Free Delivery - sometimes it's valuable

If you're buying a large backhoe, tower sections or a mobile home, free delivery might be something that would come in handy. Really handy!

Delivery of an item would be handy anytime you purchase something that is too large to carry, lift, put in your truck or fit on your trailer.

Here is a story of just such a purchase that you might find of interest. It's about buying a big backhoe and how getting it delivered for me was just the thing I needed.

An advertisement in the paper showed a large older backhoe for sale at a reasonable price. I went to see the item and was suitably impressed with its size and capability. It was older and well worn, but well suited for occasional use – just what I needed.

Since the backhoe was much too large and heavy for my trailer, I had to get it delivered using a full size tractor and trailer rig that could handle 10 tons. I didn’t have one, so I expected the dealer to provide free delivery. Having no experience in this area, I didn’t quite know how to negotiate free delivery of the equipment.

As I wrote out the check, I asked the dealer when I might expect the machine to arrive in my driveway, some 100 miles away in another state. Wanting to maximize his profit, he indicated that there were several trucking companies in the area and that I should contact them (and pay) for delivery.

Wanting to maximize my convenience and lower my costs, I politely pointed out that I didn’t quibble over his asking price, so he probably shouldn’t quibble over delivery to my door. That seemed right to me, and it must have seemed right to him because he didn’t argue a bit.

Within a couple days, he made arrangements for delivery using one of the trucking outfits he normally does business with.

The lesson here is that sometimes getting the item delivered is as important as the item and its price. To avoid additional costs, learn how to negotiate for "out-the-door" and "to-your-door" pricing on large, heavy and cumbersome items. In this way, delivery, preparation fees, licensing and other costs are all included in the price. To the seller, the cost of these additional fees can amount to mere "noise" when compared with the gross revenue from the sale.

A focus on frugal living means making your dollars "spend the best" for what you need and want. Learn how to negotiate for free delivery, and you'll have more money left over for other things. As a minimum, you'll be more aware when others are negotiating in a manner that is not in your favor.

Done with Free Delivery, back to Frugal Shopping