Charlie, I'm sorry that I gave out incorrect information. I didn't wish to confuse the issue more! Pat
USPS has just come out with flat rate envelopes and boxes for Priority Mail. It will ship whatever fits in the box for the same flat rate (I think it's $3.85 for the envelope and $7.70 for the box), regardless of weight (I think there's a 70lb. upper limit). Might be of use to some of you who do this a lot. Here's a link: http://www.usps.com/shipping/prioritymail.htm?from=holidaybanner2&page=prioritymail or: <a href="http://www.usps.com/shipping/flatrate.htm?from=priority&page=flatrat> " target="_blank">http://www.usps.com/shipping/flatrate.htm?from=priority&page=flatrat> </a> Regards
I buy a lot of stuff on-line. Not just model railroading stuff, but stuff for ship modeling and furniture building, photo equipment, computers, software, books, tools, cooking, fish ponds, supplies for all of the above, and even new appliances. I like the convenience and time-savings of sitting on my fattening duff instead of running all over town and looking for the stuff--some of which is not available locally. A truffle vinegar in Albuquerque? Haven't found it yet, but there are a dozen reputable source on the Internet. Tiny grommets for ship portholes? Only on the Internet. UV sterilizing lights for the fish ponds? $53 on the Internet; $98 locally, and the store is saying they're "honoring" their quote--Hah! I bunch things together to lower shipping charges. Many times the shipping charges are much lower than the New Mexico gross receipts tax. I just don't deal with vendors who don't have their heads together when it comes to shipping/delivery. I recently bought a trash compactor on-line because the shipping charges were less than local vendors' delivery charges. Or,if I really need something and the shipping seems too much (or mistaken), I'll call or email the vendor. With one exception, I have never had a problem getting things adjusted--the one exception was a fly-by-night art supply outfit, who charged me $8.50 to send $3.00 worth of special-color pens--of the wrong color. Charlie's made some very good points. But not all on-line vendors are sophisticated, or some may have "home-built" software or inventory and shipping procedures that just don't work with the latest technology from the shipping companies. I have some on-line vendor relationships from at least 13 years back--all have evolved over time, as their businesses grew. The ones that didn't--well, I suspect they didn't make it. Most businesses today realize that landing a new customer is far more expensive than pleasing an existing one. I've eaten large printing bills, even though it was indisputably the clients' mistake, to keep a contract. Mistakes and miscalculations happen--the best way to resolve them is contact via phone or email. If it can't be resolved, then you just don't do business. One last note--after a while, in this hobby or others, I think we get a sense of what's a good price, including shipping. Once in a while, you get a "steal"--the Model Expo close-out sale or, if you follow Ebay closely, on that site. But usually good business practices keep both vendor and customer happy for the long term.
Only on one pound Darren. After that it is based on Zip and is complex. I have a multi-page document that lets me compute by Zip to various places. See my screenshot in my original post. Charlie </font>[/QUOTE]True (my bad) but what I was trying to point out is UPS gets more pricing as you cross zones where USPS slowly becomes a better deal at great distances. Based soley on my exsposure that is.
Charlie- I took the screenshot of an order that I "made" today at work. I had to run out and will post it in the morning. It was for 19 packs of Microtrain trucks with couplers (N scale). It was NOT Internetrains, by the way.
I have not had any problems when ordering from any of our advertisers, because it is my habit to NEVER pay by credit card, or PayPAl. I always pay by personal check AFTER I have emailed them to discus the best way to ship, and agree on a cost. We both know where we stand before hand. As a matter of fact, I over-paid a dollar one time, and when the package arrived here, I found the one dollar bill in an envelope taped to the item box inside! Keep in mind that he has to buy a box, packing, tape, and labels, then pay someone to do the selecting, packing, taping, applying the return and send-to labels, pay for gas to and from the PO, just as you would have to, and all that is above the cost of the item(s). If you want "combined" shipping, then ask about it first, you may get it. So it pays to TALK to the guy first, but it HURTS to complain after the fact. See? Just treat him like you would want to be treated.
Please note below is copy of "order" with shipping included. THIS is what I am talking about. Verify Your Order Please review all your information as listed below. Once the Checkout button is pressed, your transaction will be final. Step 1: Customer Information | Step 2: Payment Information | Step 3: Complete Order product unit price qty price Micro Trains Line Bettendorf Trucks w/ Medium Extension Couplers $3.85 19 $73.15 Sub Total: $73.15 UPS Ground: $24.17 Grand Total: $97.32 NOTICE: International orders will be charged actual shipping costs plus $1.00 to cover materials. The shipping costs as shown above do not necessarily represent the carrier's published rates and may include additional charges levied by the merchant.
Chuck at feather river charges 7.70 flat rate. Took two days too get from california to northern ohio>
Mark, Call them. Our advertisers are the people to buy from. I'm sure that they will be glad to straighten it out. Charlie
The shipping charges shown are quite similar to those of an advertiser. I will call the advertiser and place the order this weekend verbally this weekend after negotiating and ascertaining the exact shipping charges.
I have an apology to make to Charlie, the advertisers and the board members. I was under the impression that Feather River was an advertiser at this site. I have reviewed a similar order with all of the advertisers that I can think of and can not find one with shipping charges at, or near, the level stated in my posts. Feather River was the only one and my old brain, since FR is referred to frequently here, must have assumed it was an advertiser. I just tried a similar dummy order at Internet Trains and the shipping was a reasonable $7.99. woo woo woo woo woo woo was also in line. Again, my apologies. Never thought you would see a lawyer apologize for anything, did you?
Whew!! I sure glad I have a LHS that gives real GREAT prices and has SERVICE AFTER THE SALE! I still buy online, but most of the places I buy online from, were places I dealt with before I went online. All these posts about the problem with shipping brings me back to my past employment of 20 years in the medical supply industry. I have several observations about the SMALL PACKAGE shipping. The BEST regular shipping company was UPS, they have the system set up and working. FEDEX/GROUND was coming on strong, but can be hard to work with. The USPS was gaining ground on both UPS & FEDEX/GROUND, but was not quite ready for a high volume shipper. We shipped at least 100 + pieces a day. You have to remember that UPS & FEDEX/GROUND are set up for BUSINESS to BUSINESS shipping. Residential delivery is not their bread and butter. This where the USPS has the upper hand. UPS is very customer friendly, every terminal has a customer service area. Anybody can ship at this point. FEDEX/GROUND does not have shipping points at terminals, they want you to go through their drivers, and the drivers don't have the time to mess with your package. This is another area where the USPS is right there in the game. UPS & FEDEX/GROUND can get a little expensive, but you get built in tracking and $100 insurance with every shipment. I am now a model railroader who buys and sells on eBay, a little on TRAINBOARD, and a few other sites. All I'm trying to do is make my hobby pay for itself! Or so I tell the BOSS(wife)! I use USPS PRIORITY MAIL for almost all of my shipping because it's cheap, quick and easy for me to do. The USPS website makes any shipping easy, overseas, in USA/CANADA no matter. I have shipped worldwide and had no problems. I offer my buyers the option to ship by any other carrier that they want, and will be paying for. I charge the cost of postage + $1.00 packing fee. I think this is fair, I've had no complaints.
I would like to report on actual deliveries from two of our advertisers- 1. woo woo woo Klien- $5.00 shipping & handling on an order that weighed less than two pounds. I think it is quite reasonable. There was a gap of almost three weeks between the on line order and delivery. There was no answer to my e-mail inquiry after two weeks as to status to order other than an automated shipping notice sent on around day 19. The entire order was filled. 2. Wig-Wag - A lightweight order of the elusive MT 2004-1 couplers and a few other items. The order was shipped the next morning and arrived two days after shipping from New Mexico (or some other outlying province) to New York City. Personal E-mail exchange on order, questions answered promptly and shipping was $.60 postage and $.25 handling. Both suppliers had competitive pricing on the items ordered.
I should mention that this thread promted a telephone call from Steve, the owner of InternetTrains.com. He wants to make sure that people know that they only use two shipping charges: none and $7.99. Although Steve is not a frequent poster on the forums, he stressed that they want people to understand that they are most eager to serve their customers and that they will do anything possible to make people happy. As they have advertised with us since March of 2000, I have had experience to talk to many of our members who have done business with them, I am quite confident that they do, indeed, do everything they can to make people happy. I recently ordered some boxcars from them myself and the transaction was 100% prefect. I feel it is important to mention this as some of these threads where hobby shops are discussed sometimes leave more questions than answers. Charlie
