The Porsche Tax

[wdfifteen]

It's been with us since Porsche first started selling cars.

Since most of what I order is for 356s the first place I go for parts is to Wolfsburg West or another VW vendor. Price differences are insane. $1.95 for a part at WW that Porsche vendors sell for $13.95 is typical. but, sometimes a part is so esoteric you don't have a choice.

I should be used to the Porsche tax, but it still pisses me off. The one that really gets me is the insane jacking up of S&H to make up for seemingly reasonable shelf prices.
I ordered 2 light bulbs and 2 rubber boots from a well-known vendor of Porsche parts (NOT our host). I searched for alternate vendors, but catalog prices were in line. Then I got the package.





The package weighed less than 1/2 pound. The box (provided FREE by the USPS) AND postage for a package this size is $7.65, and I got charged $21.61 for shipping. God forbid I buy something big and heavy. I'm used to the Porsche tax, but this is a fairly new twist. Listing competitive prices and tacking on insane shipping charges is a new one on me.

[KNS]

Shipping MORE than the product.

I priced an O Ring at the P car dealer because I needed it quickly and the dealer is nearby. $10.79!! No Thank You...

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Call Stod and ask for the sales manager Pete Yanda, he will take care of you if he can.

[Sooner or later]

Everytime I order something it most always shows shipping and taxes and a total cost before I hit the buy button.

I have never been surprised by a shipping cost.

[Jeff Higgins]

And here I thought you got a speeding ticket.

[red-beard]

Or an Insurance Bill

[Bill Douglas]

I never let myself be seen driving up to some place in the 911 and asking for a good deal on something.

[MBAtarga]

A guy that can afford a Porsche 356 complains about shipping!



After my Silverado damage from road debris on I-85 (Metro ATL) - I looked on line to purchase the lower spoiler and plastic panel that protects the radiator shroud/fan. My local GM dealer quoted both parts for $130 or so but I found an online source that had the parts for about $100. I thought great - I'm saving $30 and I'm not in a hurry so I can wait a week or so for them to ship. Started going through the checkout process - their shipping estimate was $156! Within an hour I was at the dealer picking up the parts.

[rusnak]

Buy more parts. That way the shipping seems like a better deal.

[pmax]

With a garage full of Porsches, you have what's commonly known as a first world problem.

[faverymi]

What about the handling?

Employee wage
Payroll taxes
Insurance
Benefits

It's a business not a charity

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by faverymi

What about the handling?

Employee wage
Payroll taxes
Insurance
Benefits

It's a business not a charity

Naw...it's a "ripoff"....

Because the can get away with it....but only once with me

[cabmandone]

Gotta love it when the shipping is equal to or more than the cost of the part.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by faverymi

What about the handling?

Employee wage
Payroll taxes
Insurance
Benefits

It's a business not a charity

It's a new business environment now, with on-line buying and cheap shipping being necessary to compete - unless there is no competition, then you pay through the nose.

MrsWD broke the taillight out of our Tundra a few weeks ago and I had to buy a new taillight unit. I suppose the vendor where I got it was running a charity because he didn't charge for shipping.

The Toyota dealer wanted $175 for a new one and I would have to drive 30 miles round trip to go get it. FLAPS had it for a little over $100 plus some amount of shipping. I found several vendors on line who sold them for $65. One offered free shipping. Guess where I bought it.



The old light was so shattered that it was hanging from the wires, but from what I could tell the new $65 part was the same as the original.

[slow&rusty]

I would be calling someone to get a $15 credit on that shipping.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by faverymi

What about the handling?

Employee wage
Payroll taxes
Insurance
Benefits

It's a business not a charity

That shipping cost is high, full stop.

However, they do have competent staff to field phone calls and staff in their warehouse with tangible parts in inventory.

Where do you bury margin?

Pelican has struggled with this.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

I never let myself be seen driving up to some place in the 911 and asking for a good deal on something.

Same goes for asking for quotes from tradesmen. Hide that car or the roofer or the carpet layer is going to be adding a Porsche tax to the bid.

[ckelly78z]

Caveat Emptor when it comes to buying overseas.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Same goes for asking for quotes from tradesmen. Hide that car or the roofer or the carpet layer is going to be adding a Porsche tax to the bid.

The guy building my barn thinks my Speedster is a Volkswagen!

When he saw it he told me, "I knew a guy in high school had one of them little Volkswagens. It was a pretty good little runner."

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by Sooner or later

Everytime I order something it most always shows shipping and taxes and a total cost before I hit the buy button.

I see you've never shopped at Stoddard, McMaster-Carr and a host of other companies that do not calculate shipping cost up-front