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Originally Posted by warrrreagl
Speaking of phone companies, I just googled well over a million hits concerning class action suits against phone companies that collect all these extra "fees" and "taxes" and simply keep them as sheer profit. It's not ethical and it's not legal. Similarly, I have no concern over Amazon making a profit with item mark-ups, but I have a huge concern over Amazon making a profit off of fake shipping and handling charges. But the legality of all this is not my issue.
I'm seeing that we're having a huge translation problem over what's legal and what's right. I really don't care if they can legally get away with it or not - that's not my issue. Corporate defrauding of me as a consumer doesn't have to be illegal to raise my hackles. I'm trying to stay focused on what's wrong to consumers rather than what's legal in a courtroom.
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Interesting. This phone-company fiasco is another issue altogether because they are adding "extras" on services or taxes that simply don't exist. To charge more for "handling" isn't illegal, nor is it unethical if consumers know beforehand what they are paying. It is especially the case if it really does cost you more to run your business in this area. Amazon is a huge company. Maybe you should take them to task and ask them why their handling costs so much.
Again, I will stress that you aren't being defrauded if the pricing is out in the open. You don't have to pay Amazon's shipping & handling cost if you don't want to. Shop somewhere else.
There is a rule in retail... in business in general... about pricing: How high can you price your goods/services? As high as the consumer is willing to pay. High-priced services aren't unethical, nor are they illegal. If Amazon wants to make a high margin on their shipping & handling (being a web-based company that does nothing but ship things), then it is their prerogative. I'd say it's a smart move considering how they're set up. Maybe they feel they deserve charging more, considering the challenges of warehousing and handling the incredible breadth of products available through their service. Isn't it a bit unprecedented? If consumers are willing to pay the shipping & handling, then there is no problem.
Are hairdressers also committing fraud? Why do they charge women so much more for service as compared to what they charge men?