Can someone explain how the amazon add-on items work?

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I don't get it, because I don't do this enough to figure out the system. I have amazon Prime.

Let's say an item is $3.99. It might say, "add-on item. free shipping on all orders over $35"

I put it in my basket. When I order something over $35 (let's say $40 prime item), the add-on thing stays in my basket. Is it because I'm using one-click to order the $40 item, and I need to go to a shopping cart and do it that way?

And can I just order the damn $3.99 item by itself, or do I need to have something over $35 to buy it?

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

If you do one click to order the $40 item, you are only ordering THAT item, not everything in your basket. If you checkout the normal way, with more than $35 (in some cases it is $25 - unless that changed) than there is no issue. I usually will put it in my basket and wait until I have enough to order.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you do one click to order the $40 item, you are only ordering THAT item, not everything in your basket. If you checkout the normal way, with more than $35 (in some cases it is $25 - unless that changed) than there is no issue. I usually will put it in my basket and wait until I have enough to order.

This. And no you can't buy the item marked as an "add on" by itself. They've priced it so cheap that they will not allow it to ship without you purchasing other items. You may find the same item through other sellers and buy direct from them.

[Anonymous]

That's not how it worked for me. I finally gave up and removed it from the basket. It would never ship, and we buy a lot from Amazon.

[Anonymous]

Short answer:

Yes, you can order the item by itself but the shipping won't be free.


Reasoning:

To keep costs low, Amazon shipping costs (determined by weight, location, and many other things) will try to group your shipment of this item with your purchase of other items. In other words, Amazon has determined that it is makes economical sense to include this item with free shipping only if you have an order that totals $X.

Usually this applies to items like a pack of toothpicks for $2. Instead of processing that order individually, shipping etc. - they will send you 1 pack of toothpicks if you are also buying $35 in total merchandise getting shipped to your house anyway.

Part of their competitive pricing structure for arguments of getting baking soda cheaper at Costco or Walmart.

[Anonymous]

Stop using one click and you'll get the add on items

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I don't get it, because I don't do this enough to figure out the system. I have amazon Prime.

Let's say an item is $3.99. It might say, "add-on item. free shipping on all orders over $35"

I put it in my basket. When I order something over $35 (let's say $40 prime item), the add-on thing stays in my basket. Is it because I'm using one-click to order the $40 item, and I need to go to a shopping cart and do it that way?

And can I just order the damn $3.99 item by itself, or do I need to have something over $35 to buy it?

Thank you!

Yes. Fill your basket until you have more than $35, then the add-on item will ship with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Short answer:

Yes, you can order the item by itself but the shipping won't be free.


Reasoning:

To keep costs low, Amazon shipping costs (determined by weight, location, and many other things) will try to group your shipment of this item with your purchase of other items. In other words, Amazon has determined that it is makes economical sense to include this item with free shipping only if you have an order that totals $X.

Usually this applies to items like a pack of toothpicks for $2. Instead of processing that order individually, shipping etc. - they will send you 1 pack of toothpicks if you are also buying $35 in total merchandise getting shipped to your house anyway.

Part of their competitive pricing structure for arguments of getting baking soda cheaper at Costco or Walmart.

So how do you buy the item by iteself? I wanted to buy just that one item but for the life of me, I couldn't do it without buying something else. Frustrating!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Short answer:

Yes, you can order the item by itself but the shipping won't be free.


Reasoning:

To keep costs low, Amazon shipping costs (determined by weight, location, and many other things) will try to group your shipment of this item with your purchase of other items. In other words, Amazon has determined that it is makes economical sense to include this item with free shipping only if you have an order that totals $X.

Usually this applies to items like a pack of toothpicks for $2. Instead of processing that order individually, shipping etc. - they will send you 1 pack of toothpicks if you are also buying $35 in total merchandise getting shipped to your house anyway.

Part of their competitive pricing structure for arguments of getting baking soda cheaper at Costco or Walmart.

So how do you buy the item by iteself? I wanted to buy just that one item but for the life of me, I couldn't do it without buying something else. Frustrating!

Yeah, I see your point- but you can't order it by itself and pay for shipping if it says "add on." Alrthoguh there may be other listings of identical products where you can do so (and thus pay for shipping, likely by a third party)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Short answer:

Yes, you can order the item by itself but the shipping won't be free.


Reasoning:

To keep costs low, Amazon shipping costs (determined by weight, location, and many other things) will try to group your shipment of this item with your purchase of other items. In other words, Amazon has determined that it is makes economical sense to include this item with free shipping only if you have an order that totals $X.

Usually this applies to items like a pack of toothpicks for $2. Instead of processing that order individually, shipping etc. - they will send you 1 pack of toothpicks if you are also buying $35 in total merchandise getting shipped to your house anyway.

Part of their competitive pricing structure for arguments of getting baking soda cheaper at Costco or Walmart.

So how do you buy the item by iteself? I wanted to buy just that one item but for the life of me, I couldn't do it without buying something else. Frustrating!

Your question confused me because previously, if you tried to check out with an Add On item, your cart would update to the out-of-pocket shipping cost for buying direct from that individual seller. Apparently Amazon has completely removed that option if they are shipping and selling the product. I just tried to buy a lip balm for $4, and when I went to checkout with it, it said that it removed it from my card until it got full.

Quite brilliant on their part, because it forces most people to just save and keeping adding to the quantity of their cart. Jeff Bezos is about to deploy his drones and gain an even scarier market share.

But to answer your question, right below the Add to Cart for amazon, there is a button beneath that says, buy from other amazon sellers. That is the option that will allow you to add the product to your cart and pay the seller calculated cost for shipping that product to you. It is not guaranteed for 2-day prime, as it is not shipped by Amazon. It is still under Amazon's umbrella of buyer protection, however.

Hope that makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you do one click to order the $40 item, you are only ordering THAT item, not everything in your basket. If you checkout the normal way, with more than $35 (in some cases it is $25 - unless that changed) than there is no issue. I usually will put it in my basket and wait until I have enough to order.

I am an Amazon Prime member and my Add-On minimum has always been $25. I am wondering if there are different add on-minimums for different customers (e.g. customers with prime, customers without prime)