Free shipping is cool....but it is killing me

[airjosh]

Here is the setup - I have tendencies of obsessive-compulsive (categorized and alphabetized cds and dvds), impulse buying, and shopping for instant gratification (have been known to pay overnight rates for movies).

Here is the source - DeepDiscountDVD home of consistently low prices on movies and the slowest shipping on the planet.

Here is the padded cell - Funds being a little short, I gave myself an allowance to buy some DVDs. On the final submit screen, I was torn...do I take the free shipping and get four movies, or get three movies and get them faster. I opted for more movies, and for the first time left my purchase up to the infamous USPS.

8 days later... no DVDs yet... I could have driven to Illinois, picked up the films from DeepDickingDVD and been back home by now. Do they have a special arrangement with the postal service? "Take these films on a world tour, so next time they will upgrade their shipping."

I was so proud of my ability to take the free shipping.

(angel on shoulder)"You don't have the movies now, what will it matter if you don't have them for another week or so?"

(the other guy on shoulder)"But you know they are coming...doesn't that just drive you crazy!?!"

I don't know if I will be able to stomach another free shipping purchase. I want to, but every day I just keep thinking, WHERE IN THE HELL ARE THEY, YOU SLOW BASTARDS!!!

I won't even get started on the new marketing material I recently ordered for my company that has finished printing but won't be here until Thursday, even though I thought they would be delivered today.

[MJZ]

Damn, that's annoying!

I use a few companies in the UK (I live in the UK) where the shipping is free (no other choice with these) and apart from Christmas time items are usually through my letter box within five days from placing the order. The most common is a couple of days after and in some cases I've had things the next day.

I haven't checked to see if they ship overseas, but here are the main two I use:

Play
and
CD WOW.

[limacharliewhiskey]

If you want things cheaply, time (and also your sanity) is the price you pay for saving a few bucks.

I use DeepDiscountDVD regularly, and it usually takes a week to a week-and-a-half normally to receive stuff from them via media mail (I'm on the West Coast like you). Media Mail can sometimes take 3-4 weeks if packages get shuffled around or lost in the mail.

If I wanted something that badly, I would've bought it at a brick-and-mortar store or paid the extra $5 or $6 for Priority Shipping.

I've learned the art of patience, and can wait for things to arrive. However, when delivery times start to hit the 3 or 4 week mark, then I start to get antsy. As you are no doubt familiar with the famous quote, "patience is a virtue".

[airjosh]

limacharliewhis -

One of the reasons that I posted is because I find it funny that in every other area of my life, I am an incredibly patient person. I am the laid-back, everything in time, kind of guy. It is only with my compulsive nature about "purchases" that this side really comes out.

It is an internal battle that I find humorous, and thought I would share. What is strange is that it isn't really that I need/want something that badly, it is the getting something that has no clear time of arrival.

I would prefer to support brick and mortar (local businesses feeding my behavior flaws and all), but everyplace where I live thinks that DVDs are printed on gold and charge MSRP, or sometimes more. Prices around here are also based on perceived interest. In the stores where I live, you will find that the latest CD by a band is 18-19 dollars, but the one released last year by the same band is 14 dollars. I find practices such as these racketeering and won't support it.

[airjosh]

Originally posted by MJZ
Damn, that's annoying!

CD WOW.

I was just reading that cd-wow was being sued by the recording industry or something..what is that all about?

[limacharliewhiskey]

Originally posted by airjosh
limacharliewhis -

One of the reasons that I posted is because I find it funny that in every other area of my life, I am an incredibly patient person. I am the laid-back, everything in time, kind of guy. It is only with my compulsive nature about "purchases" that this side really comes out.

It is an internal battle that I find humorous, and thought I would share. What is strange is that it isn't really that I need/want something that badly, it is the getting something that has no clear time of arrival.

That's USPS for you. Sometimes ordering things to be sent via Media Mail is more of a headache than it's worth. Just curious: was this your first purchase to be sent through Media Mail, or have you used this option before? I would imagine that delivery times should be relatively similar to what it's taken on previous purchases.

When I made my first online purchases, I noticed that I got all antsy waiting for packages to arrive. Over time, I've learned to gauge my habits, as I've figured out that there are certain discs I want on release day, and others that I couldn't care when I got them, just as long as I got them in a reasonable time. I save those discs for places that ship via Media Mail free, like Deep Discount, Digital Eyes (3 or more), and DVD Empire (4 or more).

What I've found that helps is to have other DVDs that you may have purchased already but haven't watched yet. This definitely helps pass the time, so that you don't anxiously check the mail everyday for the latest package.

I would prefer to support brick and mortar (local businesses feeding my behavior flaws and all), but everyplace where I live thinks that DVDs are printed on gold and charge MSRP, or sometimes more. Prices around here are also based on perceived interest. In the stores where I live, you will find that the latest CD by a band is 18-19 dollars, but the one released last year by the same band is 14 dollars. I find practices such as these racketeering and won't support it.

This is understandable. I guess I'm spoiled by having a multitude of reasonably-priced options to choose from the brick-and-mortar stores near me (Best Buy, Circuit City, Target, Walmart, Fry's Electronics, and even DVD Planet's brick-and-mortar store).

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by limacharliewhis
When I made my first online purchases, I noticed that I got all antsy waiting for packages to arrive. Over time, I've learned to gauge my habits, as I've figured out that there are certain discs I want on release day, and others that I couldn't care when I got them, just as long as I got them in a reasonable time. I save those discs for places that ship via Media Mail free, like Deep Discount, Digital Eyes (3 or more), and DVD Empire (4 or more).

This is a strategy I almost posted myself!

Try this out, airjosh... stagger your purchases and make it a rule to NOT go for the "cheap" shipping when making "impulse" purchases....

Of course, NOT making the "impulse" purchases would be optimal, if you're counting pennies, but that's another discussion......

Good luck!

Peace....

[Dr. Shrinker]

Originally posted by limacharliewhis
This is understandable. I guess I'm spoiled by having a multitude of reasonably-priced options to choose from the brick-and-mortar stores near me (Best Buy, Circuit City, Target, Walmart, Fry's Electronics, and even DVD Planet's brick-and-mortar store).

Have you been to the new DVDPlanet store? I was extremely NOT impressed by their selection...out of several fairly mainstream titles I was looking for. I hope it was just minor problems associated with moving.

[limacharliewhiskey]

Originally posted by Dr. Shrinker
Have you been to the new DVDPlanet store? I was extremely NOT impressed by their selection...out of several fairly mainstream titles I was looking for. I hope it was just minor problems associated with moving.

Yes, I've visited a couple of times now. Got to use a $5 off coupon they mailed to me to let me know of their move.

Yeah, they sometimes seem to have certain items out-of-stock forever, but in comparison to any other brick-and-mortar stores I know of nearby, they still have a pretty vast selection to choose from. I visit DVD Planet's store more for the non-mainstream selections, like anime, music, Criterions, documentaries, etc.

This is obviously why I still order online, to fill in the gaps in their inventory that don't seem to get replenished. And for mainstream titles, this is why I use stores like Best Buy or Circuit City to get the big-name releases.

It's certainly my favorite store to browse through to get an idea of what is available. Lots more elbow room in the store, that's certainly a good thing, and they've got plenty of room to add more shelves and aisles as more and more DVDs come out.

[airjosh]

Originally posted by limacharliewhis Just curious: was this your first purchase to be sent through Media Mail, or have you used this option before?

This is the first time I've ever used media mail. Nearly all of my 200+ DVDs and 600+ CDs were ordered online, but I have never tested my will with the slow shipping.

Thanks for the advice guys. The post was meant more in humor as I said before, after becoming a parent, you start to see all of your personality flaws differently (as they get mimed).

It's good to test your boundaries, because you start to see where they come from. I will certainly opt for an extra movie over shipping in the future...but that doesn't mean I can't rant about it, right?

[brian]

For me, it's a mixed bag getting things in a reasonable time from DDD. Sometimes, it takes over a week, which sometimes bothers me. Though on a few rare occurances, items with the free shipping have arrived in 2 days flat. Though, I live a bit closer to DDD, so that should be taken into account.

Slightly OT, but i once ordered something from buy.com around 4 pm, used the cheapest shipping, and somehow, it was at my door the next day at noon. That one left me scratching my head.

[airjosh]

Originally posted by brian

Slightly OT, but i once ordered something from buy.com around 4 pm, used the cheapest shipping, and somehow, it was at my door the next day at noon. That one left me scratching my head.

I have had that with Netflix. They got back a movie I sent the next day and then I got a new one a total of 3 days after I mailed the original one back

[MJZ]

Originally posted by airjosh
I was just reading that cd-wow was being sued by the recording industry or something..what is that all about?

Where did you read that? I've not heard about that one.

I ordered from them last week without any problems.

[disclover]

This is an interesting little commentary on how the internet has sped up our lives. I remember before the internet, ordering things via paper catalogs, and two weeks arrival time for the shipment was considered fast, especially via USPS. Now that speed is considered glacial.

As for me, I'll take free shipping every time if I have the choice. Yes, it takes a few more days, but living in NY, where I practically have to pay for the privilege of breathing the air, I am glad to save a few bucks wherever I can. And the few extra days usually pass quickly for me.

[airjosh]

MJZ - There was a mention of it on a report I saw on the recording industry, etc. I haven't been able to find a link or anything, I just remembered them bringing up that shop as one targeted in the UK.

disclover - I am not sure if this has anything to with the internet, since before I wouldn't have ordered catalog and if I did, I would call orders in rather then mail them in. I understand what you mean and think that it has affected our lives in a huge way, but these flaws existed prior.

[MJZ]

Originally posted by airjosh
MJZ - There was a mention of it on a report I saw on the recording industry, etc. I haven't been able to find a link or anything, I just remembered them bringing up that shop as one targeted in the UK.

I'll keep my eyes open for that one.

If retailers lowered their prices then many people probably wouldn't turn to the internet. Why pay UK £18.99 for an import in a shop when I can order it on the net with free delivery for £8.99.