Re: Fuel surcharge on plant orders

$3.33 here midweek. I filled my daughter's big old Chevy, $60. Ouch.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Zemuly Sanders" <zemuly@comcast.net> 
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2008 8:41 AM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] Fuel surcharge on plant orders
I haven't heard of any extra charges at the post office, either. I must say I was appalled to read WFF would insist on a surcharge for an MG order. They are notoriously expensive, but I didn't realize they were that bad. BTW, I did get a "new" car -- a 2007 Toyota Yaris. It's getting around 40 mpg, which is a lot better than the 20 mpg I got with the Xterra. Also the 10 gallon gas tank makes a fill-up a little less traumatic. :o) 
zem
zone 7
West TN
----- Original Message ----- From: "Kitty" <kmrsy@comcast.net> 
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2008 9:44 AM
Subject: [CHAT] Fuel surcharge on plant orders
I've placed over 20 orders for plants this spring, mostly for MGs. The MG orders have to be mailed in becuase they have to pay by check, so where possible, I used their catalog order forms.
I used the catalog form for White Flower Farm, followed instructions and double-checked my aritmetic. The email confirmation came yesterday showing I owed $2.50. ??? I rechecked the copy I'd saved of my order, then went online to see if anything was different, and it turns out that online they are passing on a $2.50 UPS fuel surcharge. I called and told her their was no mention of this in the catalog and she replied that it occurred after the book went out. Right, I understand, but I don't think I can submit a request for another $2.50 check. (oh, I could, but I don't WANT to) She didn't back down, said they HAD to pass on the charge. I said, puh-leeze - our plant total was $85, you are charging $8.00 for fennel and single Maverick pelargoniums!, you can't absorb the $2.50? She agreed but her hands were tied....then she said there was a way to fix it. She'd give us a $5.00 credit for "referring a friend"; it was the only option she had. So now we're getting $2.50 back. Does this make a lot of sense?
I filled up yesterday at $3.29 gallon. That's nearly $50 for a tank of gas. The price of cat litter is climbing fast, I assume because it's so heavy to transport. Target was discontinuing the Tidy Cat line so I "scooped" up 4 pails at a nice discount.
I could understand smaller, privately owned nurseries passing on the fuel surcharge, but the smaller ones I know of mostly use the post office and so far I haven't heard of any surcharge at USPS. I know stamps are going up in May, but has anyone heard of other rate increases or surcharges at the PO? 

Kitty
neIN, Zone 5
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