Sending online purchases to Hawaii

[Lee M-S]

Amazon often says an item "doesn't ship" to my address, whether I use PO Box or house address. Sometimes even on lightweight stuff, like a cable for my computer. I just go get it on eBay. For less. But it does take longer.

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[Rob L]

I shipped a queen size mattress via Amazon Prime and it was bulky and heavy and FREE.

Aloha,
Rob L

[rbakker]

That poolstoreoutlet.com is an interesting company. I can't order online because it won't accept any payment methods.
If I email them, they don't respond. If I phone them up, they don't answer. How do they stay in business? Could it be a fake?

I am still trying to find out why Amazon Prime won't send what is essentially an oversized plastic bottle (the pool filter) to Hawaii. They can't explain why their system won't send it. They pushed the buck to the manufacturer but I contacted them and they said they have (of course) placed no restriction on their products being sent within the USA. Every time I phone Amazon I get a different story. First they said they would fix it, now they say (two weeks later) that they won't fix it.

[Lee M-S]

Are you shipping to your PO box? That always causes hiccups. My default Amazon (and other shipping companies) address is my street address followed by PO box on the same line. That way it doesn't recognize it as a POB, but the post office can see where it goes.

Amazon Prime shipping outline ( http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/d...=201118050 ) includes:
FREE Standard Shipping [for]
Items fulfilled by Amazon that are regulated as hazardous materials.
Items fulfilled by Amazon with special shipping characteristics such as large treadmills, basketball hoops, televisions that are 48" or larger, and heavy furniture.

Addresses in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico (3-7 business days).
P.O. Boxes in the continental U.S.
APO/FPO addresses with U.S. ZIP codes.

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[unknownjulie]

Amazon may be getting "wise to us". I've noticed them curtailing some shipping lately on the bigger/bulkier items- that they may be losing money on.

[rbakker]

Lee, thanks for the tip but I've tried that. It won't ship to any address in Hawaii, no matter what it is.
There are no hazardous materials and it's not particularly big or heavy - I can lift it with one hand.
I've asked Amazon to explain, but they can't. They will not admit their system is wrong. Very poor customer service.
Amazon Prime is great, Amazon (in any complicated cases) is not.

I, too, had a mattress sent and it was much heavier and much bulkier than the pool filter.

[kalakoa]

Amazon shipping is "magically" much better if you have a real street address in a commercial district -- I've even had items with "free" shipping arrive in less than 48 hours.

Then again, Amazon will occasionally put a customs declaration on the package, because it's "leaving the US" right?

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Amazon allows you two lines in which to write your address, so I always put my mailing address on the top line (HCR Box), and my physical address on the second line. No matter how they ship, whether it's USPS, FedEx, or UPS it will get to me.

Items on Amazon that won't ship to Hawaii are one of the great mysteries of the 21st century. There is apparently no pattern, or reason for what won't ship, but once an item is tagged no shipping to Hawaii, it's pretty hard to fight it.

In the case of independent Amazon sellers, when the no Hawaii shipping notice comes up, I try another seller until I find one that will ship to Hawaii, as they all have different policies.

[Mimosa]

When speaking with customer service and you get a " NO CAN " - always ask to speak to a supervisor . If that does not work,ask to speak to the supervisors BOSS,if that does not work,ask to speak with the CEO of the company .
I have had to do this in the past and things get done rapidly.
Always ask for employee names and numbers or extensions .Sometimes customer service folks really do not care,but a CEO sure does.

[rbakker]

Primal Edge - so true! There is no reason (that I can find) why this item has been listed as contiguous 48 only.
I tried all the permutations with my address but no go.

Mimosa - very good advice and I have done so. I received a reply today but they just told me the same thing: it won't ship.
Nobody can give me a reason why. The System Must Be Obeyed, even by the CEO.