Free shipping is a misnomer. Handling charges ( what? ..... putting a thing in a box with minimal labor people is a big deal?) is a joke for more profit. The things are made in China, how much more cost can these advertisers have ??? It is a rip off. I think this very similar to what our government is doing to us with their pandering and bs-ing thing.
"It is as thought these charges are only profit add ons"
BINGO!!!
Since almost 100% of these "as seen on TV" products use an outsourced company to package and ship that's how those companies make their profit. Theoretically it covers credit card fees, the box, packing material and the labor to pack and ship.
That said, I agree with you...many s/h charges are rip offs.
Okay, I'll play the devil's advocate. Have you been to the pee ooh lately to ship a package? Just about anything more than an overweight letter is upwards of $12.00 to mail. It gives me gray hair! Now I'll give you that the pee ooh is an arm of your government, and that sort of speaks volumes. But UPS and FedEx have gone up along the same lines.
That said, there is a real mark up in that "handling" thing. Kinda makes you wonder what sort of handling they're doing, doesn't it?
*** If you think health care is expensive now, just wait till it's FREE ***