Home Depot Bah Humbug

many companies are like that.

Local HD loss in dollars from me.

I'll take advantage of the free shipping and buy online.

Hmmmm.....free shipping? I was on their site just the other day and tried to buy a gift card for someone and they wouldn't even accept a VI billing address. I had to use a card that had a stateside billing address.

Tippi.... did you put in your 'location' when you went on the site? They bring up different stuff for different locations. Maybe I'm looking at different kinds of things than you are, but I've always had the prices the same online as they are in the store, but I do put in my location before I start poking around.

I don't think there are any merchandisers that honor "free shipping/handling" to the USVI. That phrase only applies to the 48 contigious states. My guess is that all the 48 states can be reached by some form of ground transportation with which the big merchandisers have volume shipping contracts in place. Shipments to USVI require either air or ship transportation..

We too had to change one of Visa credit cards to a stateside billing address so we could order on line or via the phone from a company that would not honor a USVI billling address. Also there are merchandisers that will not ship to the USVI at all. It's just another thing you put have to put up with if you live in USVI.

What is reality is a lot of these merchandisers don't even know or recognize the USVI is a territory of the U.S. or part of USPS system, let alone know where the USVI is on a map.

Jumbie -STX

You have to expect to pay more for items here on an island. Customs, excise, gross reciepts, shipping by boat, high WAPA bills...........

It shouldn't be a surprise or disappointment.

There are places that DO honor free shipping to the VI. Whenever QVC or HSN offers free shipping on an item, it includes the VI. Lots of other places, as well.

I have run into the VI address on the credit card being a problem a few times, but not too often.

Here's a hint...unless you are shopping for an item that is a store brand or ONLY sold by one particular store...jot down the item number and despription, then google it. Most of the time you will find a store that will take your credit card and ship to the VI. Not always, but I've had great success with it. I've even found items for considerably less than the store that wouldn't ship.

thats right juanita. i have had (and look ) for free shipping when ever i can.

one would think that if they can ship somethings for free why cant they offer us the regular shipping all the time instead of jacking it up.

You need to look at the phrase FREE SHIPPING. Most companies define it as the main land 48 states. Home depot is an interesting case. There is a difference in SKE's from any of the products on the main land. They line up with those of Puerto Rico. I go back and forth to the states about four times a year. Many of the prices are higher but some are the same, or even lower.

I have been told that you can order material from HD but you need to have the SKE that they use. And there is no data base to tell you.

And shipping with black hawk from the stores in PR is not cost effective.

billd
.

There are places that DO honor free shipping to the VI. Whenever QVC or HSN offers free shipping on an item, it includes the VI. Lots of other places, as well.

Clinique.com does as well. (Sorry, I'd love to buy local, but Violette's never has the right shades.)

Many companies will accommodate the weird VI address if they use USPS and you take the time to explain that we're a regular ol' zip code just like anywhere else in the continental U.S.. Private shippers, on the other hand, still regard us as an "international" location and charge accordingly. Companies with contracts with UPS, FedEx, etc. will typically exclude us from such "free shipping' offers because of the higher cost the shipper charges.

IT

Talked with a friend yesterday. This week he looked on line at Sears for a drill. $49. Went to the Sears store and bought that and some other items. Didn't look at his ticket until he went home. They charged him $79. He went back and they told him that was only the on line price. They did refund him the $79 so he could order on line.

try lowes, i was able to purchase a gift card with a vi card and have it shipped to the states. i dont know about tools though.

Heya everyone.

Same thing goes for up here in "The Great Land." Free Shipping usually will not include Alaska, and they often will not even use a Ground Shipping method. However, we Alaskans have just figured it's part of living up here in the Great White North. Same goes with the prices at Home Depot or Best Buy. Heck, I was surprised to find those Big Box stores here. You don't find many chains here, which is OK by me, I try to buy local whenever I can. Also, if anyone was curious. Everything runs about 30% higher here as well. You don't get away from the masses without paying a price; enjoy your isolation, I do!
AKpilot