Good, Bad or ugly: Shipping charges

Would you spend more online if the shipping was:

  • Reasonably priced. ($5 or less)

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Free if the amount was over $50

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Free for a limited time

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • money is no object. Charge whatever

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I really don't care how much it is. I don't buy online

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
The problem with UPS when it involves shipping something to Canada from other parts of the world is that they charge a fortune to do the customs paperwork. Canada Post Charges $5 or $6 and UPS charges end up being around $17 or $18. That is even on shipments that are only worth $25 because that is their minimum charge. I know because I had to pay this amount when I got my BladeForums T-shirt.

My preference is for something to be shipped to me via post, with the ablity to track the package and signature confirmation.
 
Like a lot of other folks, depends on the cost of the item and the cost of the shipping. I like to buy stuff for a certain collegiate football team but when I order stuff from the official on-campus store, the shipping charges are too steep. So I buy elsewhere and (so far) haven't gotten stuck with knock-off or unlicensed items. IIRC, the university wants $9 for shipping $49 worth of shirts or whatever. This is not overnighted or anything like that. Of course if you buy $200 worth, shipping is "free".
My other pet peeve is e(spit)bay sellers who are VERY vague about what their shipping charge gets the buyer. Have asked outright is it media rate or Priority Mail and gotten answered USPS. Thanks a lot dork, now specify which USPS method you are going to use. Of course, if you "win" and then find out you paid $10 for $1.78 worth of media rate shipping, "well, you didn't ask how I shipped it." Never assume you know unless it is in their auction ad.
 
I probably can't vote....
I think reasonable in relation to the package size and other package variable, and the time required.
At times, I'm willing to pay 7USD for getting a knife up here with US Priority post. Why? a) regular shipping can take over 2 weeks, and b) I personally can't wait anyways.
Of course if it's free shipping, it's great, but as long as it's reasonable and they just not out right charging extra money to get a profit, I'm usually fine with it.
I'd be pissed if some ass charged me 15USD while it costs 9USD to ship up here. If you're going to do that, be smart and don't put the postage on the package, cause I'll figure it out when I receive it.
 
C'mon, folks! I know most of you have read the thread, so please chime in with your comments.

Another question for you folks; How many of you use USPS for your trades/sales with other forum members, and how many use UPS, FedEx, Ect. Is USPS the favorite, or would you use another service if you could? What are the pro's & con's of each?

Let's hear the comments. :)
 
Priority Mail with delivery confirmation. Around $4.30, Gives you a way to track, and ussually arrives in two days. Thats hard to beat. I use this method for trades, Ebay sales, and all my mailing needs.
 
I use USPS Priority for sending packages and payment. Delivery confirmation on all packages, and insurance on anything that's worth, well, anything. I've sent several dozen packages by Priority, and they have only let me down once-five days, instead of the usual two. Got payment sent by regular mail before the package got to the buyer by Priority on that one. Other than that, they've been perfect.

I got one package from Airborne Express, and was really impressed with them. The seller forgot to upgrade the shipping, but it still arrived overnight. From California-I'm in Alabama. I wouldn't hesitate to try them out, but the local PO is only two miles away, and the most convenient method.
 
I just got $ 750 worth of knives last week. I was charged $10 for shipping, which was the actual cost of box,packing, and UPS shipping.I had it in 3 days.
What makes me mad is when I have spent shipping money and received my stuff parcel post. (different source).
I like knowing knife cost plus shipping.
JMHO
guy
 
Originally posted by Melvin-Purvis
It depends on where the parcel is going...

For example, my Canadian wife has paid obscene amounts of money to send low cost items back home...and I've paid obscene amounts to send items north to my Canadian friends.

Also, USPS has implemented a 'Zip code' pricing policy as of this year...so what once cost $4.55 to ship Priority Post anywhere in the contigeous (48) states, can now run as high as $7.25...factor in packaging and drive/wait time, I don't see $10 as out of hand. (Not an option in the poll...eh?) ;)

Mel
Click to expand...
Melvin, can you tell me more about this "Zip code pricing policy?" I have not seen regarding this. USPS has always had (as long as I have used them) the same rates for the entire 50 states. I looked on their website but I could only find information on the recent price hike, nothing on any new policies. I would really like to know if something has changed.

Because I live in Hawaii, s/h charges are a nightmare without USPS. When I do trades, I deal strictly with USPS. I have had problems in the past (see this to read of my ordeals), but I really have no choice unless I want to pay 3-4 times the price for UPS or FEDEX.

On another note...when people say "lower 48 states only," or "contiguous 48 only," etc...what's the reason for it? USPS is (was?) the same to all 50 states (unless was Mel said is accurate) so is there some other reason for it, or is it just because people are unaware that it's the same price? I never want to ask the seller since they might think that I was some kind of idiot that didn't read the ad correctly.
 
Folks,


I figure my all in cost, including shipping, at least for commodity items. Then, I factor in non monitary factors like convenience and service. For example, I might be willing to pay more, if an individual seller will take a check, since it's a pain for me to get to a post office to buy a money order. Am also willing to pay more, if the online store or a seller provides some useful information.


Alan
 
Melvin, can you tell me more about this "Zip code pricing policy?" I have not seen regarding this. USPS has always had (as long as I have used them) the same rates for the entire 50 states. I looked on their website but I could only find information on the recent price hike, nothing on any new policies. I would really like to know if something has changed
Click to expand...

I believe that Melvin is right, at least in regards to Priority Mail with any weight to it. To mail a large bowie from VA to NY costs me about $5 or so with delivery confirmation, But to mail that same knife to say, Washington state, would run me about $7.50 or so. When you keep the weight to under a pound or so, I belive that they have a flat rate.
 
ZENGHOST,

What Melvin is talking about is the "Priority" pricing guide (USPS is basically mirroring UPS' pricing zone system) and went into effect 30 Jun 02.

Here is the link. . .

http://www.usps.com/consumers/domestic.htm#priority


In a nutshell. . .the US is broken into 8 zones. Postal employees use the originating/destinating ZIP Codes and weight of item to calculate the price of the package being sent.
 
Originally posted by GigOne
ZENGHOST,

What Melvin is talking about is the "Priority" pricing guide (USPS is basically mirroring UPS' pricing zone system) and went into effect 30 Jun 02.

Here is the link. . .

http://www.usps.com/consumers/domestic.htm#priority


In a nutshell. . .the US is broken into 8 zones. Postal employees use the originating/destinating ZIP Codes and weight of item to calculate the price of the package being sent.
Click to expand...
Sonuvab!tch. Man I hate the Post Office.

Thanks for the link.
 
I received a bandicoot from Swamprat today, very beautiful blade!!!

A small negative point nevertheless, it is at the time of the order, it is invoiced 25$ of carriage costs whereas the port costs only 8.70$, that done nevertheless much variation.
I could have understood up to 15$ of fixed price but there 25$ it is really much, for a knife which costs 90$.

It was the first time that I ordered directly on a site of manufacturer and I believe that will be the last, even if I appreciate their range I less appreciate to be taken for a gogo

Bye,
 
Unfortunately, what Mel said was dead accurate. I sold $8 worth of magazines and paid $7.90 to ship them via Priority Mail. That WILL not happen again. Another outfit which will gouge you is Amazon.com. It is easy to order $17 worth of books and pay $10 to get them shipped.
 
CarlHK,

You can also ship books, mag's, phamplets, etc. at a "Book Rate" charge via USPS.

It's dramatically cheaper !
 
I think Zenghost brings up a good point about "lower 48 state" restriction on the classifieds. If you send priority and it is less than a pound, there is no penalty for shipping to AK or HI. That should cover almost all folders and quite a few fixed blades.
Nothing is free. If there is no shipping charge, then the price of shipping is reflected in the unit cost. I do not do business with companies who try to make their shipping services a profit center. In my mind it is false advertising, simple as that.
I like to send stuff Priority. The VCR tape sized shipping box is perfect for most folders and is free if you use the service. It's size is just about right for a folder +the right amount of packing paper and is fairly sturdy.To me thesavings of using the box provided and the satisfaction provided to the receiver by having their item in a timely fashion is makes USPS Priority a bargain. The last time I priced boxes, decently sized sturdy ones were around a buck a pop.
Plus, the post office is handy for me and the UPS office is a giant pain.
One thing for sure is, AVOID Mailboxes ETC.and stores like them. They charge way more than a regular UPS or FEDEX outlet.
One thing I do if I am sending a very expensive knife is to send it USPS Express. It gives overnight delivery and automatic $1500insurance for ~$17 It is pretty easy to get close to that price with Priority, Confirmation and a lot of insurance on a knife anyway.
The purchaser really likes it too! They get it quick;)
I do not charge extra for shipping unless the purchaserhas specific instructions that would drive up the cost of shipping. Of course knife selling and trading is a matter of fun for me and not a way to make a living. To a business like 1SKS or New Graham, I understand why it wouldn't make sense to do it that way.
Great topic Mike!
Dave
 
You think those places screwed you, try American Tomahawk.

I ordered a Brend shoulder holster for $96.00
It was to ship UPS ground that day.

It finally showed up 8 days later 2nd day from Fed-Ex at $12.00 for the shipping.

nothing like bending'em over huh Andy?

Last thing I'll ever buy from there.
 
Originally posted by Double Edge Dave
It gives overnight delivery and automatic $1500insurance for ~$17 It is pretty easy to get close to that price with Priority, Confirmation and a lot of insurance on a knife anyway.
Click to expand...
I just recently had a maker send my knife via Express because I just didn't want to wait. Although it did get here a day later than I expected, but still better than priority. But according to the USPS website (unless I read it wrong yet again), Express only comes with $100 automatic insurance but allows up to $5000 for an additional fee.
 
ZEN,
OOPS! I was just going by what my rather shapely local post office clerk told me. Maybe I was focusing more on how she filled out her uniform instead of what she was saying;)
Dave
 
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