Shipping charges reality check.

B

BNKN

Well-known member
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This is a new one for me, especially when dealing with a very reputable company who have been in business for decades. Cannot, will not, give ballpark shipping quote. When pressed hard she said it could be anywhere between 80-200 smackeroos per wheel.

I told her I know they send wheels all over N. America, how can you not have any idea the cost? She said "Sorry, I don't". I first dealt with her in '07 so I know she's not a noObie.

I've stayed away from online shopping and last year cancelled an order with outrageous shipping charge.

What's going on?
 
BNKN said:
This is a new one for me, especially when dealing with a very reputable company who have been in business for decades. Cannot, will not, give ballpark shipping quote. When pressed hard she said it could be anywhere between 80-200 smackeroos per wheel.

I told her I know they send wheels all over N. America, how can you not have any idea the cost? She said "Sorry, I don't". I first dealt with her in '07 so I know she's not a noObie.

I've stayed away from online shopping and last year cancelled an order with outrageous shipping charge.

What's going on?
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It's a riddle wrapped in an enigma.
 
It is quite a challenge, but it is really "take it or leave it". The only option is to shop somewhere else, hopefully you can find the same thing for less.

It just happened to me: Givi windscreen that I want is on sale - at an Italian retailer's website, obviously for an incredible price. I sent them an email asking if they are willing to ship it to me, and the shipping charge to Canada. They replied asking for 80 euros shipping. Reasonable? Unreasonable? I don't know, but then the savings are almost gone, it is close enough that I can almost order from the USA, or even better, from Canada if someone can get it here. My option? Keep looking...
 
Hey! $200 wheels on sale for $30! What a deal!!! $170 shipping fee.... *Facepalm*..

^ That is all over ebay and amazon lol
 
I shipped a couple of items before and they weigh your parcel and charge you accordingly.
Wheels are not light.
 
PLau said:
Hey! $200 wheels on sale for $30! What a deal!!! $170 shipping fee.... *Facepalm*..

^ That is all over ebay and amazon lol
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That was how all the intelligent sellers used to operate on ebay, until the hammer came down.
It's because: as a seller, you must pay a commish / slush / percentage of your sale to ebay - that's how ebay makes money. They don't take any slush on the shipping fees, so they put the clamp down a few years ago. If you list something there now - they usually light up your screen with "EXCESSIVE SHIPPING FEES - PLEASE REVISE" (or something to that effect)........ As a seller, you used to be able to list and sell an item that was worth $1000, for 99 cents, and charge $999 shipping, and pay slush on the 99 cents only.
As for Amazon, I can't see the logic.
 
Mina said:
I shipped a couple of items before and they weigh your parcel and charge you accordingly.
Wheels are not light.
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This.

Also USPS recently jacked up their rates to Canada, so keep that in mind.
 
Mina said:
I shipped a couple of items before and they weigh your parcel and charge you accordingly.
Wheels are not light.
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Macs said:
This.

Also USPS recently jacked up their rates to Canada, so keep that in mind.
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Why "this" ? lol The concern isn't so much the shipping cost or how they calculate it but the fact that they can't or won't even give a ballpark quote. It could be 80 bucks or 200 bucks per wheel but "we don't know". These people ship all over N. America, been in business for decades. They don't know? Hard to believe.

I want to make an informed decision, is all. Lace and true is $107 per wheel (more than fair) and shipping "could" be more than $200 per wheel. That's over $600 plus shipping my hubs to them. Pushing $700 total?

At that price it be worth taking a crack at building them myself.

Bottom line is they built 5 wheels for me already and this has not been an issue before. I think they want to pad the shipping is what I think. And that was the question to yous fine people.
.
 
getting a quote for shipping should be easy for them, From USPS, or fedex, UPS they put in the weight and size of boxes plus your postal code and they get a rate. It sounds like they are just being lazy or dont want your business, shipping across borders is a bit of a PITA. I would go elsewhere - OR - get them shipped to the border and pick them up.
 
Dave L said:
getting a quote for shipping should be easy for them, From USPS, or fedex, UPS they put in the weight and size of boxes plus your postal code and they get a rate. It sounds like they are just being lazy or dont want your business, shipping across borders is a bit of a PITA. I would go elsewhere - OR - get them shipped to the border and pick them up.
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Something is afoot, maybe they don't want the business. These people (Buchanan Spoke and Rim) are legendary for quality and service. I sent them a fax requesting a full quote and the follow up phone call was very chilly. I have a line on another supplier now which is cheaper and includes Talon hubs. Nervous about using an unknown though.
 
Macs said:
This.

Also USPS recently jacked up their rates to Canada, so keep that in mind.
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When did this happen and how much is it now? I haven't bought anything from the US in a while (I think the old 'brokerage' fee was $5 + taxes on smallish items was it not?)
 
Another problem - brackets for shipping costs according to weight are different when shipping inside the USA or outside of it. Sometimes internet retailers aren't too careful when they determine the weight for some items, because they don't have to be. I have actually called an American website and complained that the shipping costs for some brake parts were out of whack, and they actually agreed with me and fixed the weight.
 
The one thing that I hate is UPS (United Pot Smokers) every time I order a part weather it's for my bike or car...I pay the shipping fees when i order & that's understandable but then when they deliver to my door I pay again, WTF? It's always the case with UPS they won't take it off the truck until you pay them...so try to stay away from UPS if you can, FYI
 
Always specify -NO UPS-..... heck, even I knew that;)
 
Sinz said:
The one thing that I hate is UPS (United Pot Smokers) every time I order a part weather it's for my bike or car...I pay the shipping fees when i order & that's understandable but then when they deliver to my door I pay again, WTF? It's always the case with UPS they won't take it off the truck until you pay them...so try to stay away from UPS if you can, FYI
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I bet it's brokerage fees and duties that you are paying at the door
 
conundrum said:
When did this happen and how much is it now? I haven't bought anything from the US in a while (I think the old 'brokerage' fee was $5 + taxes on smallish items was it not?)
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Priority Flat Rate boxes have gone from $27 in 2011 to over $45 now (medium box). First class is now about what Priority used to be, Priority is now on par with the old Express, and Express is $65+

If something doesn't fit into a priority or express flat rate box, the rates are all over the place depending on size weight and destination. Sometimes eating the UPS or FedEx brokerage fee saves a little money. Even more if you "Clear Customs" yourself to save the brokerage.
 
Gary said:
As for Amazon, I can't see the logic.
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Amazon does the same thing as well (referring to taking roughly 25% commission), I have never sold on eBay but have sold a few items on Amazon.

Was not aware that they "fixed" this issue.

I think that its not even worth posting things up for anything under $200 that can be sold to neighboring areas on kijiji.... (books and used electronics)
 
daisoman said:
I bet it's brokerage fees and duties that you are paying at the door
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Everything they can charge, they will charge. I already paid 90$ of shipping at the door for a 80$ item with ups and then, I ordered a 600$ item and paid 30$ shipping with usps. Looks like ups should go **** themselves.
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