Buying from Amazon-delivery charges

lufties

Hi All, I live in the UK, but returned to Ireland earlier this year for a few months. Anyway, one thing that struck me was I couldn't buy from amazon anymore because of delivery charges. Sometimes the delivery more than the cost of the item just rendered it too expensive. 
I understand this is unavoidable. However, is there any plans to have an amazon warehouse in Ireland? It would be a great idea. There is one in Essex the size of 34 football pitches apparently. Anyway, I know with a population of less than 5 million, it may not be viable. 
Cheers.

Car99

lufties wrote: »

Hi All, I live in the UK, but returned to Ireland earlier this year for a few months. Anyway, one thing that struck me was I couldn't buy from amazon anymore because of delivery charges. Sometimes the delivery more than the cost of the item just rendered it too expensive. 
I understand this is unavoidable. However, is there any plans to have an amazon warehouse in Ireland? It would be a great idea. There is one in Essex the size of 34 football pitches apparently. Anyway, I know with a population of less than 5 million, it may not be viable. 
Cheers.

Spend over £25 and its free delivery . I've got prime but i think anyone can select free delivery once they spend over £25 and sold by amazon. I wait until my items total more than £25 the check out.b

TheChizler

A lot of items you can get delivered to parcelmotel/parcelwizard/addresspal for free and just pay <€4 to get it the rest of the way.

TopTec

I'm moving away from Amazon purchases now as their deliver and charges system is getting too complex. At least with EBay you can see delivery charges up front without having to continuously dip into the basket to see if the delivery price is exorbitant.

Good example was yesterday. Small bottle of perfume cost £28.50 and deliverable to Ireland. Delivery cost £32. Ridiculous.

I've waited 16 working days for a cyclist drinks bottle and holder on their free delivery system. After 14 days I rang them to be told by a nice Chennai lady that my delivery was stuck. I asked her how long it would of been 'stuck' if I hadn't called and she offered me a £5 voucher in response. This is my 3rd order in 3 months that has been problematic.

TT

lufties

TopTec wrote: »

I'm moving away from Amazon purchases now as their deliver and charges system is getting too complex. At least with EBay you can see delivery charges up front without having to continuously dip into the basket to see if the delivery price is exorbitant.

Good example was yesterday. Small bottle of perfume cost £28.50 and deliverable to Ireland. Delivery cost £32. Ridiculous.

I've waited 16 working days for a cyclist drinks bottle and holder on their free delivery system. After 14 days I rang them to be told by a nice Chennai lady that my delivery was stuck. I asked her how long it would of been 'stuck' if I hadn't called and she offered me a £5 voucher in response. This is my 3rd order in 3 months that has been problematic.

TT

I feel your pain, when I lived in Ireland, I wanted an authentic wool hat/beanie. There were good quality cheap ones in the UK (Army standard) for a tenner. However, the delivery was a tenner also. Just makes it not worth it. Its free delivery in Uk for the most part.

lufties

On second thoughts, I doubt there is any political will to expand amazon in Ireland, like in England. If amazon was big in Ireland, nobody would shop anymore. The knock on effect of that would be huge, especially for developers and the rich.

bee06

I’ve bought loads of stuff from Amazon and I don’t think I’ve ever paid an Amazon delivery cost. I either make sure I’m above the £25 or use parcel motel if it’s a third party seller with delivery charge. I’ve had to use parcel motel very infrequently so don’t have a problem with the extra 3.95 on a rare occasion.

lawred2

lufties wrote: »

On second thoughts, I doubt there is any political will to expand amazon in Ireland, like in England. If amazon was big in Ireland, nobody would shop anymore. The knock on effect of that would be huge, especially for developers and the rich.

political will?

lawred2

Spend enough to get free delivery to Ireland and/or use PM to get free delivery in the UK and I can't see what issues you'd have..

This Brexit thing could really throw the cat among the pigeons for us here in Ireland when it comes to ordering from Amazon UK.

bee06

lufties wrote: »

On second thoughts, I doubt there is any political will to expand amazon in Ireland, like in England. If amazon was big in Ireland, nobody would shop anymore. The knock on effect of that would be huge, especially for developers and the rich.

Amazon is huge in Ireland. Have a look at the bargain alerts forum here alone. They also have their European headquarters in Cork so have a base here already. It just wouldn’t make sense to have two warehouses in two countries when one in the UK works already. Apple are the same.

lawred2

bee06 wrote: »

Amazon is huge in Ireland. Have a look at the bargain alerts forum here alone. They also have their European headquarters in Cork so have a base here already. It just wouldn’t make sense to have two warehouses in two countries when one in the UK works already. Apple are the same.

It might have a decent share of the consumer market in Ireland for online consumers but that still wouldn't make Ireland a remotely big market for Amazon.

Relatively speaking obviously.

vicwatson

Also has to be remembered that essentially the population of Ireland is equal to that of just greater Manchester, on the scheme of things, we don’t matter.

bee06

lawred2 wrote: »

It might have a decent share of the consumer market in Ireland for online consumers but that still wouldn't make Ireland a remotely big market for Amazon.

Relatively speaking obviously.

I agree, I was specifically referring to the number of people who use Amazon in Ireland because to OP seems to think it’s very little due to all these delivery charges he/she thinks we are paying.

lawred2

bee06 wrote: »

I agree, I was specifically referring to the number of people who use Amazon in Ireland because to OP seems to think it’s very little due to all these delivery charges he/she thinks we are paying.

yeah that would be an incorrect presumption

rubadub

Car99 wrote: »

Spend over £25 and its free delivery . I've got prime but i think anyone can select free delivery once they spend over £25 and sold by amazon. I wait until my items total more than £25 the check out.b

If just under 25 try it and see. I have gotten free delivery a few times under 25, and have tested it recently on dummy baskets and it is still the case.

Also when you go to checkout Irish VAT is applied, 23% vs 20% typical UK vat. So the pre checkout value of £24.40 will end up £25.01 at checkout.

But the ones I tried were under £25 at checkout and I was getting free delivery. I suspect it is to do with packaging. Last I tried was 2 microsd cards, this would be the same price to ship one as it would for 2, and cheap to ship so I reckon that is why it was free.

Some items can be at different rates, e.g. cycling helmets will have zero VAT in the UK and amazon will add 23% if sent here.

I have never paid postage on amazon, on my last order I needed a part urgently. Think postage was £6.60 on a £5.60 part. Some things I added to the cart might not be fantastic offers but if worded another way some might consider it a better deal. e.g. I had £5.60 in the basket and post £6.60, it could be worded "add another £19.40 to your basket and get a 34% discount on those new items", then those reasonable offers might look much better even though the price is the exact same.

bloodless_coup

I have prime and I don't think I've ever seen anything with free delivery to Ireland. I just have my PM address as the default because any time I check an Irish address it was £6+.

pleasant Co.

doylefe wrote: »

I have prime and I don't think I've ever seen anything with free delivery to Ireland. I just have my PM address as the default because any time I check an Irish address it was £6+.

And yet I don't have prime and have never paid extra for postage to ireland, though I'm well aware that spending £25 or over = free shipping from Amazon

Berty

I used to get everything for free below £25 before Amazon figured out the loophole and ended it.

You want ONE item so you add it to your basket and then you add something else to bring it above £25(when you don't want it). Complete checkout and then after it's in your "orders", go in and delete the item you don't want and then it forces you to change your shipping from FREE shipping to something else(they thought there was no way around it) but if you close the screen and go back into Amazon(without choosing any option beforehand) you will see the item has been deleted with the item remaining you DO want and the shipping is still free.

Now it's £25, nothing is free below it for me. I'm prime BUT it makes no difference to Ireland and doesn't seem to leave their warehouse for one day delivery to Norn Iron either. It must be the time of year.

rubadub

Berty wrote: »

Now it's £25, nothing is free below it for me.

As I said before, it sometimes is free, this is a checkout page

Order Summary
Items: GBP 24.58
Postage & Packing: GBP 6.00
Total: GBP 30.58
Promotion Applied: -GBP 6.00
(Order Total: GBP 24.58)
Payment Total: EUR 28,96

free delivery on 2 of these £11.99 cards, price goes up to Irish VAT but still a little under £25

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00422GXXA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1

Berty

rubadub wrote: »

As I said before, it sometimes is free, this is a checkout page

As I said.....

Berty wrote: »

Now it's £25, nothing is free below it for me.

rubadub

Berty wrote: »

As I said.....

Are you saying you cannot get 2 of those items and get offered free delivery?

lawred2

pleasant Co. wrote: »

And yet I don't have prime and have never paid extra for postage to ireland, though I'm well aware that spending £25 or over = free shipping from Amazon

it's always £20 for me for free shipping

pleasant Co.

lawred2 wrote: »

it's always £20 for me for free shipping

Are you in the uk or shipping to an address in the uk?

lawred2

pleasant Co. wrote: »

Are you in the uk or shipping to an address in the uk?

Nope to either

rubadub

lawred2 wrote: »

Nope to either

can you give any more info then? are you on prime etc, or can you think of any reason you are getting free delivery, where is your address? If you cannot think of any reason can you do a test basket and confirm you are getting free delivery and let other people try on the same items.

I am still unsure if others get free delivery if just under £25 like the link I gave before. 2 of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00422GXXA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1

I am wondering if it depends on location. It could be cheaper to deliver to within Dublin or something. Or maybe business addresses.

lawred2

rubadub wrote: »

can you give any more info then? are you on prime etc, or can you think of any reason you are getting free delivery, where is your address? If you cannot think of any reason can you do a test basket and confirm you are getting free delivery and let other people try on the same items.

I am still unsure if others get free delivery if just under £25 like the link I gave before. 2 of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00422GXXA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1

I am wondering if it depends on location. It could be cheaper to deliver to within Dublin or something. Or maybe business addresses.

not on prime

but both delivery addresses I use are Dublin based

I couldn't be bothered jumping through hoops doing screen grabs etc

but after logging in and selecting Ireland as delivery and adding to basket I get this

Basket subtotal (1 item): £11.99
To qualify for FREE UK Delivery, add £8.01 of eligible items dispatched by Amazon. Delivery Details

It's always £20 for free delivery for me. Never seen £25 anywhere.

bee06

lawred2 wrote: »

not on prime

but both delivery addresses I use are Dublin based

I couldn't be bothered jumping through hoops doing screen grabs etc

but after logging in and selecting Ireland as delivery and adding to basket I get this

Basket subtotal (1 item): £11.99
To qualify for FREE UK Delivery, add £8.01 of eligible items dispatched by Amazon. Delivery Details

It's always £20 for free delivery for me. Never seen £25 anywhere.

Pretty sure it calculates the free delivery based on £20 for everyone but if you go to check out it will charge you the delivery charge when under £25 when using an Irish address. That’s how it is for me anyway.

Eire Go Brach

It’s also £20 Sterling for free delivery’s for me as well. Been that way for as long as I can remember. No prime etc and delivery to Dublin.

Colleague told me before he gets vouchers from amazon when he buys items. I have never got any vouchers off them.

rubadub

lawred2 wrote: »

I couldn't be bothered jumping through hoops doing screen grabs etc

I am not asking for screen grabs or hassle, just a link to an item(s) you can buy for £20 and get free delivery to ROI. So others can test it out. I would be interested if others tried my links, I am still wondering if that poster who replied could not get free delivery on them.

Whatever "thing" you apparently have going would be of HUGE benefit to other people here, if we could only figure out what is so special about your orders.

but after logging in and selecting Ireland as delivery and adding to basket I get this

Basket subtotal (1 item): £11.99
To qualify for FREE UK Delivery, add £8.01 of eligible items dispatched by Amazon

that is saying UK delivery. I wonder if there is some glitch, I presume you are not doing the belfast postcode scam?

Eire Go Brach

It’s just always been that way for me. When did you open an account with Amazon?
See screens grabs on the item memory card just posted x 2. Goes up for final amount because of Irish Tax

I actually assumed it was £20. I see in there delivery details it’s now £25

killbillvol2

It's £20 for me too. has been for as long as I can remember.

lawred2

rubadub wrote: »

I am not asking for screen grabs or hassle, just a link to an item(s) you can buy for £20 and get free delivery to ROI. So others can test it out. I would be interested if others tried my links, I am still wondering if that poster who replied could not get free delivery on them.

Whatever "thing" you apparently have going would be of HUGE benefit to other people here, if we could only figure out what is so special about your orders.


that is saying UK delivery. I wonder if there is some glitch, I presume you are not doing the belfast postcode scam?

I used the link to the product that you posted... thought that's what you asked me to do..

Not using any Belfast post code - not sure what you mean by scam? Are you referring to Parcel Motel?

rubadub

lawred2 wrote: »

I used the link to the product that you posted... thought that's what you asked me to do..

No, another poster Berty said

Now it's £25, nothing is free below it for me.

I gave an example of something just under £25 which I CAN get free delivery on, and wonder if they can too. I cannot get free delivery on things costing say £21.

While you are saying you get free delivery anything over £20.

The belfast scam is fraud and illegal, I don't want to discuss/promote it. If you don't know what it is you are obviously not using it, I will send a PM. Just wanted to rule it out.

Eire Go Brach

rubadub wrote: »

No, another poster Berty said


I gave an example of something just under £25 which I CAN get free delivery on, and wonder if they can too. I cannot get free delivery on things costing say £21.

While you are saying you get free delivery anything over £20.



The belfast scam is fraud and illegal, I don't want to discuss/promote it. If you don't know what it is you are obviously not using it, I will send a PM. Just wanted to rule it out.

See the screens I posted. In this case I believe it’s a case of “it not us it’s you”. Your thinking to much into it. Nothing ilegal is being done. Its £20 for some £25 for others. The reason we don’t know. I’m guessing it has something to to do with the age of your account. I have an amazon account since 2004.
Just to clarify. It’s not on “anything” over £20 it’s only the usual amazon fulfilled items. Or however they do it.

rubadub

Eire Go Brach wrote: »

See the screens I posted.

I did, you are getting free postage on items just below £25, just as I said I did , I did not think this is unusual, I thought this would be free for everybody in ROI, but am now not sure due to Berty's post.

Eire Go Brach wrote: »

Your thinking to much into it. Nothing ilegal is being done. Its £20 for some £25 for others.

I think it is certainly very worthwhile investigating why this is the case, or as you dismissively say "think too much into it". I wanted to rule out anything illegal, people were giving absolutely no clues as to why they think they are getting preferential treatment, seemed quite odd. At least you are giving clues saying it could be since you signed up early. People may be unwilling to state it could be due to some scam, like the belfast one.

It’s not on “anything” over £20 it’s only the usual amazon fulfilled items.

this is what I am interested in, can people please post links to items just barely over £20 which they can get free postage on so others can test & confirm or not if they can too. It is a very interesting subject, with huge savings if people can figure out how to avail of it.

I signed up to amazon.co.uk in 2004

Eire Go Brach

rubadub wrote: »

this is what I am interested in, can people please post links to items just barely over £20 which they can get free postage on so others can test & confirm or not if they can too. It is a very interesting subject, with huge savings if people can figure out how to avail of it.

I can’t see this making a difference. By the looks of things it’s tied to each account for whatever reason not the item. The item qualifies for free delivery or it does not. For example I put something in my cart for £12 Sterling. I get promoted for another £8 for free delivery.
Some items. Probably that they are third party I always have to pay delivery on.
But you find the items and I will try for you. If you want.

Berty

I can confirm using the MicroSD card about that it comes to £24.58 with Irish VAT and Free Irish Shipping. Before I selected free shipping it was £6 for Standard Delivery.

Now onto something cheaper. JoJo's Guide to the Sweet Life "Book"(It's a present, not for me) which is £9.99 on Hardback. Adding 2 of these shows standard £4 shipping and NO free shipping offered.

It's £19.98 before shipping so under £20. I tested it with gift wrapping for £2.99 but it's still £4 postage.

Not everything on Amazon is what it seems. Saying FREE UK Shipping doesn't mean Free IRL shipping though.

bee06

I just checked using the SD card as well and also get the option of free shipping. Not something I’ve ever noticed before but I think i’ve always just assumed it’s £25 so would always make sure I’m at that before check out.

lawred2

Berty wrote: »

I can confirm using the MicroSD card about that it comes to £24.58 with Irish VAT and Free Irish Shipping. Before I selected free shipping it was £6 for Standard Delivery.

Now onto something cheaper. JoJo's Guide to the Sweet Life "Book"(It's a present, not for me) which is £9.99 on Hardback. Adding 2 of these shows standard £4 shipping and NO free shipping offered.

It's £19.98 before shipping so under £20. I tested it with gift wrapping for £2.99 but it's still £4 postage.

Not everything on Amazon is what it seems. Saying FREE UK Shipping doesn't mean Free IRL shipping though.

I've generally found that to be the case and I'm using Amazon for 15 years at this stage (for items fulfilled by Amazon)

rubadub

lawred2 wrote: »

Basket subtotal (1 item): £11.99
To qualify for FREE UK Delivery, add £8.01 of eligible items dispatched by Amazon. Delivery Details

It's always £20 for free delivery for me. Never seen £25 anywhere.

I get this exact same message too, key word is UK delivery. If I add £8.01 I do not get free Irish delivery, but you are saying you do.

If I click on "delivery details" I get this

Orders including £10 or more of eligible books, dispatched by Amazon, qualify for FREE Delivery. All orders of £20 or more of eligible items, dispatched by Amazon, across any product category also qualify for FREE Delivery. With free delivery, your order will be delivered 3-5 business days after all of your items are available to be dispatched, including pre-order items.

To get free delivery, do the following:

Add at least £10 of books dispatched by Amazon (in which case all other eligible items dispatched by Amazon in the order will also be delivered for free), or at least £20 of all other eligible items dispatched by Amazon to your Shopping Basket.
Any item with "FREE Delivery" messaging on the product detail page that is dispatched by Amazon is eligible and contributes to your free delivery order minimum. Items sold and fulfilled by Marketplace Sellers do not contribute to your free delivery order minimum.

To place your order:
Proceed to checkout.
Deliver your items to a UK address.
Select Group my items into as few shipments as possible as your delivery preference.
Select FREE Delivery as your delivery speed.
For customers in the Republic of Ireland, orders including £25 or more (including local VAT) of eligible items, dispatched by Amazon, from any product category qualify for FREE Delivery.

bee06 wrote: »

I just checked using the SD card as well and also get the option of free shipping. Not something I’ve ever noticed before but I think i’ve always just assumed it’s £25 so would always make sure I’m at that before check out.

it is only on some items, and always just a tiny bit under £25, posting 2 memory cards would be very cheap, so they can afford to include it in the price easier.

lawred2

I do.

pleasant Co.

I get the £20 free shipping to uk message too, but having a basket worth £20 doesn’t get me free shipping until I’m around the £25 mark. Don’t suppose someone who’s successfully placed a ~€20 order could post a screenshot of said historical order? It’s interesting that some would get it and others wouldn’t.

123shooter

They started adding £6.00 del charges to be about 2 months back.

I have since found out that Amazon is not the cheapest place to buy goods so I always check prices before I buy now.

rubadub

pleasant Co. wrote: »

Don’t suppose someone who’s successfully placed a ~€20 order could post a screenshot of said historical order? It’s interesting that some would get it and others wouldn’t.

yes, something under £21 preferably.

Like can any of the 3 posters here get this with free delivery to ROI (EDIT: only bother trying these if you think you have a £20 free delivery to ROI rather than the official £25 limit)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Riso-Scotti-Express-Whole-Grain/dp/B071HPPBVH/ref=sr_1_148_a_it?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1512584485&sr=8-148&keywords=whole+grain&refinements=p_76%3A419159031

and/or this


https://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-Ultra-SDXC-Class-Memory/dp/B0143IIP4W/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics-accessories&rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1512581293&sr=1-3&keywords=memory+card&refinements=p_76%3A419159031%2Cp_n_feature_browse-bin%3A1609175031%7C411647031


I asked in bargain requests and the first 2 posters were getting things with free delivery at £23.99, the second guy gave a link and I also get free delivery on the item (a remote control). This does not surprise me at all, as I gave the example of the memory cards and got it on others before, just under £25.

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057817146

bee06

Neither of those give me free delivery anyway.

Berty

bee06 wrote: »

Neither of those give me free delivery anyway.

Ditto.

Eire Go Brach

rubadub wrote: »

yes, something under £21 preferably.

Like can any of the 3 posters here get this with free delivery to ROI

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Riso-Scotti-Express-Whole-Grain/dp/B071HPPBVH/ref=sr_1_148_a_it?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1512584485&sr=8-148&keywords=whole+grain&refinements=p_76%3A419159031

and/or this


https://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-Ultra-SDXC-Class-Memory/dp/B0143IIP4W/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics-accessories&rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1512581293&sr=1-3&keywords=memory+card&refinements=p_76%3A419159031%2Cp_n_feature_browse-bin%3A1609175031%7C411647031


I asked in bargain requests and the first 2 posters were getting things with free delivery at £23.99, the second guy gave a link and I also get free delivery on the item (a remote control). This does not surprise me at all, as I gave the example of the memory cards and got it on others before, just under £25.

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057817146

None of them worked for me. Maybe I was wrong on all items over £20.
It does work for me on the items in the bargain thread. I would have to go over my purchases history.

rubadub

Eire Go Brach wrote: »

None of them worked for me. Maybe I was wrong on all items over £20..

Right, thanks for trying, I picked those 2 items since they were just over £20, and one was just a light memory card and one was 7kg of rice, so could be 7.5-8kg with packaging -which obviously costs a lot more to post.

I was wondering if you or the other 2 posters saying £20 was the limit (I did not intend anybody else to bother trying) were simply ordering close to £25 all along and getting free delivery, as everybody seems to be able to. So while old orders might be interesting, value wise, we cannot easily test them again.

I was saying my theory was lightweight stuff might get free delivery as the postage is cheap. But another theory is that it is all related to profit. I usually go out of my way to find the cheapest price, e.g. amazon might sell various memory cards at wildly different prices and so can afford to send a £22 well overpriced and highly profitable card for "free".

Eire Go Brach wrote: »

It does work for me on the items in the bargain thread. I would have to go over my purchases history.

which bargain thread, can you post any item under say £22 you get free delivery on? or point me to the thread and I will find some and link here. Was it the black friday thread here?
https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=105464812

Mormegil

Only just found this out about Free shipping being applied under £25. Always made sure I was over £25 before but this time I went though to the checkout with about £23 worth of items (not sure why really) and was surprised to see the Free Shipping option.

Went through with the purchase but kept expecting the Postage to be added on at some point.