Is it just me??? I have spent a fortune with them over the last ten years. Last week I placed an order for $39 of small parts. There was $16 added in shipping. They are always too high on shipping. They backordered a $2 lugnut which shipped the next day. They added another $3 to the shipping for the $2 lugnut. Am I crazy to be annoyed?? I called them and explained what happened, the guy just said sorry, is there anything else I can do for you today!!! Just venting

I like Ames. $9 to ship most stuff and it shows up the next day in front of my garage door. I hate spending $9 to ship a $2 bolt, though.

Thier customer service is getting worse! I've been waiting 2-days for them to call me back on a defective part they sent me. Maybe I'll get a call when I dispute the credit card bill.

There's a difference between a reasonable handling charge and just padding your profit margin!

I ALWAYS had trouble with them re shipping costs and back orders...., in fact wrote a letter to customer service.got a bunch of packpaddling...and ..they screwed up again on the rebound. I will avoid ordering from them unless I absolutely have to....prefering Ames, and a few others....

I wish some of those idiots would read these threads....the only thing professional about them is their catalogue presentation.

These days I just add a few more items I need down the road to any parts order to make the shipping semi-worth it.

That's why I try not to use them

When I did that they just bumped the shipping cost another exorbitant amount!

How much would it cost you to go pick it up? It costs the carrier money to transport items. And that cost eventually gets conveyed to you.

Cost of shipping an item isn't based on the cost of the item. In part it's based on the weight and size of the package. Also some shippers include the handling (carton, packing, insurance and labor) charge as part of the shipping.

Working for a carrier I hear it all the time; why does it cost so %*@% much to ship a little box. My standard answer is above.

I have to agree, you shouldn't have be charged shipping on a back ordered item. When I was in the HVAC wholesale biz, we ate the shipping on back ordered items to keep our customers happy.

AMES - nobody but...

yeah, but I've ordered (and cancelled) items costing say 125 bucks, and they wanted $75 to ship. Ordered from another supplier same part.....$25 bucks to ship.

...and, if you ADDED a small but expensive part to the order (one that could be easily thrown in at the same shipping cost) the shipping went up $30!!!
I don't think so! The other supplier, no problem, just threw it in.

I'm done with CI also. If they would worry less about impressing me with their knowledge and listen a little they would reduce incorrect orders. Don't get me wrong I'm no expert but before I spend money I make sure I know what I want/need before I call.

I used them last month for the 20% discount. Other than the 2 things that I couldn't use the discount for, I thought everything went well, and shipping was within a day or two.

I also have had great success with Ames.

Ames for me over the last 8 years and only a couple of issues, ALL of which THEY fixed and or corrected. After meeting Steve Ames this past summer (although HE no longer owns the co.) I was even more impressed with the co.

Now that I live and hour and half from NPD I have purchased from them, however, I feel like I am cheeting on Ames when doing so! LOL

In addition, in the future if you have a discount coupon from one of the vendors, call Ames and tell them so. Given the chace they will most likely match the offer or atleast try.