Shipping? whats to much? and too little?

[rel14]

Very interesting subject,, In SW fla for me to send you a model,, it runs 11.00 to 16.00,

Unless, you don't want it for 30 days,,then i can send it slow turtle express...

Wondering what some of you think,?? and if its going far west,, lets rob a bank then,LOL

[Kaleb]

I've sent it as far as new York for 6 bucks and it will be there in less than a week usually.

I send my stuff USPS. Priority usually unless it's too much then it gets parcel.

Edited April 13, 2012 by Kaleb

[martinfan5]

If the shipping is the same or more the kit, then its to much

[High octane]

Going to my two FAVE hobby shops would run me $25 in gas and two+ hours of driving time, so a lot of the times shipping is a bargain.

[1zebra3]

I think when you are paying upwards to 100.00+ for a rare kit that the seller didn't pay that much for then the shipping should be free or more reasonable than what some of these guys are charging. I would never pay that much for a kit + shipping. So I will have to do without.

[Mike Kucaba]

Going to my two FAVE hobby shops would run me $25 in gas and two+ hours of driving time, so a lot of the times shipping is a bargain.

WOW Nick, What shops you going to? I'd think Venture was closer than that.

[TooOld]

I've sent it as far as new York for 6 bucks and it will be there in less than a week usually.

I send my stuff USPS. Priority usually unless it's too much then it gets parcel.

The average kit measures 10 " x 7" x 4" and weighs 1 pound . USPS from Arizona to New York for 6 bucks ? Please explain how .

[Junkman]

I just got quoted $53.00 for sending one (ONE!) vintage 1:25 AMT kit from NJ to England.

Interestingly, my usual kit dealer in the US does it for $12.00. For 53 bucks, he'd send me a box with 10 or so standard sized kits.

[Bartster]

I've never paid more than $8 to ship a kit. The postage on single kits when received was always under $6. I actually paid $9 shipping on a few small resin parts from a "reputable" vendor that cost him $2.45 to ship. I think ACTUAL shipping cost is the fair asking price! After you ship a few things, you should have a good idea what it costs & charge accordingly! OR be prepared to refund what was overcharged.

Edited April 13, 2012 by Bartster

[crazyjim]

USPS 12.3oz to NH $6.40.

USPS 1lb, 4.1oz to VT $9.50

Both had delivery confirmation.

[Ken of York]

I run a mail order web site and shipping under 13 ounces is first class the same price just about every where. Over 13 ounces the price varies depending on location. I lose a little money on stuff going to the western US and make a little on the local stuff. I figure it all works out OK. I always use first class or parcel post and never had complaints about slow service. Overseas shipping is very expensive and I have been losing my shirt on it. I had to set the prices up on my website and when I get to the post office I am shocked. I just doubled all overseas shipping costs to stop this. If you stay under 4 pounds you can go international first class, and I just split a 5 pound package to Australia into 2 smaller ones and saved about $20. Over 4 pounds requires international priority and that is crazy expensive.

Sellers should try and charge as close to actual shipping costs as possible.

[Junkman]

I run a mail order web site and shipping under 13 ounces is first class the same price just about every where. Over 13 ounces the price varies depending on location. I lose a little money on stuff going to the western US and make a little on the local stuff. I figure it all works out OK. I always use first class or parcel post and never had complaints about slow service. Overseas shipping is very expensive and I have been losing my shirt on it. I had to set the prices up on my website and when I get to the post office I am shocked. I just doubled all overseas shipping costs to stop this. If you stay under 4 pounds you can go international first class, and I just split a 5 pound package to Australia into 2 smaller ones and saved about $20. Over 4 pounds requires international priority and that is crazy expensive.

Sellers should try and charge as close to actual shipping costs as possible.

At least you take the effort to save overseas buyers some postage, which I find utmost commendable. You are a gentleman, and a scholar!

Have you ever considered looking into commercial freight forwarding for overseas shipping, instead of the usual postal or parcel services?

At least in the EU (of which the UK is a part) the customs and VAT rates are calculated on top of the value of the merchandise INCLUDING

shipping costs! So saving on shipping as much as possible is a very high priority for us Europeans.

Could you please post a link to your shop?

[cobraman]

I think the average I pay is about 7 to 8 bucks. Worth it to me if I can't get it locally. Some sellers charge more because they want to recoup their cost of buying shipping boxes and or packing material and their time and money for driving to wherever they ship from. Thats what some have told me when I have asked why they wanted more for shipping then I thought it would cost.

[Erik Smith]

You can calculate postage of any package to any destination on USPS.com.

As stated above, under 13 oz., first class and above that you choose parcel post, priority, etc.

Shipping overseas is more complicated. First class mail international is reasonable - actually it's cheaper to send a package first class mail international to Canada than it is for me to send a priority package to FL! However, you can't insure or track the package. Priority mail international is expensive but includes insurance.

Really, though, it is no mystery. Just calculate the postage on the POs website!

[Dr. Cranky]

Great and useful information. Thank you.

[torinobradley]

I think the average I pay is about 7 to 8 bucks. Worth it to me if I can't get it locally. Some sellers charge more because they want to recoup their cost of buying shipping boxes and or packing material and their time and money for driving to wherever they ship from. Thats what some have told me when I have asked why they wanted more for shipping then I thought it would cost.

I was going to say the same thing. And when you look at what some places charge (epay) to just sell your stuff and handle the financials (paypal), the shipping materials just add on to the 30% hit you take just to sell your item. Not to mention, they also take a percentage of the shipping fees... So when you pay $6.00 to have an item shipped, paypal takes their cut even before the seller pays the actual shipping charges.

I sell stuff on ebay from time to time and know first hand how they can nickle and dime you out of business. I scrounge most of my shipping materials but there are some items I just have to buy (I sometimes wonder what people think when they get a dog shampoo box in the mail...) I try to be fair on shipping but sometimes, it doesn't work out. Seems, unless you actually go to the brick & mortar post office, you can't get that shipping down below $5, even on the smallest items.

[High octane]

WOW Nick, What shops you going to? I'd think Venture was closer than that.

Mike, I've been going to Model Empire and Greenfield News & Hobby for quite some time now and they are in West Allis and Greenfield Wisconsin and seem to be the best around as far as car modeling goes. Yes much better than Venture or Al's

[Bartster]

I really have no business complaining about shipping charges. It costs me almost $40 in gas to get to Hobby Lobby & back! I just wish ALL vendors would get a little closer to actual costs. I know some do.

[Kaleb]

It all is in the weight. Most of what I send is under a pound. Ever since I got a scale for the sole purpose of shipping, it cut down on spending 8 to ten bucks a kit.

[The70judgeman]

Mike, I've been going to Model Empire and Greenfield News & Hobby for quite some time now and they are in West Allis and Greenfield Wisconsin and seem to be the best around as far as car modeling goes. Yes much better than Venture or Al's

Those are the two hobby stores I go to also. Lucky for me...I live within a few miles of each and go to each at least once a week.

[Maindrian Pace]

USPS is still the best deal, although nothing is cheap anymore. My biggest gripe with them is that you can only do Priority or higher on line, and to get the cheaper Parcel Post, you have to go to the PO. And that line is a killer just about any time. So when I ship something, I just do Priority, because I won't wait in that line unless I really have to - and most people understand.

-MJS

[Erik Smith]

USPS is still the best deal, although nothing is cheap anymore. My biggest gripe with them is that you can only do Priority or higher on line, and to get the cheaper Parcel Post, you have to go to the PO. And that line is a killer just about any time. So when I ship something, I just do Priority, because I won't wait in that line unless I really have to - and most people understand.

-MJS

The price difference for a model is marginal, too, and parcel will take a week.

[Jeff Johnston]

Wal-Mart sells boxed perfect for models for about 60 cents each. You can ship a model USPS Priority for a bout 6 bucks. So $7.00 is what I charge when I sell a model...more if they want delivery confirmation, etc.

Flat rate box that will hold a model starts at like $11.45. Its cheaper to just buy the boxes at Wal-Mart and ship them 1st class or priority.

I'd never ever pay $16.00 for shipping of a model. Unless of course the model plus shipping is still a good deal for the particular model I wanted to buy, or if it was a can't find it anywhere but I gotta have it kind of kit.

[Dave]

Yeah, I think $7-$10 is reasonable most of the time. If I sell something for a bunch, say $50-or more, I usually ship/insure for free .Usually USPS Priority is what I use, Fed Ex home is good too.