COMBINED shipping, WATCH OUT !!!

[elkor-alish]

I just about always lose money on my postage but I'd rather lose out than rip people off

Good on you.
That's exactly what I do.

[Greg]

Shipping stencils out is expensive. I had one lot to canada "almost" go missing on me. Now i only quote shipping with tracking and signature. Cost via Aus international post is nearly always just under $80. Personally, i feel this is far too much to be charged for shipping and often it kills an international sale.
But for $80 i make nothing and for this shipping amount, i make the box, wrap the stencils in shrink wrap, pad the ends, tape up like a gimp on  holiday and then drive to the post office. Im always suprised at how much time this takes me and often think that i should charge a packing fee. I never do of course and so this becomes part of a "service"... aah yes.. service.. somehow this all got lost in the world

the funny in that Gavin
 its cheaper to ship stencils to Aust from the USA, my last set cost me 48.00.usd via usps  postage/ insured

maybe its cheaper sending stencils down hill.... WTFK,
but then and again USPS actually have competition, what does Austpost have?
 

[48]

but then and again USPS actually have competition, what does Austpost have?
 

A long term entrenched government department mentality? 

[Marty Machine]

but then and again USPS actually have competition, what does Austpost have?

It's long overdue that Aus-Post needs a rival to come along and kick it's butt...

I've thought over & over in recent years, about setting up an alternate post service, but it's almost the same as perhaps setting up just another courier company, although CHEAP prices would be most important.

MM

[Retropin]

Shipping stencils out is expensive. I had one lot to canada "almost" go missing on me. Now i only quote shipping with tracking and signature. Cost via Aus international post is nearly always just under $80. Personally, i feel this is far too much to be charged for shipping and often it kills an international sale.
But for $80 i make nothing and for this shipping amount, i make the box, wrap the stencils in shrink wrap, pad the ends, tape up like a gimp on  holiday and then drive to the post office. Im always suprised at how much time this takes me and often think that i should charge a packing fee. I never do of course and so this becomes part of a "service"... aah yes.. service.. somehow this all got lost in the world

the funny in that Gavin
 its cheaper to ship stencils to Aust from the USA, my last set cost me 48.00.usd via usps  postage/ insured

maybe its cheaper sending stencils down hill.... WTFK,
but then and again USPS actually have competition, what does Austpost have?
 

That doesnt suprise me.... Aus post is still cheaper than other options... DHL are $120 to ship with.

But... In saying that.. i had to ship 165Kgs from China a while back.... DHL my side was AU$1500.... i had the suppliers in China organise it in the end and it cost via DHL AU$900

Same company... same plane bringing it in... same delivery and customs.. but $600 cheaper.


Get the feeling you are being ripped off?

[Strangeways]

One of the reasons I buy from PBR is they charge you the EXACT shipping fee (based on weight and size), and they add a handling fee. When you recieve the package, it is packed really well and the box is the exact dimensions. Marco, on the other hand, find the biggest box they can find and rip you off. My last order had more packing than parts, and some of the parts were missing.

Combined shipping is "hit and miss". With eBay auctions, I always ask about combined shipping on items I want BEFORE the auction ends. Years ago, I bought a Aux Lamp driver from the USA, and I asked if the seller had a Squark and talk board - which he didn't. But a month later, I recieved the aux lamp driver board in a much bigger box - which immediately angered me - but when I opened it - it had BOTH boards ! He was kind enough to GIVE me a board and he charged me the exact shipping fee.

A while ago, I bought a heap of Tamiya stuff from Chine. It was less than half price than Aussie and USA site, so I bought 20 items - But I FORGOT to ask about the EXACT shipping cost - as the seller specified he would combine shipping. The order cost me AUS$24 - and he charged me AUS$20 to ship. Originally, he wanted $26 - which was the individual item shipping price simply added. I refused to pay until I recieved the actual shipping cost. When I recieved the package - I looked at the stamps and added up the Hong Kong Dollars - it cost him AUS$6.55. RIP OFF !!

Lesson learned - I always ask what the EXACT shipping cost will be.

[Greg]

Shipping stencils out is expensive. I had one lot to canada "almost" go missing on me. Now i only quote shipping with tracking and signature. Cost via Aus international post is nearly always just under $80. Personally, i feel this is far too much to be charged for shipping and often it kills an international sale.
But for $80 i make nothing and for this shipping amount, i make the box, wrap the stencils in shrink wrap, pad the ends, tape up like a gimp on  holiday and then drive to the post office. Im always suprised at how much time this takes me and often think that i should charge a packing fee. I never do of course and so this becomes part of a "service"... aah yes.. service.. somehow this all got lost in the world

the funny in that Gavin
 its cheaper to ship stencils to Aust from the USA, my last set cost me 48.00.usd via usps  postage/ insured

maybe its cheaper sending stencils down hill.... WTFK,
but then and again USPS actually have competition, what does Austpost have?
 

That doesnt suprise me.... Aus post is still cheaper than other options... DHL are $120 to ship with.

But... In saying that.. i had to ship 165Kgs from China a while back.... DHL my side was AU$1500.... i had the suppliers in China organise it in the end and it cost via DHL AU$900

Same company... same plane bringing it in... same delivery and customs.. but $600 cheaper.


Get the feeling you are being ripped off?

that downhill theory is  starting to sound good

[ajlaird]

At the end of the day, i can sleep peacefully, knowing that in my 10-11 years on ebay, i've NEVER charged handling fees, rarely overquote on postage for difficult items but ALWAYS refunded the difference.
In fact, ALL my items on sale that reach ridiculous prices have the postage fee removed.
I figure if someone's gonna pay $170 for a book or small toy, why not give them a break and waive the postage, it's not like $10-$15 is gonna kill me......yet nobody else does that for me ;-(

I'm guessing the VZ stuff gets free postage then!

I've even heard that in rare circumstances you will allow pickup.

Nice to see a seller not trying to rip people off.

[Greg]

but then and again USPS actually have competition, what does Austpost have?

It's long overdue that Aus-Post needs a rival to come along and kick it's butt...

I've thought over & over in recent years, about setting up an alternate post service, but it's almost the same as perhaps setting up just another courier company, although CHEAP prices would be most important.

MM

FedEx tried setting up here a few years ago when they used the Kinko stores........that lasted about a year
before they moved the call centre to asia then most of the kinkos started closing   now all they really have is pick up and delivery services  in Aust.


its to bad that UPS didn't try setting up here in all the major cities and then sell  little (private) UPS postal box stores to private owners like they did in the US....that could of worked

[Marty Machine]

I'm guessing the VZ stuff gets free postage then!

No doubt when it skyrockets it will ;-)

I've even heard that in rare circumstances you will allow pickup.

hehehehe, nice one AJ, yep, on rare occasions i do....

MM

[Marty Machine]

FedEx tried setting up here a few years ago when they used the Kinko stores........that lasted about a year
before they moved the call centre to asia then most of the kinkos started closing   now all they really have is pick up and delivery services  in Aust.
its to bad that UPS didn't try setting up here in all the major cities and then sell  little (private) UPS postal box stores to private owners like they did in the US....that could of worked

So close, and yet so far......sooner or later this has to be looked into again...