summary, the 2-day free shipping offer was real.  The downside was the large size of the boxes in relation to what was inside.  I have a room full of boxes and yards and yards of that stiff brown packing paper that was used to pad the inside of the boxes to fill up all that empty space.  Yes, it goes in the recycling, but…

Lionbrand Yarn Free Shipping

With a minimum order total you get free shipping, but you’ll wait and wait and wait.  I’ve ordered two times now and both times it took about 2-1/2 weeks to get my order.  If you’re planning some Christmas vacation time off to knit or crochet, better get that order in early.

Target Free Shipping

Spend a sub-total of $35 to get free shipping.  They’ve got free 2-day shipping now thru Christmas on select items with no minimum purchase.  Take advantage of it.  Target finally started sending out their weekly Sunday ad in the wee morning hours prior to the stores opening.  Previously it was way later in the day and by then I wasn’t about to go back out after having already shopped.  Yesterday I placed an order to pick it up in the store.  My order was ready within a 1/2 hour of placing it, even before the store was opened.  When ordering online, pay attention to the quantity in stock at your local store.  If it’s a low amount, place your order.  Don’t waste time, especially with holiday shopping.  I snagged a 900 watt Ninja blender for smoothies for only $59, but they only had three in stock.  Glad I saw the ad early.

Amazon Free Shipping

For non-Prime members, Amazon has a minimum order amount of $35 for free shipping in 5-8 days.  They’ve dropped it to $25 for the holidays.  I have a Prime membership and boy, do I ever take advantage of it.  I have no problem ordering little piddly items just to get that free shipping.  It comes with a caveat.  I now buy more stuff than I ever would have if I had to pay for shipping.  Some items come with free shipping, but they may not be from Amazon.  Yes, they are on the site, but they may be third party sellers.  Watch out for the international sellers.  I’ve had several orders from China go missing.  I’ve always been able to get a refund, but where the order goes, I have no idea.  International orders typically take a good 2-3 weeks to arrive, once the seller finally decides to ship the order.  It’s a shot in the dark.

In Summary

Taking advantage of free shipping for online ordering is worth it to me, especially for the big box stores.  If I have to go in the store to shop I will absolutely spend way more than intended due to impulse buying.  I can go in the store for just a couple of items and come out with a cart full of stuff I never intended to buy.