When free shipping is not free.(Update)

I think your solution to take your business elsewhere is the correct solution.

Too bad you cannot reveal the name of the outfit.

It seems like they could maybe have given you a break once you pointed out the situation, but it may depend partly on the price you were charged for the order, i.e. how much profit was in the deal.  But if it were me, and the store has been otherwise good, I don't really think I'd pull out, now knowing the terms.

I think it's best I not as I'm still arguing the matter with said business.   Like Rich says there's always two sides to every story and I don't want to bash.  I want to give said business a chance to correct things.  Otherwise I agree with you C.W.

superwarp1,

   Gary you bet, shop in a different place and let us know here on the OGR which company did this little free shipping trick to you, so we do not have the same thing happen to us.

This is not bashing this is passing along to the OGR members how this company is really  doing business with us.  There is not 2 sides to this free shipping gimmick.

PCRR/Dave

Same thing happened to me, and I'm pretty sure it's the same vendor, and I think it sucks. It'll be my last order with these folks.

I have seen the 'free shipping on orders over...' ads as well, and I have also seen the 'free shipping does not apply to pre-orders' in the ads. As TrainsRMe stated above, the pre-order pricing may be better than the ordering from stock pricing. My LHS gives me a better deal on pre-orders. For some hobby shops the markup is not very good on some of these items either. Especially if they have to go through a distributor. The playing field is not equal for all vendors, some have an advantage.

If you have dealt with this vendor in the past and been happy with their quality of service, personally, I think I would stick with them for a while and give it another go. I don't know who your vendor was, but I usually give someone the benefit of the doubt at least once. Especially if I have dealt with them before and had good experiences previously. As you say, there are two sides to every story, and if it was an online order, very few websites are perfect and have all their information in places where we all would expect to see that information.

I suggest calling them and tell them to refund your shipping charge or that is the last purchase you will make from them. It is false advertising when they don't tell you that preorders are not shipped free.

I believe you should tell us the vendor's name. It is not bashing, it is a service to the members.

If he tells the vendors name, this post will be deleted. I can figure out who it is by the facts he has given. 

The problem with revealing the name is that, even if it starts as consumer information, it will certainly turn into bashing, and maybe of other dealers in the "...and let me tell you what Train Monster did to me last month!" vein. And off we'd go to a deleted thread.

i'd say a credit card dispute is in order here. he states free shipping with no exclusions regarding pre-orders therefore he should refund you. take it up with your credit card company and see what they say.

I've re-read every post, so I must be really dense - what clues have been given as to who the vendor is?

I don't know who the vendor is either but my guess (reading between the lines on some of the posts) is that they have ad copy (print or web site?) that features both "Free Shipping On Orders Over $XX" and "Doesn't Apply to Preorders."

Also think this one is headed for the delete button. 

Well I just got a email from said vendor who is refunding me the shipping charges and is going to be reviewing their policy on preorders.  so a happy ending.

Gary

That's a fact, neither can I. Lots give free shipping over XXXX. And lots say except pre orders.

Larry

It's a banner guy, I only buy deals from them, I never pre order because they charge a down payment

That's is very considerate of them.

Which is fine but as I told said vender put it up front so I and others can see it and understand the policy.  As I stated above I couldn't find said policy anywhere. All my other preorders are well below the XXX.XX so no issues there on what ever policy changes they make

Capitalism.  ( a bad word in the P.C. of today)

Translation =  Hmmm . . . I don't have a monopoly and he might shop with someone else.  Maybe I should make this right.  The fear of losing a customer sometimes evokes honesty.

Capitalism and freedom of choice.

Gosh, I feel better already.

Hats off to superwarp1.