paulry

Are they as rare as a nun in a bikini?

roaringmouse

Depends what you're after - there are some that I've used where postage is included if the order is above a certain value.

Sherlock Holmes

It might happen within Metro areas but if you live outside the big cities then you've got little chance.

Office Works ran an ad saying that orders over x amount would have free delivery. I stuck my postcode in the website and was informed that it wouldn't be free. It's cheaper to drive there and back than have it delivered!

P.S. round trip of 500 klms.

paulry

It does seem to be that you're only in for a chance of getting virtually free delivery here is if you place large value orders. I was looking for a new wireless network card and on further searching have found that I can either a) Buy a wireless network card for $28 and pay £12 shipping or b) Buy a wireless network card for $40 and pay £0 shipping.

...Decisions, decisions

I wish if we could buy things from Amazon UK's full product range where they seem to have genuinely free shipping.

JAMFC

http://www.fishpond.com.au/

That's all I can think of!

surfstitch.com - free express delivery on orders over $10

.

Wendy

It's hard to get free delivery in store, so what makes you think they'd give it on the internet?

Sherlock Holmes

'Tis true. However, I have managed to get free delivery on the last two items bought locally (70 klms away) but making as if to walk out on the sale when the subject is brought up.

Wendy

Yup. That works for me every time too

paulry

Thanks for your suggestions. Fishpond looks pretty good and the prices compare fairly well with Amazon. Surfstitch seems expensive. For example Levi jeans are $175 each. They're as cheap as (in US $s) $35 at Eastbay (but with $10 per order + $2 per item delivery to Australia).

Fair comment. It would be great if we could shop Australian but it's a struggle to find any incentive to do so.

paulry

Goes to show that they know their profit margins can cope with it.

Wendy

A lot of the time it isn't really the store that does the delivery, it's an outside company. So the only way you get the free delivery is if they knock down their prices because they still have to pay the delivery guy.

If you go for the bargains, then you generally won't get a discount on the delivery as their margin is already reduced.

JAMFC

Yes, the clothes are exy but they had $10 Havaianas recently, plus I had a 10% off code so got 4 pairs delivered for $36

paulry

I agree. Probably the only way that they manage it in the UK is because it's a big market with lots of competition so the supply and delivery chains are forced to be very competitive. The profit margins over there must be very tight indeed compared with here.

Wendy

Plus a lot of them actually employ the delivery staff in the UK, so have already factored that into the cost of the goods.

Here most people seem to stick their goods in a trailer and take it home themselves so no need for companies to have full time staff to do the job for them.

paulry

That's one of the things that new migrants to Australia have to adapt to: a return to the old days of buying everything at bricks and mortar locations.