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    Why does Provantage do this?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by wasabi., Jul 10, 2010.

  1. wasabi.

    wasabi. Notebook Consultant

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    I've been tracking the price of an intel wireless card on Provantage.com.

    When the price is high, the shipping is lower.
    When the price is low, the shipping is higher. Essentially canceling out any discount.

    The item and weight hasn't changed.. why do their shipping costs behave so unfavorably?

    I haven't seen this practice from any other e-retailer... why does Provantage do this? I've heard nothing but great things about Provantage so this confuses me a bit.
     
  2. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    to max out their profits. Some buyers bite on low item price, others bite on low shipping.

    Remember that shipping costs are usually not (almost never, etc, etc) refundable in case of a return.

    Pv is in business to make money for themselves not save money for you.

    Item price and shipping costs come out of the same pocket, yours. If the total price is the same, why worry about it?
     
  3. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    It is called "shady business practices."
     
  4. wasabi.

    wasabi. Notebook Consultant

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    @ newsposter

    You make great points. Totally makes sense from a $$$ standpoint. But it's a shame they do it the way they do.
    I'd rather give my money to a more honest business then :).

    @ Greg Ross

    hahahahahah :D

    They might as well keep the item price and shipping the same forever.... pretty unethical thing to do.
     
  5. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    Same thing happens on ebay. Sellers pimp 50 cent items with a $20- shipping cost. Or a 'discount' ES/QS sample CPU from China for 1/3 the price it's commonly available for. With a $50- shipping bill.

    No refund on shipping costs.
     
  6. wasabi.

    wasabi. Notebook Consultant

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    Those shenanigans are fine on ebay, but I just expected Provantage to be above that.
     
  7. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    Business is business.
     
  8. wasabi.

    wasabi. Notebook Consultant

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    haha u def speak the truth

    thanks again for the input guys
     
  9. ViciousXUSMC

    ViciousXUSMC Master Viking NBR Reviewer

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    Provantage is still a very good store. I often get stuff from there a lot cheaper than Newegg.
     
  10. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    I agree there are shady business practices.

    If you leave them some reviews for example on Google and Resellerratings they might read it, and it might cause them to change this behaviour.
     
  11. sean473

    sean473 Notebook Prophet

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    Totally shady...would nver buy from this store..
     
  12. Texanman

    Texanman Master of all things Cake

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    I have bought quite a few oem parts from them before and never once had run into the shipping issue.... Usually shipping to texas is around 3-8$ which I find reasonable since there the only place I know of that I can get items like mini-pice cards and the like