Bait and switch?

[Devisissy]

Hey I noticed this happening a few times now. Just wondering what is up. Recently ordered a box of salt. Paid for the Fast Flat so like 3.99, with a time frame having it get here on a Friday. So five days. However when I check the status it has a delivery of Tuesday. 8 days. So economy. This has happened several times, enough for me to wonder if the fast flat 3.99 or however much it ends up being is a bit of a bait and switch. I am being charged shipping with an expectation of 5-6 days but getting it in 8-9 days. Am I mistaken?

Edited to add, normally 3.99 is like who cares. But then I got to thinking about the thousands of orders a day, that's a tidy profit. I think I will pay more attention to this in the future. I hate to think of a company I trust pulling a stupid stunt like this.

Edited to add, yes, I want my 3.99 back also.

Edited ONE MORE TIME. This isn't on UPS. Order was in, UPS still hasn't received it or picked it up. This is squarely BRS. OK I addressed most all the excuses I think I will hear.

 

[_AV]

I never pay extra for shipping. $$$ doesn't grow on trees so I care no matter how much they want to make it a default shipping option. With that being said, I find myself shopping less and less at BRS... It used to be much more competitive in the distant past.

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

I too find myself shopping elsewhere from BRS more often recently but, I'm not so sure this is a bait and switch case here. If the shipping itself took the expected travel time then you got the service you paid for, you're paying for a shipping speed not a delivery speed. Yes, BRS does sometime mislead consumers by estimating when it should arrive, but I have had packages take 2-3 days before they're finished "processing" and then ship but it still only takes the expected amount of time in transit.

It is the same as Amazon Prime's 2-Day shipping, technically they are not guaranteeing that you will receive your order in two days, they're promising the shipping will only take two days.

Updated to fix grammar 6/20 2:59p

 

[rtparty]

No shipping company offers guarantees any longer. It can be on BRS or UPS. Can’t count weekends by the way.

Reach out to BRS and get your $4 back. Cost more than $4 to type up the complaint on here

 

[Bulk Reef Supply Verified Sponsor]

Sorry to hear that there is currently a delay on expected arrival day. Doesn't sound like this shipped on time and I want to ensure we make this right. I will be sending a DM to get information so I can better assist in looking into this issue.

 

[UMALUM]

I heard that the $3.99 actually gets your item pulled sooner than later and has nothing to do with shipping. So yes I believe nickel and diming is taking place. In my eyes pretty sleazy but I don't do business with BRS anymore.

 

[rtparty]

I heard that the $3.99 actually gets your item pulled sooner than later and has nothing to do with shipping. So yes I believe nickel and diming is taking place. In my eyes pretty sleazy but I don't do business with BRS anymore.

That’s false. The $3.99 usually puts it on UPS Ground or 3 day. The free shipping usually uses UPS Surepost which gets USPS involved and that is always a bad idea

 

[smitten with ocean life]

its worth a couple extra dollars to stay away from usps imo. theyre awful anymore.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hey I noticed this happening a few times now. Just wondering what is up. Recently ordered a box of salt. Paid for the Fast Flat so like 3.99, with a time frame having it get here on a Friday. So five days. However when I check the status it has a delivery of Tuesday. 8 days. So economy. This has happened several times, enough for me to wonder if the fast flat 3.99 or however much it ends up being is a bit of a bait and switch. I am being charged shipping with an expectation of 5-6 days but getting it in 8-9 days. Am I mistaken?

Edited to add, normally 3.99 is like who cares. But then I got to thinking about the thousands of orders a day, that's a tidy profit. I think I will pay more attention to this in the future. I hate to think of a company I trust pulling a stupid stunt like this.

Edited to add, yes, I want my 3.99 back also.

Edited ONE MORE TIME. This isn't on UPS. Order was in, UPS still hasn't received it or picked it up. This is squarely BRS. OK I addressed most all the excuses I think I will hear.

While I have been very lucky with package speed, its the carrier who often lags with delivery time. If you are rural or in a remote area- this assures delays in many cases

 

[UMALUM]

That’s false. The $3.99 usually puts it on UPS Ground or 3 day. The free shipping usually uses UPS Surepost which gets USPS involved and that is always a bad idea

Disgruntled employee?

 

[MichaelP121579]

Hey I noticed this happening a few times now. Just wondering what is up. Recently ordered a box of salt. Paid for the Fast Flat so like 3.99, with a time frame having it get here on a Friday. So five days. However when I check the status it has a delivery of Tuesday. 8 days. So economy. This has happened several times, enough for me to wonder if the fast flat 3.99 or however much it ends up being is a bit of a bait and switch. I am being charged shipping with an expectation of 5-6 days but getting it in 8-9 days. Am I mistaken?

Edited to add, normally 3.99 is like who cares. But then I got to thinking about the thousands of orders a day, that's a tidy profit. I think I will pay more attention to this in the future. I hate to think of a company I trust pulling a stupid stunt like this.

Edited to add, yes, I want my 3.99 back also.

Edited ONE MORE TIME. This isn't on UPS. Order was in, UPS still hasn't received it or picked it up. This is squarely BRS. OK I addressed most all the excuses I think I will hear.

I stopped using BRS because of shipping times and tax. Saltwater Aquariums free shipping over 39$ and no tax

 

[rtparty]

Disgruntled employee?

Nope. Just someone that understands how it works

 

[_AV]

God knows I ship and receive a lot.

Fun fact about UPS/FedEx and in some cases USPS also:
With large volume shippers, carriers don't bother scanning labels at the time of pick up. There are just too many of them and drivers have better things to do. So they just pick up hundreds of packages, take them to the local sorting facility and the labels get scanned. Eventually. Maybe.

I had cases when packages don't show progress until they are half way to their destination. Some only show up in tracking when they get to the local delivery office. And this is on regular shipments with only one carrier involved.

 

[UMALUM]

Nope. Just someone that understands how it works

I was referring to where I heard it. Not you

 

[rtparty]

God knows I ship and receive a lot.

Fun fact about UPS/FedEx and in some cases USPS also:
With large volume shippers, carriers don't bother scanning labels at the time of pick up. There are just too many of them and drivers have better things to do. So they just pick up hundreds of packages, take them to the local sorting facility and the labels get scanned. Eventually. Maybe.

I had cases when packages don't show progress until they are half way to their destination. Some only show up in tracking when they get to the local delivery office. And this is on regular shipments with only one carrier involved.

The sheer amount of boxes that move around this country on a day to day basis is mind boggling. It’s amazing it only takes 2-3 days most of the time

 

[_AV]

Very true!
Back to the point though. That 3.99 as mentioned above, is meant to get you out of the multiple carriers slower shipping (usually UPS ground with USPS last leg) and into a single carrier shipping (usually UPS or FedEx). What actually happens behind closed doors at the fulfillment department is anyone's guess though. Never matters to me, but to some I'm sure it does.

However, on heavy and bulky items, multiple carrier shipping doesn't work anyway simply because USPS charges a lot more for the last leg delivery on a 50lbs box of salt. Most shippers simply choose UPS ground FedEx Ground/Home all the way to your door. So in this particular case, the 3.99 shouldn't have even been an option and likely just being used to partially cover the cost of "free" ground shipping on a heavy item.
Next time avoid 3.99 charge on heavy items and you will see that there is no difference in the way it arrives to your door.

 

[rtparty]

Very true!
Back to the point though. That 3.99 as mentioned above, is meant to get you out of the multiple carriers slower shipping (usually UPS ground with USPS last leg) and into a single carrier shipping (usually UPS or FedEx). What happens behind closed doors at the fulfillment department is anyone's guess though. Never matters to me, but to some I'm sure it does.

However, on heavy and bulky items, multiple carrier shipping doesn't work anyway simply because USPS charges a lot more for the last leg delivery on a 50lbs box of salt. Most shippers simply choose UPS ground FedEx Ground/Home all the way to your door. So in this particular case, the 3.99 shouldn't have even been an option and likely just being used to partially cover the cost of "free" ground shipping on a heavy item.
Next time avoid 3.99 charge on heavy items and you will see that there is no difference in the way it arrives to your door.

I learned long ago I can pick free shipping and it always goes UPS since I ship to my work and we have UPS delivering here daily. UPS decides to just keep it and bring it to me instead of taking it to USPS. It’s been great

 

[Devisissy]

Ok so I learned a few things. I wrongly assumed the 3.99 would mean they pull it quicker but it makes sense they wouldn't pick it any faster. It will still only travel three days.

That puts it on me to have the knowledge as the consumer to not assume the item will be pulled faster.

So is it a bait and switch no, is it a tad bit shady sure. So going forward I will not use the fast rate shipping.

Also, it is indeed a heavy item. Box of salt. That was for whatever reason listed as 45 bucks. Aqua forest 200 gal box. So duh. Nyos still sold out. I needed it by Saturday,we have freight delivered about 80 boxes daily from UPS so I thought, wrongly the five day Friday sounded like a good idea. But obviously the item as of noon today had not been mailed but a label was made. I know better now.

That being said BRS has been amazing to me over the years. I'm not bad mouthing them. Just curious and I'm actually glad I started the discourse because I have learned some things. Saltwater aquarium is not a good company. I'm very glad a few of you have had luck but claiming a non opened box is open then charging you a restocking fee is not good business.