kudzurunner
5949 posts
Apr 18, 2016
4:46 AM
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I've just discovered, to my shock, that the US Postal Service has raised the cost of shipping a CD (2.8 ounce package--featherweight) from roughly $9.50--which was already ridiculous--to $13.50. This will force me to stop shipping CDs and DVDs overseas.
Have you ever heard of such madness? That's a 40% increase.
Apparently the USPS was forced to lower the price of a first-class stamp after they moved to raises international shipping costs in this way.
http://www.theacorn.com/news/2016-04-14/Community/Postal_service_delivers_rare_price_cut.html
Please contribute appropriate anti-government diatribe below.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Apr 18, 2016 4:51 AM
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Greg Heumann
3214 posts
Apr 18, 2016
8:47 AM
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Yeh - their int'l rates used to be very good. Not so much any more - though they're still a lot cheaper than UPS or FedEx.
This morning I have two nearly identical Ultimate mic shipments going out to Europe - USPS Priority Mail is $54 (doesn't fit in a small flat rate box or padded flat rate envelope, which would have been ONLY $33.95) - but UPS is $118. UPS, of course, has much better tracking....
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
Bluestate on iTunes
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timeistight
1984 posts
Apr 18, 2016
9:14 AM
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I don't know about Europe, but UPS in Canada also charges recipients extortionate custom broker fees on top there other charges.
Last Edited by timeistight on Apr 18, 2016 10:17 AM
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timeistight
1985 posts
Apr 18, 2016
10:17 AM
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I don't know about Europe, but UPS in Canada also charges recipients extortionate custom broker fees on top their other charges.
Last Edited by timeistight on Apr 18, 2016 10:18 AM
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timeistight
1986 posts
Apr 18, 2016
10:19 AM
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I don't know about Europe, but UPS in Canada also charges recipients extortionate custom broker fees on top of their other charges.
Last Edited by timeistight on Apr 18, 2016 10:19 AM
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bluemoose
1129 posts
Apr 18, 2016
10:21 AM
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I refuse to use UPS for shipment to Canada from the States. They charge a bogus 'customs broker' fee which can double the actually shipping cost for a 'service' that if you do it yourself is a couple dollars. USPS doesn't charge this fee, it just gets delivered as it should.
MBH Webbrain - a GUI guide to Adam's Youtube vids
FerretCat Webbrain - Jason Ricci's vids (by hair colour!)
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Frank101
151 posts
Apr 18, 2016
10:38 AM
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Have you considered selling through amazon? Obviously, they take a cut (I don't know how much, I've never done it myself). But your post made me curious, because that does seem like an outrageous price.
So anyhow: under the heading "Shipping Rates to Europe", in the "Help & Customer Service" area, it says:
Books, VHS, videotapes: $3.99 per shipment, $3.99 per item
CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray, music cassettes, vinyl: $3.99 per shipment, $2.49 per item
Those are amazon's shipping rates (standard shipping), but I think (based on ordering stuff from "3rd Party Sellers") they apply to items ordered from people who set up to sell via amazon & have orders "fulfilled by amazon".
Setting this up may be a whole heap o' trouble, maybe there's hidden costs somewhere, I do not know. But on the surface it seems like a substantial saving on postage might be possible & worth investigating.
Last Edited by Frank101 on Apr 18, 2016 10:40 AM
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Ofir Levi
38 posts
Apr 18, 2016
10:46 AM
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This is only in the USPS, because Europe to USA is still very cheap, and oil prices are quite low....
They are maximizing profits probably
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timeistight
1987 posts
Apr 18, 2016
11:59 AM
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I've probably tried five times to post a comment in this thread -- all off them are probably in the spam bucket.
What can I do to fix this?
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2chops
513 posts
Apr 18, 2016
12:38 PM
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@ timeistight...You can contact your nearest govt. representative about this, of course. They'll fix it. They fix everything.
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I'm workin on it. I'm workin on it.
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florida-trader
898 posts
Apr 18, 2016
12:46 PM
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Oh yeah - International Postage Rates have been killing me for the past few months. Greg Heumann - here's a possible solution for you. USPS provides padded (bubble wrap) Flat Rate shipping envelopes that are the same rate as the rate as Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Boxes - but you can fit a lot more in them. Very often, you can put a box inside that padded envelope and ship it for less than if you just shipped the box alone. Plus you now have another layer of protection outside the box and the bubble wrap and nearly indestructible envelope is free. Would have saved you $20 on the package you shipped today.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
Last Edited by florida-trader on Apr 18, 2016 12:46 PM
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Bass410man
80 posts
Apr 18, 2016
12:49 PM
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Don't feel to bad, you still pay about half of what we pay up here in Canada to ship anything.
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STME58
1654 posts
Apr 18, 2016
12:50 PM
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I am not sure if it always works this way, but my wife wrote a book and is selling it though Amazon. She makes a few dollars per book ordered in the US, but she actually losses money if a book is ordered overseas. Amazon makes up the difference between the shipping charge and the shipping cost by taking it out of the sellers profit. You could argue that it is the sellers responsibility to understand the contract and set the price high enough to cover costs, and there is merit to that argument, but it was shocking to discover, after the fact, that overseas sales cost you.
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SuperBee
3620 posts
Apr 18, 2016
2:08 PM
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Interesting. I actually find shipping from Canada to Australia much cheaper than from US.
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nacoran
9031 posts
Apr 18, 2016
2:38 PM
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Timeistight, if it keeps happening email me. Occasionally a particular username triggers the spam filter (I think 1847 had that problem for a while). Usually it's just something in a particular comment. It might -might- be flagging you because you tried to repost the same message that it had already flagged. That's just a theory. We really don't know the rules. I don't think the guys at the server level know the rules either. I'm pretty sure it's an outsourced plugin they put in.
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Nate
Facebook
Thread Organizer (A list of all sorts of useful threads)
First Post- May 8, 2009
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Bass410man
81 posts
Apr 18, 2016
4:28 PM
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I sold 4 tubes to a guy in Australia about 3 weeks ago. Very small box, weighed hardly anything, it was $49.68 CAD shipping, by ground, the cheapest method with tracking and insurance. The tubes were only $19.95 I gave him the option of cancelling the order, but he still wanted them.
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John M G
38 posts
Apr 18, 2016
11:03 PM
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I've been buying stuff from the US for at least 20 years.
My other hobbies are Toy Airplanes & their engines, especially small diesel engines and BSA A65's (I know there's no hope for me!)
I remember "Small Packages" that only added around US $10 back when I first started buying model engines from the US
I've shipped out heaps of BSA engine parts, crankcases, wheels, cylinder barrels and crankshafts up to around 2014
These days the shipping out of the US is now going crazy expensive compared to what it was.
It doesn't make sense and I'm buying more stuff from the UK and Europe which used to be the more expensive places to buy from.
I guess nothing last forever
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SuperBee
3621 posts
Apr 19, 2016
2:44 AM
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I just received 200 grams of pot (entiometer) from Toronto. Postage was $8.80. That's cad, but AUD is close enough to parity. For usd I have to divide by 3 multiply by 4.
When I buy stuff from AZ up there in Ontario the postage is generally less than $10
Same with Europe, for the lightweight stuff I buy, usually reeds, I think 3.5 euro usually covers a few packs.
I do buy tubes in from time to time. I've never paid anything like $50 postage on that stuff, but postage on a few harps from USA is usually prohibitive.
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jbone
2172 posts
Apr 19, 2016
3:27 AM
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A year or so ago we sent two cd's to Canada via USPS and took a bath on the deal. Then the buyer didn't get the things. Most of what he sent us went to postage, we barely made our cost to repro the cd's. After like 3 months or more he finally did receive them. Meanwhile we looked at very least irresponsible if not if no0t dishonest. Makes me pretty mad.
I think it's one time when digital download is a decent option as opposed to mailing a cd out.
It's sad though, people want a cd they can hold in their hands and select tracks on their player and maybe see an autograph, but cost is making it very hard to break even let alone make a little buck.
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Reverbnation
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arzajac
1761 posts
Apr 19, 2016
4:59 AM
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Shipping from USA to Canada is perilous. The import fees start when the value of the goods are greater than $20. In the other direction, from Canada to USA, the import fees start when the value of the goods are greater than $200. So in general, the recipient in Canada will be charged more than the recipient in the USA.
A note to harmonica shippers, THERE IS NO DUTY ON HARMONICAS crossing the Canada-US border in any direction. But you must indicate the correct customs code. (customs code 9205.90.1900) That being said, UPS will still charge you a brokerage fee as Timeistight mentions, even if no duty is to be paid. Most other carriers will not charge you the brokerage fee.
Canada Post offers fairly reasonable letter mail rate. Oversize starts when the packet is thicker than 2 cm which means I can ship anything I offer except a harmonica for the letter mail rate. I often ship to the UK with a transit time of four business days. But other European countries can take much longer - presumably because of customs delays.
I use a shipping broker for larger packages. Where Canada Post will charge over $90 to ship something to another continent, a carrier like Purolater, Amarex or DHL will usually offer a much lower rate, like $30 or $40.
USPS does domestic shipping very well, though. I obtained a USA P.O. box last year and they offer really fast and inexpensive service. I can ship a greater distance in less time and for less cost using USPS than CanadaPost. But I only visit my USA PO box once every now and then... Usually when I buy crap on Ebay.
But it would be way more expensive to ship to another continent from my USA P.O. Box than to ship from Canada.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica Combs and Tools.
Last Edited by arzajac on Apr 19, 2016 5:01 AM
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STME58
1655 posts
Apr 19, 2016
9:23 AM
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For CD's, it seems like they could be transmitted digitally to a service center near the intended recipient, printed, and mailed locally. Is anyone aware if such a service exists?
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