07 November 2015

Life Overseas: Amazon Is Our Friend

A liberal airhead college student (but I repeat myself) was asked, earlier this week, about her preference for President. She told the reporter, "If Trump wins, I'm leaving the country. I'll move to Alaska!"

Quite a few Alaskans might wish that it were true, but we're part of the United States ... like it or not. Never mind the Lower 48 businesses that won't ship merchandise here, because - in their words - a) we're overseas, or b) outside of the US, or c) not part of the "continental U.S."

That one floors me, every time.

We're not part of the contiguous States, I'll grant you, but Alaska is part of North America ... at least the last time I checked.

On the other hand, people aren't famous for thinking. Go back to the first paragraph, if you need proof. However, I doubt that anyone reading here will be of that low-information crowd.


So why do I go on about this?

Because it's a continuing source of frustration for those of us who shop on-line. Amazon has no problem with shipments to Alaska; I get them every week. We have the U.S. Postal Service, UPS, and FedEx all making daily deliveries. A first-class stamp sends mail here, just fine.

But some retailers refuse to accept that. "It costs more to ship to Alaska," they claim, and perhaps that's true. But we're willing to pay for it, so where's the harm ... exactly?

A perusal of most shipping policies reveal a statement to the effect that prices are higher "in Alaska and Hawaii". Yes, Hawaii and Alaska are both accessible by air and sea. But we also have ground transportation, which is more than Hawaii gets.

Ever tried driving to Hawaii? You get a flooded engine ... among other things. :)

One retailer selling through Amazon told me he wouldn't ship here because "Alaskans are too fussy." Apart from what was probably a federal discrimination case awaiting trial, I read between his lines. He meant that we don't like items crushed or damaged by the transport in which they travel.

Go figure.

So we go on, reading shipping policies carefully when ordering from a new supplier. But those items marked "fulfilled by Amazon" are worry-free.

At least that company knows where we are.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Having discussed this quandary with a number of Alaskan friends, I can't help but think there's a business opportunity in here somehow, through some kind of proxy service that can buy a little barge space coming up from Seattle.

Rev. Paul said...

I think that's an excellent idea. A valid mailing address in Seattle, plus a reasonable charge for the additional transport might not be a bad idea. For example: ordering ammo from the Lower 48. Hmmm.

Unknown said...

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Ed Bonderenka said...

I am reminded of the offer on TV that says, "second one free! just pay additional S&H".
Like it costs twice as much to put another in the same box, going the same place.

Rev. Paul said...

Ed - agreed; it's very much the same thing.

Old NFO said...

Don't get me started... APO and FPO... sigh...

Rev. Paul said...

NFO - yeah, that. Amazing how many places simply refuse to consider it.

threecollie said...

Nearly snorted coffee on the keyboard at that first line.

Rev. Paul said...

threecollie, sometimes I don't know what's coming out of the keyboard until I've typed it - and that one made me smile, too. :)