Shipping & Handling

[JimNB]

I just received a shipment from a parts dealer and was charged $14.58 for "shipping & handling".

The box had 2 items in it and a USPS stamp worth $ 3.10.

I am all for free enteprise but this seems a little excessive. A client should not be charged over $ 10 to pick and pack 2 items.

Any other experiences or tips on reducing the costs of shipping ?

Jim

[davis911s]

HI Jim
How's the East coast?
I have had the same thing happen to me a few times. Ussually now I ask about shipping charges, especially when yo have to add in Duty and customs when the parts come from the States. I agree that that does seem excessive, was this a personal "parts dealer" or a company? That would make a big difference.

Shawn

[Halm]

I used to run a company that shipped to customers via UPS so I know their rates. Candidly, most mail order firms are simply using the "shipping and handling" charge as another source of revenue. The only choice is to ask and try to get it waived or pick another company that does not use that practice.

[steve rush]

Be aware great white north...when I had skis shippped across states the charge was 14.92....that's accross all of the states.
When shipped accross to Canada was 65.05...and less than half the distance. They claim it was not even the customs , just both post offices wanting to be paid. And the one on the north side wanting MUCH more. Now I drop down for mail and drive north to ski. Steve

[HawgRyder]

If you think you have it bad.....try living in Canada....you pay shipng, handling, duty, tax, tax on shipping, and then finally....a handling charge by the post office.
The last charge apparently is to print a little card to put in your mail box to inform you they are holding a package at a nearby mail drop.
Then when you go there....they want more money just for handing you the package!!
When you use UPS...there is a cross the border charge (bond agent) and that can run up to C$75 .... for clearing the pkg that originally cost US$8.00 !!!
Highway robbery has moved !!
Bob

[Tim Polzin]

And don't forget that UPS's bond agent charge is for goods that have NO DUTY because of NAFTA! mmuffff crooks mmmmuff.
Sorry, sore point.

Steve, actually Canada Post is very reasonable, only a $5.00 Can charge plus GST. UPS is a whole n'other story.
Tim

[Brian Cameron]

Originally posted by Tim Polzin
Steve, actually Canada Post is very reasonable, only a $5.00 Can charge plus GST. UPS is a whole n'other story.
Tim

Yeah. Try UPS charge for $40 customs brokerage fees for a $12 part. Pass the vaseline.

The delivery guy could only suggest that next time I pop for air freight because UPS doesn't put these through the broker (?). Go figure.

[Wayne 962]

The US post office keeps undercharging us for Candian shipments. Check how much the shipment would be from the vendor's location to your home location. I can guarantee you that it's more than $3.10. You can't ship a package to Canada for $3.10! The minimum in the states for Priority mail is $3.95.

Goto www.usps.com if you don't believe me. I just entered your address, and it said the shipping amount should be $13.25. Our shipping rates are computed directly from the USPS website beforehand.

We don't have any control over the shipping amounts that the US Postal service is charging us. We just drop off the packages, and they add them all up in one huge bunch. This has happened more than once before with our Canadian customers. If you would like a credit applied to your next order, I would be more than happy to do that.

-Wayne

[patalive]

I don't notice the S&H charges so much on auto parts orders but where it really is apparent is on electronic electronic equipment.

When I recently purchased a new digital camera, printer, and several other items, I used www.cnet.com for price checks on specific models. S&H charges on cameras ranged from about $12 to over $36 - - - for GROUND transportation. Talk about padding the low prices! The UPS site provides a very good shipping cost estimates, based on package weights, demsions and zip codes for sending and receiving addresses. As I recall, the ACTUAL UPS shipping charge was something on the order of $8. Granted, there are costs associated with packing materials and labor to pull the inventory item(s), $28 is way excessive.

Chuck

[JimNB]

Thanks for your response, but I don't buy it. At the end of the month when you do your reconciliation with USPS for your account, you MUST be making money on the S&H or you need a lawyer to sue the USPS on your behalf.

It really comes down to be nickled and dimed. I don't appreciate it, and given the right effort, I am sure that Pelican could devise a more effective and fair way of handling these charges.

Thanks. I will use the credit in the future.

Jim

[tops911]

try $178.00 shipping for a windshield. Less than 50 lbs, from Ohio to North Carolina. Seemed kind of high. I could of drove to Ohio and got the windshield put in for that price. Oh well live and learn

[Reg]

In our business, when we ship an item to the USA we have to quote the shipping costs upfront, and sometimes it is very difficult to get an exact number for an item. With the fuel surcharges and the rate changes that happen from time to time it is really a crapshoot.

A business is not about to lose any money shipping you an item. I cant speak for everyone, but we do our very best to give our customer an accurate reading that shows them the total amount ( we even pay brokerage/bond for them) so there are no surprises.

Sometimes we end up making $20 on shipping, but its better than losing $20.

On the flipside Jim, what if none of these US companies just said no, we dont ship to Canada its too much of a pain?

[HawgRyder]

For any items that I can...I have them shipped to the nearest US post drop.
I am lucky to have one in PT. Roberts, WA ...just a quick hop away from my house, and easy access.
The funny thing is...it is isolated from the rest of WA...they have to drive through Canada to get to it !
This way I pass the items through customs myself...act as my own broker...save $$$..and get to buy cheaper gas at the same time.
Bob

[HarryD]

Hi Jim,

My Wife and I sell stuff on e-bay. We post the S&H charges as part of our notice to the winning bidder. Sometimes the winner takes exception to our charges and asks for a reduction. Depending on the item, we often are able to accomdate them.

My advice to you is to ask about the charges up front and if you feel they are excessive, let the seller know. Most sellers have some "wiggle room" and will try to accomodate you.

[pbs911]

You can't do much about shipping costs. But isn't handling just a cost of doing business? I mean shipping people receive their paychecks for handling the merchndise.

I checked the JC Whitney catalog for $9 parts, and they wanted $9 for handling charges! Needless to say I continued to look elsewhere. I simply refuse to pay a handling charge in addition to the shipping. Adding the handling charge is just a way of marketing lower prices then the competitor, but when added you are probably paying much more.

[Reg]

...right paul

to see a quote on freight plus packaging and then to be hit with a "handling" charge on top is crazy. Any of those incedentals should be factored into the cost of the product or freight or perhaps the packaging.

When I quote a job for someone I list them the product, shipping and insurance, brokerage/bond fees, and packaging. That is the total cost of the goods from here to there, so my customer knows exactly how much the item will be delivered to them.

I would be ticked to think something cost $$ and having it be $$$ after the fact. This happens especially on the Canadian side . Anyone bringing things "up"should expect to pay customs and or brokerage fees... handling whatever you want to call it! Free Trade HA! It should be called Free Duty with a bunch of *** after it.

[Doug E]

S&H charges are nothing new and in some cases I agree they are used as a profit center.

That said, however, if someone doesn't ask up front what the shipping charges are prior to placing the order then I don't see how they have any room to complain. If I am quoted s&h I feel is too high then don't buy it and keep shopping.

Remember, we are all in it for a reason.

[Wayne 962]

You don't buy it? Ha, you think I'm lying? I take some offense to that...

You have made some assumptions here that are incorrect.

First of all, check the USPS website, and you will see that the proper shipping charge for shipping to Canada is indeed $13.25. I don't think that you can argue with that one.

The rates charged for your on-line order are taken directly off of a program that queries the website. This rate is clearly shown on your on-line order before it's placed.

Secondly, when we ship via USPS, we take about 50-60 packages to the Post Office each day and physically mail them. We don't get a bill at the end of the month. We don't sit there and individually calculate what each package should be. An employee from my warehouse loads them into his car, armed with a check made out to the Post Office. This, we have determined, is still the most efficient method of shipping packages via the Post Office (which is 2 blocks away).

So, my potential solutions are:

- Stop selling to Canadian customers
- Refuse to ship USPS to Canadian customers
- Go to the post office and demand that we get charged the correct amount (might have to do that) - Tom is going to the Post Office today with Rosie (from our warehouse) to see exactly what the problem is.
- Only send packages to Canada via UPS, which will include a hefty customs fee.

I am somewhat insulted that you would think that we are "nickle and diming" our customers when the USPS website (where we get our shipping rates from) clearly states that the shipping charge is $13.25.

This is the fourth time that this has happened. Each time I have offered our customer a credit for the shipping difference. I have better things to do with my time than correct these mistakes by the USPS. I'm inclinded to just stop shipping items to Canada via USPS, since there have been so many 'complaints.'

-Wayne

[Wayne 962]

Another thing. I don't think that we have ever been characterized as having exorbinant shpping charges (which is why this thread IRKS me so much).

We get our rates from the UPS website and the USPS websites so that they are accurate. We then add a small percentage onto that shipping rate to pay for the box and packing, etc.

Customers aren't stupid - they can easily check the UPS website and find out how much the rates are. We feel that gouging our customers is not the way to go on the shipping issue. We try to be 'fair.'

Again, in this case, if you check the USPS website, it will clearly say that the shipping charge is $13.25, for which we added $1.50 or so. That certainly doesn't seem unreasonable to me. It's only because the USPS undercharged us that we look like "the bad guys..."

The only real exception to this rule is with express and next-day packages. Because they are a tremendous disturbance to our system of just-in-time delivery, we tend to charge higher handling rates. This directly reflects the additional effort that is required to guarantee that we can assemble and ship and order 'the same day...'

-Wayne

[davis911s]

Wayne DO NOT stop selling to Canadians!!

I have had these charges to me also, not from you. So I know how Jim feels. I understand more from a business, it is when private people add "handling charges" that urk me.

If I ever sell anything, I NEVER charge for handling. And I have spent a lot of time packaging some things.

I guess it comes down to communication.

DON'T STOP SELLING TO US

SHAWN