Shipping costs

[spolij]

Now I can understand shipping heavy box or large box and the prices that FedEx and UPS charge. But I went to buy a gasket for my trunk lock it was a five dollar part and was $13 for shipping. (I made my own zero cents) The other day I bought windshield washer nozzles things are smaller than a P. $33 for two and $15 for shipping. I mean they could just as well have put the gasket in an envelope and sent it by regular mail for $.50

[harvey b]

Not sure where you live,but we canadians have the same problem,high shipping,and thats if you can convince the seller to send them to you ,not many american sellers want to send stuff to canada,you would think it was mars,the way they act when we say we are in canada,cant imagine what people from europe or australia do. Harveyb

[Tom Boehm]

This is a pet peeve of mine also. I have been hosed by this several times. Each time it was an item that could have been put in a letter envelope with a first class stamp on it but I was charged $13 and $17 shipping. Is this a way to make more profit? Maybe we should call the order in and get a shipping quote first on small items instead of ordering via internet.

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Not sure where you live,but we canadians have the same problem,high shipping,and thats if you can convince the seller to send them to you ,not many american sellers want to send stuff to canada,you would think it was mars,the way they act when we say we are in canada,cant imagine what people from europe or australia do. Harveyb

Blame our governments!!!I Greedy bastards. I've never seen one good thing coming from NAFTA. Eliminate customs fees & forms on all old parts being shipped around the world.

[Lexi]

Yep. Last 4 or 5 years Ebay for example, has also put in place their Global shipping program. Think this is automatic but I believe the seller can opt out at the time of listing I am told. International shipments first get sent to Erlanger Kentucky for customs and brokerage fees calculations. At least there is tracking but the cost adds up and Global shipping fees increase based on how much you pay for an item. Increased shipping time is often the end result as your package first travels to a middle man in Kentucky before it is sent to you. All applicable fees and taxes are paid this way up front. USPS is usually the better and cheaper way for out of U.S. buyers Clay/Lexi

[tozerco]

.......cant imagine what people from europe or australia do. Harveyb

Hi Harvey.... to Oz I can tell you that anything heavier or bulkier than a ham sandwich you don't ship! I have had to find a car importer who, for a small fee, will pack the heavy stuff (wheels, a crankshaft, leaf springs etc. so far) into the rear seat or the trunk of the car he is importing. Has cost me a couple of good bottles of wine on-and-off too. I avoid Fedex or UPS (even though they fly 747 freighters in here all the time) like the plague.

We also have to get creative when importing anything REMOTELY flammable. A helpful seller is good in that situation....

[Steve Passmore]

I second what John has said. I would hate to calculate what I have spent on shipping back here to England over the last 40 years. On top of that everything other than a ham sandwich gets picked up by our lovely Customs office.   Unlike you Americans who can import $800 of goods without import tax, sadly our limit is about $40.

[Hilarius]

For us in Germany a worth of â,¬ 22,00 or $ 25.00 is the limit.
If the worth of the goods is above that, the shipping cost and the worth of the goods are added and about 23% customs are charged on top.
Example: an item for $ 150.00 with international shipping for $ 50.00 will be $ 200.00 plus 23% customs and fees at $ 46.00
In other words you pay more than half the original price for shipping and customs. What was $ 150.00 amounts to $ 246.00.
Consequently, one keeps looking for ways to avoid that.
Hilmar.

[Steve Passmore]

I hear what your saying Hilmar, we have another added charge here which means our Post Office charges a fee for the privilege of the paperwork paying the customs charges. This puts another $20 on the cost regardless of the original cost.     I once bought some special clips, two packets came to $13, Shipping was $9. Post office wanted $20 just to pay the £6 import and VAT.  I let them keep them. For a lot less I had a friend send me some.

[6262]

I was quoted shipping costs of $825 (only shipping to Germany!) for a single exhaust for a '61 Cadillac by a very reputable vendor.
I often get such remarkable quotes. Therefore I use a Texas-based company that receives, stores and repackages my orders and sends them forward to Germany in one package. This service, including their fees and overall shipping costs for the whole lot most often costs me less than the quoted shipping costs for one of the items. Why a big vendor doesn't think more about its shipping cost policy is beyond me. They scare away international customers. Obviously there are possibilities to ship at more reasonable costs.

[Steve Passmore]

I have had good results before using a courier in this country to get heavy parts back from the states. They get TNT or UPS to collect it and bring it over at half of what TNT or UPS charges for the same service.

[Hilarius]

Yes Steve, I remember the 75 grille you had sent to to you and then on to me for a fraction of what was charged, "normally".
Thanks again!!
Hilmar,

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

One HAS to shop around when sending stuff anywhere.

I recently had to get a complete Steering Column and Wheel for a '68 Cadillac from USA to Tasmania, and the Pack and Send place wanted US$1,750.00 to pack and send it, and an International company wanted AU$1,800.00 and it had to be packed up.

I explained to the seller that I could simply fly over, and return with the column as hand luggage for a lot less, and have a short holiday at the same time, or he could do the same thing and bring it with him.

Finally, I encouraged the Seller to put in in a cardboard box, (which required the wheel being removed, and that cost US$10.00 at his local garage), and go to the USPS office, and the Air Mail postage content for this rather large cumbersome box was US$350.00.

It arrived on my doorstep a week later, all there, except for a slightly out-of-shape box, and my customer was happy.

Bruce.

PS.   Last year, I carried an even larger "package" out of New York with me on the plane home for nothing.  Heck, they allow Surf Boards and Golf Clubs to accompany the owners, so why not my "tube", containing a Steering Column, window swipes and Eldorado Trunk torsion bars.   Couldn't post them as they were too long.  USPS does have a limit on air freight.

PPS.   Cheapest freight I ever had.   Suit cases were filled with steering wheel, horn hubs, cruise control components and many other car parts.   Went with two cases, and came home with three cases, and the tube, all just under the baggage limit.

PPS.   The good thing about travelling through USA is that one is allowed 2 cases each, whereas anywhere else in the world, only one case each.

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Guys,
So... while we're on the subject, I'm trying to send a package to Brazil.
29 X 23 X 5 ". Not really big, right???  USPS wants $400. FedEx over $900!!! I'm sure UPS is about that. Any ideas???
Bob

[Roger Zimmermann]

Years ago, Rockauto had exorbitant shipping costs. Recently, I noticed that they are shipping small items with FedEx as "International economy" for a very reasonable amount: $11.99 for a turn signal switch costing about $ 35.00. It's unfortunately not the rule!

[spolij]

A Bob
send me to Brazil and I'll bring the package with me like luggage. LOL