How long should shipping take from maker?

MaxFactor said:
I'll also add that I was charged $25 for shipping. I'm not familiar with FedEx shipping rates but I know a USPS small flat rate box with full insurance would have cost $24 and would have arrived in two days.
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At least to me, this would be the larger issue.
If this is the method where it is handed to FedEx and ultimately delivered by USPS-that is the stupidest shipping method devised IMO. Pay more , wait longer and still delivered by USPS.
Hopefully the knife will be worth the wait
 
What's wrong with a 3 day wait for shipping? Folks justify waiting 3 YEARS sometimes, if they fanboi hard enough.

You placed an order on a Friday. If it was placed after 10 am local time for the source, you missed the bus. Nobody in the shop on Saturday or Sunday, I imagine. Come next week, that turns it into a rather standard 3 day turnaround for picking, packing, and firing it up to get your tracking info to you the end of day on whatever day it shipped. Or, GASP, the day after.

As multiple folks pointed out, the expensive knife in the short bus shipping cart is a big no no, and much more of a 'problem'.
 
Gastonknife said:
Hmm . Charging you $25 to ship (fine) and then to turn around and send it the cheapest and slowest way on a $1000 is just a stupid/turd move .
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Peter Hartwig said:
At least to me, this would be the larger issue.
If this is the method where it is handed to FedEx and ultimately delivered by USPS-that is the stupidest shipping method devised IMO. Pay more , wait longer and still delivered by USPS.
Hopefully the knife will be worth the wait
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The more I think about it, and because of a situation I am in now with FedEx dumbpost, the shipping is a more egregious issue. The marker charged an acceptable amount for shipping with insurance (I still would have liked to have seen that folded into the price of the knife, it's just a more classy way to do things). But then, turns around and ships the knife with the most unacceptable service possible.

I've got an item on the way from smartpost. It shipped from Aurora IL, up to Milwaukee WI, then back south through Chicago IL. Stupid. Then, it gets to a fedex location about 20 miles away from me at 1:48am on the day it is supposed to be delivered and I'm thinking, "okay, despite the horrible shipping choice, this thing will get here on time". But no. Get an update late in the afternoon that the item that was supposed to be delivered on a Saturday, which is at a location 20 miles away, will be delivered on Tuesday. Not monday, fing Tuesday. 20 miles away.

Now, I got a heck of a deal on this knife (33% lower than any of the well known knife dealers). I knew I was dealing with a drop shipping dealer (item usually ships within 7-14 days). I was fine with that amount of wait time, which is about what it took. But then they pull this shit. I guess this is how they make their money. But is USPS priority that much more expensive than fedex dumbpost? Serious question.

I won't ever be using this dealer again unless the cost savings is to drastic to ignore, which, looking at their other knife prices won't be anytime in the near future. I'll stick to dealers here and the exchange.

MaxFactor MaxFactor once you get the knife and this ordeal is over, you might consider contacting the maker and showing him this thread. Not to call him out and name him or anything. Just as a way of helping him understand the mistakes many of his potential buyers believe he has made. He might have no idea and could use the criticism as constructive.
 
craytab said:
The more I think about it, and because of a situation I am in now with FedEx dumbpost, the shipping is a more egregious issue. The marker charged an acceptable amount for shipping with insurance (I still would have liked to have seen that folded into the price of the knife, it's just a more classy way to do things). But then, turns around and ships the knife with the most unacceptable service possible.

I've got an item on the way from smartpost. It shipped from Aurora IL, up to Milwaukee WI, then back south through Chicago IL. Stupid. Then, it gets to a fedex location about 20 miles away from me at 1:48am on the day it is supposed to be delivered and I'm thinking, "okay, despite the horrible shipping choice, this thing will get here on time". But no. Get an update late in the afternoon that the item that was supposed to be delivered on a Saturday, which is at a location 20 miles away, will be delivered on Tuesday. Not monday, fing Tuesday. 20 miles away.

Now, I got a heck of a deal on this knife (33% lower than any of the well known knife dealers). I knew I was dealing with a drop shipping dealer (item usually ships within 7-14 days). I was fine with that amount of wait time, which is about what it took. But then they pull this shit. I guess this is how they make their money. But is USPS priority that much more expensive than fedex dumbpost? Serious question.

I won't ever be using this dealer again unless the cost savings is to drastic to ignore, which, looking at their other knife prices won't be anytime in the near future. I'll stick to dealers here and the exchange.

MaxFactor MaxFactor once you get the knife and this ordeal is over, you might consider contacting the maker and showing him this thread. Not to call him out and name him or anything. Just as a way of helping him understand the mistakes many of his potential buyers believe he has made. He might have no idea and could use the criticism as constructive.
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The difference depends on the distance, but would likely be $4-6.
 
HappyDaddy said:
The difference depends on the distance, but would likely be $4-6.
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I guess a business needs to figure out if saving on shipping is worth sacrificing repeat business. On most knives, I wouldn't save enough money to justify the wait and frustration for them to make an extra $4-6 on their poor shipping.

I'll stick to standard dealers unless the price is as vastly different as this.

Just got a notification that USPS is in possession of my package. If fedex had gotten my package to USPS 3 hours earlier, a package fedex had sitting for 2 days 20 miles away, I'd have the knife that was scheduled to be delivered 2 days ago, today. Fedex sucks.
 
It would not excessively bother me.

BUT...

For a $1K+ knife you should get prompt drop off at whatever delivery service, and a speedy option from said delivery service. I sell expensive and less costly items and try to ship within a couple days. If it is a pricey item I even work with the buyer as to what delivery service will be used (if they have a preference). And that pretty much always means USPS Priority Mail, since it is quick and affordable (since I also don't profit on buyers with shipping).
 
It's the wintertime, Polar Vortex time, maybe "sh*t happened" :) At least you know it's comin...
 
craytab said:
I guess a business needs to figure out if saving on shipping is worth sacrificing repeat business. On most knives, I wouldn't save enough money to justify the wait and frustration for them to make an extra $4-6 on their poor shipping.

I'll stick to standard dealers unless the price is as vastly different as this.

Just got a notification that USPS is in possession of my package. If fedex had gotten my package to USPS 3 hours earlier, a package fedex had sitting for 2 days 20 miles away, I'd have the knife that was scheduled to be delivered 2 days ago, today. Fedex sucks.
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A few points if I may. First UPS Surepost or Fedex Smart Post rates are far less than half of what USPS priority is.
You are not right in saying that they "suc". you are not comparing apples to apples.
Ok, you don't like the cheap service - understandable - you want things more quickly - your preference. There are many other levels of service. Both Fedex and UPS have many different levels for a shipper to chose from. As does the USPS. Express next day, 2 day, ground, and the USPS connection. You can't compare USPS priority to UPS surepost or Fedex smart post. It's not logical. Those are not fast options - they are purposely slow - but cheap. Many companies want that option - especially with "free shipping".
Further, some people would rather pay the $4 a box rate for the smart/sure post stuff than $12 compared to the USPS priority.
Anyone who truly understands logistics and shipping knows what they are getting with each.

In this case - and likely your's - the shipper took the cheap way out and picked the slowest service. If you do not like that - take it up with them. It's not the carrier's fault.

thanks
 
Gastonknife said:
A few points if I may. First UPS Surepost or Fedex Smart Post rates are far less than half of what USPS priority is.
You are not right in saying that they "suc". you are not comparing apples to apples.
Ok, you don't like the cheap service - understandable - you want things more quickly - your preference. There are many other levels of service. Both Fedex and UPS have many different levels for a shipper to chose from. As does the USPS. Express next day, 2 day, ground, and the USPS connection. You can't compare USPS priority to UPS surepost or Fedex smart post. It's not logical. Those are not fast options - they are purposely slow - but cheap. Many companies want that option - especially with "free shipping".
Further, some people would rather pay the $4 a box rate for the smart/sure post stuff than $12 compared to the USPS priority.
Anyone who truly understands logistics and shipping knows what they are getting with each.

In this case - and likely your's - the shipper took the cheap way out and picked the slowest service. If you do not like that - take it up with them. It's not the carrier's fault.

thanks
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Nope. In my experience fedex and ups suck when compared to USPS. I've had stuff broken, even when packed by ups. The crap I've seen fedex drivers do outside my front door was atrocious, throwing packages and what not. I've had generally good experiences with USPS.

As for price, I've got two respected members telling me different things in that respect. If I cared about the point that much I would go look it up myself. I don't. And like I said above, even regular fedex has really sucked and their budget shipping has also sucked, even worse as it were. I don't care to put any more energy into looking at either service.

As for my example, like I explained, I get the cheap shipping service. The price of my knife was ridiculously low compared to more reputable dealers (that support bfc). I knew what I signed up for. I was even prepared to not have the knife because I knew this was a drop ship and there was a likelihood they couldn't find the knife at the price they advertised. That said, the shipping system is stupid and it does suck.

As for the example of the op, this was a custom maker who charged shipping on top of the knife. The charge seems fair if it was sent with the proper shipping service. It was not. He was a bit late on shipping and sent the knife with a shipping service that sucks. One would expect more from a custom maker.

Hell, I'll likely get my knife before the op and I bought from a large faceless company that has optics in the name. Both chose the same shipping service. Do both need said sucky service to make ends meet? I bet one does on shear volume. The custom maker doesn't. Fold that extra cost for proper shipping into the price of the knife. We're only talking a few bucks.
 
craytab said:
While longer than I'd like, you also didn't get an exact date of shipping.

Last issue is using FedEx. For me, they take twice as long and often travel in the wrong direction a bit compared to USPS.
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Depends on the service and I’ve never used the one mentioned but if you absolutely need something at a certain place guaranteed than fedex is what you want.

The maker must be getting a discount from fedex or thinks this is easier than usps. Maybe fedex swings by his house once a week.
 
Shotgun said:
Depends on the service and I’ve never used the one mentioned but if you absolutely need something at a certain place guaranteed than fedex is what you want.

The maker must be getting a discount from fedex or thinks this is easier than usps. Maybe fedex swings by his house once a week.
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I'd use registered mail if I needed something at a certain place.

Good point on the deal with shipping. Who knows what was the deal. Seems like communication could have been much better. This maker is running a business after all. I'd want my customers to be informed as possible. Before, during, and after the sale that is.
 
craytab said:
I'd use registered mail if I needed something at a certain place.

Good point on the deal with shipping. Who knows what was the deal. Seems like communication could have been much better. This maker is running a business after all. I'd want my customers to be informed as possible. Before, during, and after the sale that is.
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Just read about your experience with ups and fedex. UPS sucks and fedex ground does to. Fedex air is the way to go. It’s a completely different division. We use it all the time and we ship ceramic so I know what they’re like. Hint: they ALL throw packages.

As far as the communication I agree. I wonder how many custom makers either have no understanding about good business or are just on the spectrum and think that what they’ve said is fine.
 
Depends upon how the maker sees themselves. Some people are artists and don't feel they run a business. Other makers are hobbyists and just fit it in to their everyday life. They are not going to be a slave to their knifemaking money. Some people both young and old don't pay attention to all their e-mail accounts. Nowadays people expect everything to move at internet speed, but that's just not true of everyone and every place.
 
B brownshoe ^^^ You are correct. As usual. :thumbsup: However.....

I'm reminded of Kodak being flippant about converting to digital. We all know how that went. If you wish to succeed you NEED to move at the speed of the internet these days. Because someone else IS. (Their names could be synonymous with Canon.... ;))

Aside: Charging a blanket $25 on shipping for an $8 shipment? I'd offer it $25 more and THEN ship it FREE. Haha! Then no one complains. :confused:
 
I would be a little upset with both the delay and the method of shipping...but, you said this is a guy that often drops 2 dozen knives at a time. Shipping 24 pieces, possibly some or all getting a final sharpening and once over before packing could take a few days. Maybe yours was at the end of the pile and others got their shipped on Monday. Communication is key but not everyone has great skills in that department and may feel they communicated well.

I surely would have shipped Priority though if it had been me and I would have said exactly what was going on as soon as you bought the knife....ie, "hey thanks for the sale, let me go over the knife one more time and hone it up good before shipping, BTW, I have 20 going out and you were the 15th buyer so it may take a few days"......hard feeling averted.
 
I like full transparency. Tell me when you expect to ship, tell me what might delay your shipping and what the range might be, tell me the means you are using to ship it, and send me a tracking number when you drop it off.

I have purchased from multiple dealers and individual knifemakers here. I have never bought a knife from a knifemaker, dealer, or private seller that took more than two days to ship, and I have never failed to ship a knife I sold by next business day after payment is received. That includes knifemakers in Eastern Europe!
 
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