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AMERICAN POSTAGE ANSWER PLEASE?

Posted by Woodypear

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AMERICAN POSTAGE ANSWER PLEASE? #1
Woodypear Roger Sharpe EUNGELLA, QLD, Australia 1969 MG MGB MkII	Posted: January 31, 2012 10:53AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 329

Barrie Braxton recently had a thread about the exhorbitant freight from the US. As an example, tonight I bought 10 x chaser nuts for $12. The freight came to $95.06!!! That was with UPS. Spoke to the member and I can get it for $5.34 USPS. Could someone explain to me the difference please?

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Re: AMERICAN POSTAGE ANSWER PLEASE? #2
mgb4tim Tim Nagy Pittsburgh, PA!!!, USA 1971 MG MGB 1996 Jaguar XJ6 (X300) "Big Green"	Posted: January 31, 2012 10:58AM Registered: 14 years ago Posts: 1,852

I shipped some steel brackets to Spain, 2.5 pounds, cost $9, Priority International, using a "flat rate" box. sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's not. Now to ship a wind blocker to the UK, $300USD. Go figure.

~Tim

tim@morSpeedPerformance.com

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Re: AMERICAN POSTAGE ANSWER PLEASE? #3
Speedracer Hap Waldrop Greenville, SC, USA 1967 MG MGB "The Biscuit"	Posted: January 31, 2012 11:13AM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 20,313

Yep, if we ship a set of wheels to Australia via air, which is really the only option for a small shipment, it's like $500-600. I just shipped a small part to Canada via USPS flat rate, I think it was $14.

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Re: AMERICAN POSTAGE ANSWER PLEASE? #4
applebj8 Jon Appleby Lake Wylie, SC, USA 1971 MG MGB	Posted: January 31, 2012 11:20AM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 1,302

The difference, Roger, is a guarantee of delivery.

The USPS has been losing approximately $1B per month for some time now. Any questions?

You really do not want to ship anything of any value with the USPS, because if they lose it you won't have any recourse.

With FedEx and UPS you get a delivery guarantee along with a tracking number and $100 of insurance.

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Re: AMERICAN POSTAGE ANSWER PLEASE? #5
bleteaches6 lee orphan Sumner, WA, USA 1956 MG MGA 1500 1979 MG MGB Limited Edition (LE) 1979 MG Midget 1500	Posted: January 31, 2012 11:23AM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 6,958

Jon I would disagree with your statements regarding shipping things of value with USPS. You can insure your items with them as well.

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Re: AMERICAN POSTAGE ANSWER PLEASE? #6
RichPho Joe P Richmond, USA 1980 MG MGB "M-Gizzle"	Posted: January 31, 2012 11:33AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 306

USPS Priority Flat Box rates for international are great! You can ship as much as you can fit into specific box for a flat rate as long as it doesn't weight a ton. www.usps.gov you can get specific prices and weights.

You can also insure those packages. USPS has always done very good for our business in shipping photographs/albums and other "valuables". Only once was their a damage issue. I immediately received a check from USPS for the full amount of my insured value.

UPS and FedEx are great if you have the cash to spend. I actually found here in the US, USPS is much faster shipping from door to door than any private courier.

Check out their website, you should find the exact shipping cost for you seller.

-Joe

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Re: AMERICAN POSTAGE ANSWER PLEASE? #7
Emil Wojcik Metuchen, NJ, USA 1964 Porsche 356 C 1978 MG MGB	Posted: January 31, 2012 11:39AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 1,504

I've shipped over 30,000 packages with USPS with only three lost over the past 8 years.

If something has a high-dollar value, insure it - no problem. For what I ship (small stuff) UPS is way too expensive. But I've never compared UPS with USPS for large items.

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Re: AMERICAN POSTAGE ANSWER PLEASE? #8
mitchelld996 Mitch D Los Angeles, California, USA 1972 MG MGB GT	Posted: January 31, 2012 11:42AM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 1,476

Roger - you didn't mention the vendor with regards to your parts and shipment. This is very relevant information.

First, you have to get it out of your mind that a vendor shipping charge is submitted to you at "cost." Most if not all distributors view shipping as a profit center. They seek to not only cover expenses but to make money on top of their cost for picking, packing, handing off to shipping vendor, etc.

This is why even in the US you'll have a $5 part from VB costing $7 to ship or a $10 part from Moss costing $8 to ship or whatever. International shipments are going to be way up there of course!

When a forum member says he'll ship something to you, he's probably being gracious and just dropping it in an envelope and shipping via the cheapest, untracked, uninsured rate at the USPS.

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Re: AMERICAN POSTAGE ANSWER PLEASE? #9
pleblanc1206 Pierre Leblanc Saline, MI, USA 1974 MG MGB GT "Strider"	Posted: January 31, 2012 12:01PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 609

To add to what Mitch said, Moss and VB (and probably also resellers) charge S&H based on dollar amount of the order, not on weight or size. Although oversize/overweight items will probably incur additional charges.

1974 MGB-GT: black-label overdrive, essentially stock engine but detoxed, Allison XR-700 ignition.

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Re: AMERICAN POSTAGE ANSWER PLEASE? #10
underdog Jim Underwood Pittsburgh, USA 1972 MG MGB 1980 Triumph TR8 "Fabulous Trashwagon" 1999 Chevrolet Corvette "Darth Vader" 1999 Chevrolet S10 "Spare Change" 2003 Jaguar S-Type "Eleanor"	Posted: January 31, 2012 12:01PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 9,387

Guess who USPS uses to ship....Fed Ex and UPS. I was trying to track down an overdue package before Christmas that I ordered on Amazon. It was a music CD and a couple DVDs. Free super saver shipping and I thought I had plenty of time.

So it was getting closer to Xmas and still no package. It was shipped from Martinsburg WV and almost two weeks had went by. I checked with the local post office and was told it was still in possesion of Fed Ex. The tracking verified this. Lady told me Fed Ex and UPS deliver to them as much as 4 times a day. So USPS is beating their prices but using them to ship the packages. Any wonder they are losing money? I did get the package in time BTW.

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Re: AMERICAN POSTAGE ANSWER PLEASE? #11
Be Coming Kelvin Dodd So. Calif., USA 1957 MG MGA 1957 MG MGA Coupe 1958 MG Magnette 1959 MG MGA 1962 Morgan 4 Seater → more	Posted: January 31, 2012 12:10PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 4,655

LOL!

Mitch.

If you think that a company can make much profit selling a $10.00 part and charging $8.00 to pick, pack and ship it, you'd better check your mathematics. : )

It's a very different world when you are paying warehouse employees and covering the overhead for a warehouse facility including new boxes and shipping materials.

When I sell stuff personally, I bill only actual shipping costs. But then I have used boxes and packing materials. Plus, I'm writing off the cost of the part as sunk cost, since all it is doing is holding down a shelf or littering the floor. Even so, it's hardly worth the effort sometimes.

It's funny. The other day I spent over $60.00 in fuel to pick up some parts from the other side of town.

Kelvin.

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Re: AMERICAN POSTAGE ANSWER PLEASE? #12
jjgerding jay gerding Spring Hill, Florida, USA	Posted: January 31, 2012 12:29PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 1,049

Jim, in the opposite extreme, I recently got a package that was shipped FedEx and they picked it up from the shipper and sent it USPS, and they bragged about it. I guess they are working hand in hand with each other.

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Re: AMERICAN POSTAGE ANSWER PLEASE? #13
dickmoritz Dick Moritz Philly 'burbs, PA, USA	Posted: January 31, 2012 01:07PM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 7,243

In reply to # 1972054 by Be Coming It's funny. The other day I spent over $60.00 in fuel to pick up some parts from the other side of town.
Kelvin.

Kelvin,

If you spent sixty bucks in gas to go to the other side of town and back you'd better re-set the mixture in those SUs... grinning smiley

Dick

Errabundi Saepe, Semper Certi
(Often wrong, but always certain)

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Re: AMERICAN POSTAGE ANSWER PLEASE? #14
Be Coming Kelvin Dodd So. Calif., USA 1957 MG MGA 1957 MG MGA Coupe 1958 MG Magnette 1959 MG MGA 1962 Morgan 4 Seater → more	Posted: January 31, 2012 01:39PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 4,655

Dick.

Big parts, needing big truck and trailer to pick up.

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Re: AMERICAN POSTAGE ANSWER PLEASE? #15
Woodypear Roger Sharpe EUNGELLA, QLD, Australia 1969 MG MGB MkII	Posted: January 31, 2012 03:31PM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 329

Mitch,

Here's the item. I don't know whether it shows up over there but it say: US Postage $95.06 UPS $5.34 USPS. Second price isn't bad for goods costing $12.

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Re: AMERICAN POSTAGE ANSWER PLEASE? #16
Woodypear Roger Sharpe EUNGELLA, QLD, Australia 1969 MG MGB MkII	Posted: January 31, 2012 03:47PM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 329

Oops!
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/UNC-UNF-THREAD-CHASER-RETHREADING-DIE-SET-1-4-1-2-USA-/130623605091?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e69c60963

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Re: AMERICAN POSTAGE ANSWER PLEASE? #17
Be Coming Kelvin Dodd So. Calif., USA 1957 MG MGA 1957 MG MGA Coupe 1958 MG Magnette 1959 MG MGA 1962 Morgan 4 Seater → more	Posted: January 31, 2012 04:01PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 4,655

Roger.

Contact the seller. They probably copied over the weight or size information from another sale. I've done the same thing myself, only it's usually the other way around.

Kelvin.

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Re: AMERICAN POSTAGE ANSWER PLEASE? #18
mitchelld996 Mitch D Los Angeles, California, USA 1972 MG MGB GT	Posted: January 31, 2012 04:53PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 1,476

I see it, Roger. Now I follow why you're puzzled. I'm guessing typo or other error. Otherwise, who in their right mind would go UPS for these items?

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Re: AMERICAN POSTAGE ANSWER PLEASE? #19
melbaver Chris Howells Broadwater NSW, Australia 1968 MG MGB "Moneypit" 1996 Jeep Cherokee "Shopping Trolley"	Posted: January 31, 2012 06:16PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 4,955

Roger,

The freight calciulator on ebay is a fiction, always contact seller for a fixed price. By the way, if you want to order two sets and forward one to me I'll be happy to share some cost, look like a handy set to have.

Just got my schlemmerised dizzy and coil from Jeff, $46 USPS which I was happy with.

Cheers

Chris

Chris Howells

1968 MGB Purchased already dis-assembled which is why I'm often ignorant about what some parts are, and even more ignorant of where they go.

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Re: AMERICAN POSTAGE ANSWER PLEASE? #20
DrewM Drew Maddock 74 MGB roadster, Southern California, USA	Posted: January 31, 2012 07:32PM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 5,613

That UPS price is most likely a mistake. There's no reason in the world why someone couldn't put that product in a padded shipping envelope and slap on five or ten dollars worth of overseas postage and have it to you in a week or two courtesy of the U.S. Postal Service. Not sure why anyone would use United Parcel Service for such a small product.

It's a mistake, that's all.

Ask them to ship it through the U.S. Postal Service which ought to be no more than maybe $10, I'm guessing, maybe a little more with insurance. I get small packages from China at times that cost no more than $5 to ship. Even larger packages from the U.K. cost maybe $20. Amazing bargains when you think of all the people, trucks, planes, and so on that handle them . . . and right to my front door from Shanghai or Liverpool. Amazing. What a world.

Drew Maddock
Pasadena, California

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