Best LPR engine source on Amazon.com?

[Marc_G]

Hi everyone,

Exactly two hours after placing an order on Amazon.com for a new camera, setting me back a pretty penny, I unexpectedly received a nice Amazon.com gift card. It's too late to apply it to the camera, so I figured I would stock up on some engines. Motors (LPR) are the only rocketry related thing I need right now, as I've used up most of my routine stock of common motors like B6-4, C11-3, and the like. I'm really talking just Estes black powder stuff.

So, I went to Amazon and looked around a bit... but it seems like most places apply charges for shipping PER ITEM so if I order a pack of B6-4 and a pack of C6-5, the shipping in total would be about as much as the engines themselves. What a ripoff.

Are there any vendors with good motor selection there that will combine shipping on multiple items ordered in the same session? I found "ehobbies" but they make a big statement that multiple "media" items get charged shipping per item. Not sure what they mean by "media."

Thoughts?

Marc

 

[jsargevt]

Media rates are for books, DVDs, that kind of thing.

It seems eHobbies has a pretty fair shipping charge through amazon:


Continental US Street · Standard · (3 - 5 business days)
Per Shipment Bands Shipment Rate
$0.00 to $4.99 $3.49
$5.00 to $99.99 $6.99
$100.00 to Up $0.00

I ordered something from them way back in 2000 or so. They were good then. No idea about now. However, those are the best shipping charges I see on amazon for this stuff. A bummer they don't have prime - that really spoils you!

Good luck with the motors and the camera.

 

[Marc_G]

Thanks Jason, I must have misunderstood their policy.

True, Prime can spoil you. I am in a trial of Prime for a month. Not sure if it will be worth it to me continue, but I'm making good use of it now.

I'll load up on eHobbies stuff to get gest value. It's a shame there's not more Fliskits stuff on Amazon, too. Just one or two products is all I found there.

There's no way to convert Amazon gift card $ into Paypal $ is there?

Marc

PS: Those following my "build the one you're with" thread: I actually am almost out of a bunch of engines, and am starting to whittle down my other types of engines, so resupplying them is within my plan! Kits and body tubes/NCs- not so much. I've still got too much of those...

 

[Mojo_wire]

AC Supply seems to be the better than anywhere on Amazon.

For example, the best Estes Blast Pack price on Amazon seems to be $48.99 + $6.99 shipping.

AC is at $41.99 + $11.99 shipping. So it's about $1.20 cheaper to go with AC right there, and that's flat price shippping if you buy more stuff. Then they offer free shipping on $100+.

For standard 3- and 4- packs of engines, AC is $3-$4 cheaper than any Amazon dealers, not including shipping. But you only have to buy a couple packs to make up that difference.

 

[Marc_G]

I agree AC Supply rocks, but I have gift certs for Amazon and need to spend them there.

 

[Gary Byrum]

So, I went to Amazon and looked around a bit... but it seems like most places apply charges for shipping PER ITEM so if I order a pack of B6-4 and a pack of C6-5, the shipping in total would be about as much as the engines themselves. What a ripoff.

Marc

When I order stuff from Amazon, I make it a point to buy at least $25 worth of eligible Free Super Saver Shipping items so I don't have to pay for shipping. Might be a good idea to look for this on whatever you buy from them.

 

[Sully]

When I order stuff from Amazon, I make it a point to buy at least $25 worth of eligible Free Super Saver Shipping items so I don't have to pay for shipping. Might be a good idea to look for this on whatever you buy from them.

I did this, and I found myself ordering things that I didn't really need to get just over the $25. I also found myself waiting to buy things until I had a 'critical mass' to get free or more efficient shipping (lots of things don't count toward the free shipping tally)

A few years ago we started Prime, and it's been great. The savings in shipping pays for the fee several times over, but more importantly, to me, I can make small purchases when I need them without feeling guilty about overspending on shipping. I prefer to feel guilty about overspending on the purchases themselves!

We have ordered the blast pack from Amazon several times. It's probably available elsewhere at times for a few $$ less, but it's the best way I've found to buy LPR motors, unless you have very specific motor needs that fall outside the types included in the Estes pack.

 

[raohara]

So, I went to Amazon and looked around a bit... but it seems like most places apply charges for shipping PER ITEM so if I order a pack of B6-4 and a pack of C6-5, the shipping in total would be about as much as the engines themselves. What a ripoff.

The reason shipping charges are calculated that way is because it is Amazon's policy. Small seller accounts are forced into that model; they have no choice. I think if a seller is willing to pay for a Pro Merchant account they can get around that policy, but I am not entirely sure if that is true.

- Rich

 

[bytesiz]

Here is a option. You can order some stuff thru Amazon.com from Apogee. Then Apogee is willing to change your order to want ever you want. I have done this a couple of times with them without issue. Just give them a heads up first. It a good way to get rid of Amazon credit for rocket stuff.