Wal-Mart Price-gouging APO Shipments – The Stars and Stripes military newspaper is reporting that Wal-Mart is price-gouging on freight charges for APO shipments.
In examples given by Stars and Stripes, Wal-Mart has freight charges as much as 500% more than Target or Amazon for the same shipments to an APO or FPO address.
Here are example fees for a $120 shipment to a stateside vs APO address:
- Amazon – Freight rates same at $2.95 each
- Target – Freight rates lower for APO than stateside at $2.10
- Wal-Mart – Stateside freight $2.10, APO freight charge $10.35
A Wal-Mart spokesperson claims their APO shipping cost is higher.
Stars and Stripes says Wal-Mart is wrong:
Earl Small, the postmaster at Wiesbaden Army Airfield, said that the shipping and handling charges have nothing to do with the military postal system or the U.S. Postal Service.
“A company can charge whatever they want,” said Small, who explained that items up to 108 inches are normally shipped at normal cost, but larger items often fall under a more expensive “balloon charge.”
According to Small, when companies ship to APO addresses in Europe, the order is shipped to New York, after which the Department of Defense picks up the tab to get the package to an APO address.
On Walmart.com, the company says shipping costs will be higher to APO addresses due to higher transportation costs.
“There are no higher transportation costs,” Small said. “Companies are abusing the system and making a killing.”
Hard to believe that Wal-Mart is massively overcharging military families on their freight charges and allowed to get away with it.
And that’s the latest news on Wal-Mart price-gouging APO shipments.
Tags: freight charges, military, wal-mart, wal-mart price gouging, wal-mart price-gouging apo shipments
December 28th, 2009 at 3:48 am
I am glad that Stars & Stripes busted Wal-Mart out. Soldiers and families are major consumers of Wal-Marts. Within 10 miles of every base and post in the USA, there is a Wal-Mart. You would think they would be looking for more ways to support military families deployed to “give back” to those serving. Wal-Mart is not the only one who had been charging more for APO shipments, there are many others, such as drugstore.com and several large clothing retailers. Good for Mr. Small at Wiesbaden Army Airfield!!!