If you go back to the original post in this thread you'll see that the 'issue' is not the costs of shipping per se, and not even (I think) the costs from the US. It is the fact that many online shops seem to make it as hard as possible to see what the shipping cost will be before you actually press the 'buy' button, whether it's to go 5 miles or 5000. I have the same beef and it is true of as many stores in the UK as in the US, and from what teebee says probably France and any other country you care to (try and) buy from. As teebee says internet customers are fickle creatures and stores that don't provide a good service will lose custom at the click of a mouse button.
Most online hobby shops have a cost estimator. Just use it. Or email them with registering. $40 shipping from the USA to Europe is standard for up to 2 pounds. EMS (Express) can be cheaper and faster for some packages than the standard Priority Service.
Chiming in as someone who A) builds e-commerce applications for the web, and B) has worked many years in shipping and distribution. First, most shopping cart applications will give you the final total amounts prior to charging your credit card. If you don't like what you see, either contact the merchant, or go elsewhere. And if you do go elsewhere, why not let the merchant know. Maybe they'll find it useful information. Also, many shopping cart applications use an API to connect with a shipper for real-time shipping cost estimation. This is based on several metrics: item weight, number of items that will fit in a box, box size, flat rate shipping prices, destination, etc. And often, a merchant will add a small percentage (or flat cost) to cover overages as well as handling/packaging costs. Believe me, shipping isn't a science, it's an art form, so consider that when ordering something.
It's not that I can't find out how much shipping will be it's the amount of time and effort it takes me to get that information. I quite often buy N gauge chassis from PlazaJapan on Ebay. Now there I know instantly there that the first one I get is going to cost me roughly $6.50 shipping from Japan and any extra ones are going to cost me an extra $2. But if I want to buy from an online shop often I have to create an account, maybe verify it, add all the bits I want to my basket, go the the checkout then maybe I can get an estimate. And if I find that shop wants to charge me $65 postage on a $35 order, go and repeat the process until I find one that doesn't. All I'm saying is that it does not encourage me to buy from you, you did want my custom I presume ? I try to follow my own principals on my Ebay sales - all my stuff on there has free worldwide postage included in the price, my lowest cost items sell for $6 and I'm still making money including the covering the postal charges. While I'm here, this nicely illustrates another of my pet peeves with websites. Original site http://www.xkcd.com/970/ Tom
OK, and on that issue I am in complete agreement. But (there's always a but), that's also seen as a cart "feature" (to the merchant) as in once a person has put in the effort, they're more likely to go through with the transaction. So, like you, I prefer to have some sort of idea up front (at least maybe a message saying "hey, we calculate your shipping based on total items, how much will fit in a box, total number of boxes, total weight, and flat-rate shipping per box pricing" or something like that). Anyway, while it can be annoying, I know so much about how it works behind the scenes, that I just suck it up and do what it takes to get what I want/need.
But as this thread shows, many people will go elsewhere before they "put in the effort". Especially in these times of concern about security of personal information, expecting people to 'sign up' before they can see the total cost is unnecessary and in my opinion simply unreasonable. Please tell your website owners that their 'great idea' to trap people also loses potential customers - we aren't as stupid or 'faithful' as they'd probably like to think (Love the cartoon tebee)
Just for the record, I didn't design that feature. That's what many off-the-shelf ecommerce shopping cart apps have in them. I prefer the other way around, but that's not always an option.
And if they won't tell you? I wanted to order several items from a major Japanese ebay seller. Shipping cost was high for one item, but combined shipping might have been worth it. I e-mailed them with a list of what I wanted and my location, asking for the combined shipping cost. They replied that the cost would be figured after I ordered everything. I sent them another, saying that I wouldn't order unless I knew all of the costs beforehand. They repeated their reply. I didn't order. If I cannot find a clear total cost for my order, I don't order. There's not one item online that I "have to" buy. I wish retailers would realize that. It's their store, they can run it however they want and demand that I jump through whatever hoops that they want me to jump through. That's their right. It's my money, I can decide whether I want to jump through hoops or jump ship. That's MY right. Currently I deal with three online retailers. They provide what I want, at a price I'll pay, with an interface that I'll use. (I know that shipping from Japan will be relatively high. That is not the point.)
I agree completely.............if I want to order from a website that puts me through hoops..........I'm gone. There are enough places that make it easy to blow off the ones that don't.
Indeed, you have a right to shop where you want. And they have a right to set up a store however they want. And if it means that some people won't shop with them, then that's the chance they take and that's their problem. Personally, I don't mind setting up an account to shop someplace, because if I'm shopping there, I've pretty much already decided it's worth the effort. But I definitely agree that I won't shop someplace that won't let me know (either through an automated shopping cart shipping calculator, or through direct inquiry) the total cost of my order (shipping, handling, etc.).
I agree with the OP and the article that was linked. I often leave a website and a shopping cart because in order to get a shipping total you need to set up an account or do some other 3 ring circus act.
Don't be too quick to punish a merchant for having a shopping cart application that requires registration to get totals. I don't think it's a three-ring circus act to have to provide accurate address information before you see a shipping cost, especially since the shipping cost is almost always based on that location (especially when you consider the freight options of UPS/FedEx/etc. where there are different charges based on whether an address is business or residential). If they're going to need that information anyway in order to process your order, why not combine the account setup to save you from having to enter it again later. Having an account also means it's easier for both you and them to track your order, from fulfillment to delivery, which is good customer service. And another "feature" that having an account enables is the ability to save your cart, so if you're not sure about your purchase, you can come back later and pick up where you left off (again, saving you time). Plus, the merchant might not be able to afford one that's different, as many of the free or low-cost options are built that way. Remember, they're not just trying to run a business, but stay in business, and every little bit counts. And yes, I know that they might make more sales if people like you didn't walk away, but if they don't have the up-front money for the alternative ecommerce application, what do you expect them to do? It's not all part of some secret plot to steal your identity or anything. Anyway, just my two cents...
Ok, I hear your frustration. My online shop has the shipping calculator feeding from the US Post Office. May not always calculate properly. My clients from the opposite hemisphere take the time to tell me that. So, I only quote actual shipping to reward them for the feedback or maybe add some free small parts. No matter what a merchant does, you can't buy good clients. You earn their trust and loyalty. When I want the latest Japanese product or something only worthy of diorama quality I go to one specific Japanese website. By now I know that the shipping will be calculated later on that site, the Yen fluctuates rapidly, and I can live with that only because reserving the items months in advance means I get the lowest price and I'm the first boy on my block to get that new train item. In the USA, I buy from FiferHobby.com. The Customer Service is tops. Patronize one or two places.
