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[irishcarguy]

Has anyone noticed the cost increases in shipping over the last year or two ?. I think it is now way beyond reasonable. Last night I wanted to ship a few items from Hobbyking, mainly shop items, the prices seemed very good ( just a test of quality & service really, first time buyer ). Imagine my shock when the shipping exceeded the the cost of the items, there by doubling their cost. Also an item from Hongkong was double the price to ship than the price the item was costing in the first place, both items I declined to buy. They were not a good bargain anymore. My question is this, have any of you found a reasonable & consistant way to ship,?. Within Canada I use Canada post it is fast & reasonable. We should try & put our collective heads together & see if we can do something to reduce the cost. Mick Burke.(irishcarguy) 

[john s 2]

When in Britain. Items from hongkon are often cheap to buy ,but very expensive to post.This appears to be a way to get around tax.Payable on import.I have no idea on export costs.John.

[andyn]

Still cheaper than buying your items a plane ticket from hong kong.... Or going out there to get it youself

[ACTion]

When in Britain. Items from hongkon are often cheap to buy ,but very expensive to post.This appears to be a way to get around tax.Payable on import.I have no idea on export costs.John.

Nope. Value for Customs is "cost of goods plus shipping to first address in country of importation". Not that anyone in HMRC understands that these days.................
DM

[nick_75au]

Well here is a good example, I need a new head gasket kit for my Berlingo, cost in Aus approx. 150 Pounds, cost including shipping from the UK, 52 pounds, the shipping was 23 pounds, the kit was 28, I brought the kit from the UK, so I don't have a car for the Approx 2 weeks it will take to get here, I brought 5 oil filters from the UK inc shipping for the same price as ONE here, the Aust store did not have them in stock any way.  Shipping from the US to Aus has increased about 400% from a couple of years ago, I got 4 very heavy large electric motors it cost about $50, the same shipment now is over $200.

Lots of items have such a disproportionate difference in price< the retailers are up in arms about the number of on-line purchases happening here but with price differences like that what on earth do they expect, they are calling for protectionist measures

Nick

[irishcarguy]

Generally British shipping is not an issue, but some of the costs elsewhere are through the roof. If I try to combine a shipment from the U/K ( Items from two or more different suppliers) our government here (Canada) charges us  VAT(GST)on the cost of any shipping within the U/K from one destination to another. Also if I get free Catalogues I have to put a value on them for tax purposes. The whole shipping mess is out of hand. However I have not given up yet. Stuff shipped by Royal Mail sometimes escapes VAT (GST). Mostly small low value items though. Mick B.

[essex2visuvesi]

It costs more here to ship than most other places in Europe

The same company charges 3 times the price (DHL) to send a parcel from Finland to UK as they do to send the same package from UK to finland

[RaaArtyGunner]

Have found that a lot of places only ship via Airmail, which is very expensive and makes the item, cost prohibitive.
There are however, still a few places left, which will ship via surface mail, then the overseas purchace is viable.
Even when asked if there is an alterante delivery sytem, suppliers say they only ship by air mail.

Don't know why the emphasis is on airmail.

[irishcarguy]

Hi RaaArty, I think the air mail thing is because of the hurry up society we live in. By the way I ship parts from Australia & the company I deal with(Midel Pty) get a 60% discount from Fedex which they pass on to their customers. I suspect other companies get the same but keep it for themselves, I think it is always good business to query shipping costs, we should do it every time we ship. Mick B

[chersguy]

I can tell you what worked for me though this may not apply to all. I ordered some things from California to be shipped to me in Canada. UPs was to be $10 plus $40 brokerage fee plus duty. I had them ship it to my daughter in the US ($10) and then she mailed it to me as "gift, under $200 no duty and shipped US mail. Arrived here 6 days later total shipping cost $15, still enough for a $ 20  purchase, but better than going with any of the direct shipping companies ( $50 plus duty)

[irishcarguy]

Hi Chersguy, UPS are very good to ship with in the  States internally, but are an absolute  horror shipping from the States to Canada, avoid at all costs.Mick B.

[Norseman]

Hi Mick

I haven't got the exact numbers to hand but I have been looking at a Microglass
60" Foundation Franklin hull from NY at $400 plus 40% postage plus uk tax ouch.
A friend suggested buying several hulls and nesting them - babooshka doll style?

I want to go back to NY this year and even wondered about paying to get it on
the plane home.

Oh yes - How did your holiday go?

Dave

[essex2visuvesi]

I want to go back to NY this year and even wondered about paying to get it on
the plane home.

Dave

You might find that actually a cheaper option.  My RC plane (1:6 Fokker DR1) was gonna cost a left teste to ship from the UK to England.  €35.00 to ship as outsize baggage on ryanair (suitably crated of course)

[w3bby]

.....from the UK to England....

Was that London/Manchester or Cardiff/London?

[Norseman]

Ooh you just beat me to it
Dave

[RaaArtyGunner]

Guys,

Must be a local joke.
Please enlighten us here in the dominions, are they both in the same country. (UK to London)
 

[Norseman]

If you just look at the quote Arty you'll see it straight away - I think our friend meant Finland not England

Dave

[RaaArtyGunner]

 

[essex2visuvesi]

  oops well spotted that man!

I meant from the UK to Finland 

[Norseman]

  I know - but see how much fun you gave us.

You have a forfeit for making a mistake though - One photograph of something very unusual and boat related. 

Dave                                   ............ I'm going to bed now - I work nights.

[justboatonic]

Cost of airfreight is very expensive as volume not weight is used to cost it. Also, as fuel prices increase, so too to the cost of freight as well.

Biggest rip off is import, custom and VAT added to anything bought outside the EU. Dont forget to thank the good old Royal Mail either. They levy a nice charge for 'paying the vat' on your behalf (for which you have no option to accept).

Having said that, I've bought stuff from HK and saved pounds. It does seem though that as HK (and other Far East suppliers) have become more popular, they have jacked up their price to the customer so, although the difference is now margin, it is still there. Just.

For example, helicopter fuselages from one well know Far East supplier were often £100 cheaper after being imported compared to buying direct in the UK. Now, the difference is as little as £25 and sometimes, they actually cost more.