Shopping in Alaska (Wrangell: 2009, buy, school)

[dcdc2009a]

It looks like large # of online stores charge varying extra for shipping to Alaska, and I heard that there is Costco up there. As my preference is to shop online to save as much as possible down here in lower 48s, I'd like to know how people shop online and offline up in Alaska.

I think Amazon will still free standard shipping for over $25 to Alaska, but I guess it will just take longer for your order to arrive? I may be mistaken.

Many thanks.

[ASpilot2be]

Amazon will do free shipping to AK from time to time. It comes via regular mail, so usually no longer than a week. Other places charge an arm, a leg, and maybe an eye to ship to Alaska. I still havent figured out why.

For the most part I prefer to do my shopping at local stores, unless they have crazy high prices. Then I will order online.

[dcdc2009a]

Well, my understanding is due to limited/inconvenient transportation I would think shopping will be limited to local areas in Alaska.

Do you all find it convenient/easy to find your choice of groceries, medicines, fashionable clothes, shoes and etc in brick and mortar store?

[ASpilot2be]

Originally Posted by dcdc2009a

Well, my understanding is due to limited/inconvenient transportation I would think shopping will be limited to local areas in Alaska.

Do you all find it convenient/easy to find your choice of groceries, medicines, fashionable clothes, shoes and etc in brick and mortar store?

I understand, with higher shipping costs to some point. But not all the extra fees they add.

I can find most anything in the local stores. I dont keep up with fashions, I prefer Carhartt, and dirty t-shirts. But I think you can find some. Maybe not American....crap forget the name, and Abercrombie something or other,.

[Moose Whisperer]

Originally Posted by dcdc2009a

It looks like large # of online stores charge varying extra for shipping to Alaska, and I heard that there is Costco up there. As my preference is to shop online to save as much as possible down here in lower 48s, I'd like to know how people shop online and offline up in Alaska.

I think Amazon will still free standard shipping for over $25 to Alaska, but I guess it will just take longer for your order to arrive? I may be mistaken.

Many thanks.

Costco, Sam's, Walmart, Target

Yes, Amazon will do free "Standard" shipping 5-7 business days, and "Super Saver" 7-10 business days. Almost all other online retailers however do the "free shipping exculding Alaska and Hawaii". Which means $25 minimum for UPS ground - which is really 2nd day air to AK. Yes, it sucks, but is just part of the cost of living up here. And if you currently have "Amazon Prime", you might as well cancel it when you move up here.

[GrammasCabin]

I buy nearly all my groceries from a bulk organic supplier in Oregon about 3 or 4 times a year. If you meet the minimum they truck everything free to the barge in Seattle and I only have to pay the barge fee ($75 last time) to get it to Wrangell. I usually have a couple friends wanting to order too so by the time we split the shipping it's negligible. My last order was 700 lbs worth of beans, dry milk, rice, nuts etc. etc. and it cost me $25 to get it here. The only things I buy in town are fresh eggs and salad fixins 'til the weather lets me grown my own. Everything else I keep in bulk stored in airtight buckets or in the freezer. We eat REALLY well around here as I always have all the ingredients I need on hand to make just about anything I can think of. I spend about $2,400 on groceries throughout the year for 2 adults and provide about half the meals for my grandkids and their dad. This includes TP, shampoo and all the other sundry items too. I am convinced that by staying out of the grocery store I save a bundle. No impulse shopping - if I want it, I make it. From early spring 'til late fall I do much of my 'grocery shopping' in the woods, on the beaches and from the boat as well as grow most all of my own veggies and potatoes.

As far as outrageous shipping charges to Alaska - there is no excuse for it. I am currently having a heated email argument with Orek for charging me $28 shipping for a $30 part that cost them $7.50 to mail. Their original excuse was that they have a contract with the USPS that charges them $25 for every item shipped to Alaska. When I told them that my postmaster said there was no such thing they tried to tell me that "Your postal service does not have access to the fees in our postal service area" Like WHAT?! We are a foreign country? At times I wish!!
Personally I think all Alaskans should file a class-action lawsuit against these thieves. Makes me furious!

[Grannysroost]

Originally Posted by dcdc2009a

It looks like large # of online stores charge varying extra for shipping to Alaska, and I heard that there is Costco up there. As my preference is to shop online to save as much as possible down here in lower 48s, I'd like to know how people shop online and offline up in Alaska.

I think Amazon will still free standard shipping for over $25 to Alaska, but I guess it will just take longer for your order to arrive? I may be mistaken.

Many thanks.

I just got free shipping from Amazon for the same as you say, even with them shipping the order separately and I took standard shipping,but due to be here in less than a week...some places won't ship to Alaska, others demand you pay next day shipping, and chances are it won't happen anyway, but have that stipulation for Alaska and Hawaii...I was also told no UPS on the peninsula (wrong), and had to change over to private carrier to deliver so will take longer...guess who delivered...the brown truck...

[GrammasCabin]

Our UPS guy just drives around in his own van. I don't think he's ever actually delivered anything to my house. I'll be running errands in town and find a package in the car - or he'll drop a package off at the school knowing I'm working that day. Or he'll send me a radio-gram telling me he's got a package next time I'm in town. Cracks me up. He even stuck a package in my car when he saw it parked at my friends house.

[Grannysroost]

Originally Posted by GrammasCabin

Our UPS guy just drives around in his own van. I don't think he's ever actually delivered anything to my house. I'll be running errands in town and find a package in the car - or he'll drop a package off at the school knowing I'm working that day. Or he'll send me a radio-gram telling me he's got a package next time I'm in town. Cracks me up. He even stuck a package in my car when he saw it parked at my friends house.

At least you have a half-way decent driver....

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by dcdc2009a

It looks like large # of online stores charge varying extra for shipping to Alaska, and I heard that there is Costco up there. As my preference is to shop online to save as much as possible down here in lower 48s, I'd like to know how people shop online and offline up in Alaska.

I think Amazon will still free standard shipping for over $25 to Alaska, but I guess it will just take longer for your order to arrive? I may be mistaken.

Many thanks.

All depends on which store you buy from. For example, Crutchfield shipments are free. A couple of years ago there was a shipping charge for large TV's past 48", but I don't know if it's free now.