Need advice dealing with vendor

[sillydog123]

In talks with a rep (decently reputable) to order product. They’re insistent on charging me for shipping despite my order reaching the minimum $$$ amount for free shipping.

Unsure what to do here because it says I should have free shipping, I don’t want to be disrespectful or come off as rude to the rep because there is a bit of a language barrier.

 

[lemon lady]

who's the vendor? not to gaslight you but some vendors offer minimum amount for free shipping, others don't despite large orders.

 

[ZippityDooDah]

In talks with a rep (decently reputable) to order product. They’re insistent on charging me for shipping despite my order reaching the minimum $$$ amount for free shipping.

Unsure what to do here because it says I should have free shipping, I don’t want to be disrespectful or come off as rude to the rep because there is a bit of a language barrier.

Ultimately it's a matter of "if you will not honor your published terms for free shipping, I will take my business elsewhere" and then do it.

There are some situations where free shipping may not apply such as if part of an order is being shipped from a US warehouse and part is being shipped from China. They are not always good at communicating those kind of nuances, but usually they will explain it during the ordering process.

The language barrier can definitely be a challenge at times, but even a bigger factor in my experience is the cultural differences. One thing I've learned is not to be afraid of being direct. Direct doesn't mean rude, but don't parse words or try to be cute or creative with whatever you're trying to communicate. Always remember that the Chinese approach to conducting business and customer service is not the same as most western societies, so expecting Amazon-like treatment or practices is generally not advisable or even reasonable.

 

[GLP1Pharmacist]

In talks with a rep (decently reputable) to order product. They’re insistent on charging me for shipping despite my order reaching the minimum $$$ amount for free shipping.

Unsure what to do here because it says I should have free shipping, I don’t want to be disrespectful or come off as rude to the rep because there is a bit of a language barrier.

Tell them above $ x is free shipping or you will buy elsewhere

 

[BooneDonk]

Direct doesn't mean rude, but don't parse words or try to be cute or creative with whatever you're trying to communicate. Always remember that the Chinese approach to conducting business and customer service is not the same as most western societies, so expecting Amazon-like treatment or practices is generally not advisable or even reasonable.

Tell them above $ x is free shipping or you will buy elsewhere

Solid advice given! IDK if OP has ever communicated using a translator, its much less than ideal.

 

[ZippityDooDah]

Solid advice given! IDK if OP has ever communicated using a translator, its much less than ideal.

Some of the translation software has really become quite good, especially with AI integration, but they will likely never be perfect since language is an ever-evolving part of our existence and can be very nuanced.

Sometimes there are just words and phrases that don't have an equivalent in the other language, and often things like slang, metaphors, or even contractions can make things even more confusing.