> It’s a good deal on shipping and then a bunch of second-rate other stuff tacked on.
It is and it isn't. The cost of shipping is built into the price of most of the items. You get a good deal if you buy things where pricing is more or less fixed, or if you buy things one at a time, but if you purchase several items at the same time, you can often save money if you purchase from a vendor that has better unit prices and charges shipping, or offers free shipping with a minimum order.
I see this all the time with my hobby purchases. Amazon has everything (mostly), but it's more cost efficient to put together orders of multiple parts at other vendors. Sometimes just one part at another vendor works too, if it fits in an flat envelope and they charge appropriately for envelope shipping.
It’s exceedingly rare for a vendor to be cheaper on shipping (and in total) than Amazon is for me. Especially if you consider shipping speed and return hassle/expense.
Really depends on what you buy, but about half the time I buy from a vendor direct I end up regretting it if I’m in a hurry or not 100% certain of the product before ordering.
Buying a 6-pack of pinballs. Amazon is $17, shipping included with prime [1], Marco is $10 + $13 shipping [2]. Amazon wins, but if you also need some 555 bulbs, Amazon is $5 for ten [3], and Marco is $2.25, shipping stays at $13.
One pack of pinballs and one pack of bulbs is $22 or $25.25, but one pack of pinballs and three packs of bulbs is $32 at amazon vs $30 at Marco.
Time to arrive varies, but Amazon is quoting me a week for the pinballs at the moment, and Marco got me my last order in a week. Also, I have no doubts about Marco's supply chain.
I see similar things when ordering parts for my midlife crisis car. There's a couple things where it is better to get parts on Amazon, but most things it makes more sense to go to a niche specific site or a car parts vendor.
It is and it isn't. The cost of shipping is built into the price of most of the items. You get a good deal if you buy things where pricing is more or less fixed, or if you buy things one at a time, but if you purchase several items at the same time, you can often save money if you purchase from a vendor that has better unit prices and charges shipping, or offers free shipping with a minimum order.
I see this all the time with my hobby purchases. Amazon has everything (mostly), but it's more cost efficient to put together orders of multiple parts at other vendors. Sometimes just one part at another vendor works too, if it fits in an flat envelope and they charge appropriately for envelope shipping.