Make a list of things you need, want, have to replace. Make another list of "regulars": xacto blades, paints, detail parts, glues, structural styrene/brass, tools you think you'll need someday, decals, etc. When a big ticket "wanted" is to be bought, bundle in all the small items from both lists -- plus any less-pricey but unique items, or a freight car or laser-cut kit that'd be nice to have, add those in too, then send in the mixed order. Usually the "little stuff" like paint, blades, styrene, kits, etc, is always in stock or readily ordered for you, so you can get that "just arrived" item you were waiting for along with the little stuff all at a combined shipping price.
Uh... Has anybody ever thought to actually ask the retailer why it's so much? I think your energy would be better spent doing that. I run a web business, and it is extremely difficult to get a system calculating shipping perfectly. In fact, it's pretty much impossible. No system can account for all the potential scenarios, and since most hobby retailers probably aren't at the top of the eCommerce tech curve, I can almost guarantee that there are many items that their system is overcharging on shipping, and they have no idea that it is. Rather than assuming they're "gouging", contact them and ask. You might be amazed to find that they are as shocked as you are. I just purchased something the other day that I knew could fit in a small flat rate box. They charged $12. I contacted them and they agreed... They happily cut that in half. Also, some businesses do not understand the whole 'flat rate' thing very well. Some places mistakenly choose flat rate on everything, when it can actually end up being twice as much as a straight, non flat rate charge. And the system can potentially get screwed up on that too, if it hasn't been coded right.
Thanks Jeff for your kind offer. Here we've "organized" : for "general RR stuffs" I and some friends collect the "wishes" and we divide the transport cost. I see DHL/UPS prices are arise, but as somebody said: we've no choice. About the ebay ... well, if the seller don't care about the hidden cost, ... just drop a "kind" mail to this guy and valuate what he answer back. Take care friends!
Was gonna mention that too. Our post office doesnt have 4x4 delivery trucks ;-) We live out in the boonies of the boonies...lol
It isn't just within USA, and it isn't just the seller's shipping charge. When I was first converting from UK N to US N outline, about three years ago, I ordered several freight cars from advertisers on this forum. No complaints there, in terms of their item prices or their shipping charges. The problem arises when the package has to cross a national border. Her Majesty's Customs and Revenue charge an import duty according to the value of the package, and then Royal Mail add a handling charge for collecting the HMRC levy!!!!! I only buy from within UK now. Regards, Pete Davies
Pete, aren't there laws that govern the collection of taxes for collecting taxes? I believe we Colonials have laws or regulations that prohibit "Double Taxation", then again with the current Administration.....?
Cuss and discuss is why some of us participate here. A guy has to do what a guy has to do. Rant on my friend you won't be the first one and you won't be the last one. With shipping I paid recently.......... I could have ordered in two more Micro-Trains Pullman type passenger heavy weights. However, if I were to jump in my car, run down the hill, grab a bite to eat, I'd pay more then it cost me for shipping. Oh well, it is what it is. Do not get me started on the current administration and the taxes on top of taxes on top of .....yep, like I said don't get me started. Carry on!
I've never ordered anything from SPH&TS just because of their ridiculous shipping. I live down the road and it is still awful. I have sent E Mails to complain, to no avail. Sometimes it's cheaper to buy their books from other sources than direct. Less profit for them.
Hank, we have fuel duty on gasoline and diesel, then VAT on that. The juice itself is actually quite cheap in comparison. Regards, Pete Davies
Interesting reading the ins and outs regarding mailing costs. For a while here down under, we had a good Aussie Dollar that made purchasing direct from the States a very viable way. Now, the Aussie dollar has taken a dive again, unfortunately this also means that the mailing costs increase, items we were able to get at a comparable price to the US when the postage was added has now gone down the tube and become unreasonably expensive. Of course, this also affects any retailers down under, so the purchasing ability has taken a dive. I am sweating on getting an Athearn N Scale Challenger, but instead of an equal price, it will now cost me around $450.00+ Aus $'s, that's an increase of around a hundred bucks in just a couple of months, cuts into a budget pretty quick.
Group: I am always a little amazed at the misconceptions regarding shipping. Aside from our mutual hobby, I work for an internet retail firm that ships thousands of items a month. In general, the purchasing public has been bombarded with endless adds fro "free shipping" and most are under the impression that shipping actually costs little or nothing. That could not be further from the truth. In 2011, Amazon.com, as an example lost $2,400,000,000 in shipping costs (yes that is billions and that is well documented) in offering low cost shipping or free shipping. We are relatively speaking, a small company. We ship using FedEx, thousands of boxes a month, so we have a significant commercial discount, our base cost from FedEx to ship anything ground is $7.00, no matter the weight, size or to where the package is going. So we hire someone to pack the box, the infamous "handling charge", most boxes take about 15 minute to process and pack carefully, if we pay a box packer $10 an hour for easy figuring, that handling charge is $2.50. Let's spend 0.50 on the box, tape, printing the shipping label at a commercial rate and we have $7.00 plus $2.50 plus $0.50. That's ten bucks when I went to school regardless of what is being purchased. So we sell an item for $15.00, perhaps we make a fiver on that. We offer the customer what some rant on here as excessive, shipping - handling costs of $7.50, which actually cost us $10, so if we are lucky, we make $2.50. If we ship for $5 as folks think is more reasonable, we break even, but I guess that would satisfy most here. However breaking even on gross, means a loss for us after taxes and we go out of business. I know it is hard to believe, but small firms actually have to make a profit, and most of the employees of small firms actually like to get paid. Shipping the same box via USPS actually costs us more at a commercial rate from USPS, and most of the USPS flat rate boxes don't fit our items. And last, USPS actually uses FedEx to move their boxes the longer distances so we end up sort of paying FedEx anyway. Sure a lot of folks on this list, myself included, have gotten things shipped for less, but folks, that cheap shipping cost was not the real cost, in most cases the actual shipping cost was double what we paid, and the retailer, if the order was small, more than likely took a loss on the sale, in the hopes of customer retention. Adding insult to injury, FedEx and UPS have in January of the last few years, increased shipping costs 6-7% annually and our reps tell us to continue to expect those rate increases. Take someone like the OP, who lives in the boonies and has gotten many times "reasonable" shipping. The hard reality is that most likely the retailers shipping calculations were not well programmed for his distant location and significantly undercharged him or just "flat rated" his shipping costs. By flat rating, that is the practice that everyone, no matter where they live, would pay the same price for shipping the same box. The retailer hopes, that enough live close by to make up for the lose of shipping to distant customers, but usually that does not work out. That hobby outfit in Lutherville that many mentioned in this post, their system calculates on actual cost, which apparently is something most don't realize. My suggestion always to customers is a) ship to a business address first - it is always cheaper than to a residence because FedEx/UPS/USPS assume someone is always there and they won't have to keep coming back to deliver b) consolidate their purchase into one large order, the FedEx/USP/USPS rate calculators use a decreasing ratio factor, so larger packages, to a point, cost less per pound, and if the retailer pays less, the retailer charges less and last, if your USPS mailing address is a PO box - as mine was for years, you can get FedEx/UPS to deliver to your actual street address most of the time, don't use your PO Box. Nonetheless, we live in an "entitlement" era, and most expect something for free or darn close to it. I had a rather irate customer on the phone last week in Washington State who was irate that she had to paying shipping costs from our location in Atlanta GA, her remark is "why do I have to pay for shipping, everyone ships for free!". As our LHS keep closing, and most, like myself, have to have items shipped, we might as well get used to the fact that shipping costs are, sadly, going to keep rising. It hammers my hobby budget, and I am forced to buy less, but it is not going to get any better. And a lot of smaller retailers I know, simply cannot continue to lose money on small purchases by charging nominal loss making shipping and handling charges. I know most won't like what I have tried to explain. Reality bites. Sincerely, Bill
Although it wasn't a train item, I thought I might share my "Fun With Shipping" chapter. GF was in Milton Keynes,UK over her birthday. When asked what she wanted, she said a black Range Rover. So, I got her one. In 1:18 scale die cast !!! Bought it and had it shipped here (to add some other goodies) for $32.00. Sent it the cheapest/slowest way, which turned out to UPS. It was 3 1/2 pounds and cost $137 !!! So, now I wait for the phone call saying," Oh, baby, I love it, blah,blah, blah". Instead, I answer the phone, then daggers and pitchforks are flying past my head !!! Turns out all they delivered was a slip of paper saying she had to go to some depot in Kent and pay $70 to get this package that she didn't even know existed. After an $80 round trip cab fare, she opened her package !!! If she goes back next year, she gets an E-card !!!
I just checked into shipping for a buyer in Canada. One engine, shipping: $19.95. I'm a five hour drive from the border, it was only $14.00 last year, what happened!?!
Bill, thanks for the reality check. Unfortunately, as you alluded most of us expect Niemen-Marcus service at Wal-Mart prices. The last few years should have shown all of us that we must stop living beyond our means continually expecting more for less, both as a country and as individuals.
Bill...I fully understand what ya say. I have no prob with 7-10 dollars for shipping. My beef was with a 15.00 charge for shipping. Factoring in all of the expenses for a shipper to send a package...there is still no way to justify $15.00 for shipping and handling per package ! The exception being...weight. Obviously a heavy package will cost more to ship. Most of the things we purchase in N scale do NOT fall into that 'heavy' weight class of shipping. Most of us who shop online know what a 'reasonable' shipping charge should be. We really arent looking to get something for nothing. We want our manufactures and etailers to succeed ! We arent a heartless bunch. Yes...we will factor in all costs per order and compare that cost amoungst several manufactures or etailers. Offering a 'decent' price for an item and then bending me over in shipping charges isnt gonna cut it. If a bussiness has to stick it to customers with higher shipping charges then everyone elseto stay afloat...maybe its time for them to turn out the lights and lock the doors !!!! Also...I will almost always wait and combine items to make shipping worth it for both parties. But...when ya have your layout pretty near done and there is a 'just gotta have it item' come up...I know that bottom line for that item is gonna be more then if I had waited to order say 5 different items and combine the order. I accept that. BTW... I always use the cheapest shipping...I dont need anything 'yesterday' and mad because I can't have it that way. And last but not least: There is absolutely no excuse whatsoever to NOT offer shipping to a PO BOX at a decent price...other then a bussineses laziness and indifference to the consumer. H*ll...if Fifer can do...so can anyone else !! It dont take long to figure out who online cares and who dont. JMO YMMV...thnxs
I don't mind shipping costs in most cases, its cheaper for my to call my LHS 50 miles away and have items shipped instead of driving there. Sometimes, it is expensive like shipping 25 lbs of Lionel track from the east coast ...with was understandable at $50. What i don't like is ridiculous flat-rate shipping. I had gone to a manufacturer's web site and was going to purchase a couple sprues of detail parts and decals. This could have been taped to a piece of paper and put in a first-class envelope for a stamp or two in cost or in a small padded envelope for two bucks , but the "automatic shipping calculation" put it at $20!! Adding more to the order to make $20 more reasonable jacked it even higher, so...Forget it and do without ...I'd have to call mid-day and get a person to see if this could be reduced. Peter
