Have shipping costs gone off the rails?

[manixFan]

We bought a sheet of cork for our model railroad club recently. I came rolled up and, being cork, weighed very little. But even rolled up it was in a box that was 6x6x48 or something. The cork cost $48. Shipping was over $40.

That’s exactly the example I gave above. At those dimensions you are paying for volume, not weight. Had they cut it in half to 24”, you would have saved a fair amount of money.


Tony.

 

[jqavins]

Pirate Ship automatically calculates the DIM weight of each shipment, and these charges only apply if your package's DIM weight exceeds its actual weight (and is larger than One Cubic Foot).

• The DIM Weight Equation: To determine if DIM weight pricing will apply to your shipment, you can multiply the Length * Width * Height of your shipment, and divide that total by 166
  • Laid out, the DIM Weight formula is: Length x Width x Height / 166 (if Length x Width x Height is larger than 1728, it's greater than one cubic foot and the rule applies)
  • If the number you get is higher than the actual weight of your shipment, USPS and UPS will use that number as the "dimensional weight" of your package when determining the cost of your label.

I assume that's weight in pounds.

We bought a sheet of cork for our model railroad club recently. I came rolled up and, being cork, weighed very little. But even rolled up it was in a box that was 6x6x48 or something. The cork cost $48. Shipping was over $40.

That checks out. 6"×6"×48" is one cubic foot even.

 

[Art Upton]

I've had a few times where UPS has charged me more than what I paid via Pirate ship. So I started requiring a weight checkin at the UPS store, and I didn't notice it anymore.

But it was strange, like"Extra charge for weight not reported by 3rd party", 16 pounds... 69 cents... On an 8 ounce box. But only 69 cents?

Edit: as it has been for years, the weight posted by UPS store was less then my weight on my scale by about 1 oz. I'll keep that as a safety margin.

 

[rsbhunter]

I've had a few times where UPS has charged me more than what I paid via Pirate ship. So I started requiring a weight checkin at the UPS store, and I didn't notice it anymore.

But it was strange, like"Extra charge for weight not reported by 3rd party", 16 pounds... 69 cents... On an 8 ounce box. But only 69 cents?

Edit: as it has been for years, the weight posted by UPS store was less then my weight on my scale by about 1 oz. I'll keep that as a safety margin.

I just (3 weeks ago) had a PML 2.6" AMG Pit Bull shipped from the Netherlands...YES, the Netherlands. Only place i could find one...and the shipping was $40.00...TOTAL! I have looked at ordering other items, small size on different sites and saw some stupidly high prices on shipping!!! Maybe a malfunction on the sites???rsbhunter

 

[rsbhunter]

Ok, here is the example I was thinking of...Wildman Rocketry...I don't believe this is the real shipping...I think something is wonky with their computer...I ordered the same thing from another place and the shipping was $8.95 !!!... this is for HDK25 delay grains ...no hazmat...rsbhunter

 

[jadebox]

There seems to be a big misunderstanding about 'over sized' boxes. It's not based on just length, but on total volume, and only if the volume is greater than the actual weight.

USPS Priority Mail and Ground Advantage add $4.00 for parcels that exceed 22 inches in length regardless of the overall volume.

 

[manixFan]

The BIG hit is Over 32 or 34 inches, look it up on Pirate ship.
I have standard 22 inches boxes and 34 inch boxes I have shipped with all this year.

You can have a $30-35 shipment cost UPS depending on the zone PLUS just where the address is. They have sur-charges for rural and surcharges for Busy streets, and places that have traffic back ups even. When using UPS always look at the discription of the sur charges.

USPS advantage ground can only be cheaper on smaller boxes, over 22" Fo get A' Bout It.

Look at the chart I have in post #24 – there is no difference in price (UPS) between a 24", 36", or a 48" long box that weigh the same using Pirate Ship.

USPS Priority Mail and Ground Advantage add $4.00 for parcels that exceed 22 inches in length regardless or the overall volume.

Ahh, good to know. I have only used USPS for smaller packages and stick to UPS for everything else. But that explains the discrepancy in why some shippers are seeing the surcharge and others aren't. The rule according to USPS is:

1. Parcels that exceed 22 inches but not greater than 30 inches in length, add $4.00.
2. Parcels that exceed 30 inches in length, add $8.40.

At least using Pirate Ship, it's almost always cheaper to use UPS on the motor cases I've been shipping. I'm sure there are reasons to use USPS for longer boxes, but if it's more expensive, it's hard for me to see why. The tracking with UPS seems to be more robust as well. But this is a good example of how referring to shippers generically doesn't work – they have very different rules. USPS also does use dimensional weight like UPS, but has additional surcharges that UPS does not for long boxes. And as @Art Upton mentions in the first quoted post, UPS does have surcharges for a variety of locations that can add be pretty hefty.

Education is a good thing. Now I know why USPS is never price competitive on my longer boxes.


Tony

 

[mtnmanak]

It’s insane what vendors are charging vs the actual costs. And yes, as someone who has shipped dozens of packages in the last year I’m well aware of the costs that go beyond the postage, like the boxes, paper tape, labels, packing paper etc., and of course labor. But at some point using shipping as a profit center rather than a cost center becomes sales prevention.

Agreed. In the case of the rocket I noted in my original post, I did not place the order. There are way too many other options out there that I won't have to pay the vendor an exorbitant shipping cost. It is a cool rocket... but not that cool.

 

[rsbhunter]

I have routinely shipped two 54mm motor cases to forum members and I don’t think I ever paid more than $20. It’s insane what vendors are charging vs the actual costs. And yes, as someone who has shipped dozens of packages in the last year I’m well aware of the costs that go beyond the postage, like the boxes, paper tape, labels, packing paper etc., and of course labor. But at some point using shipping as a profit center rather than a cost center becomes sales prevention.


Tony

As crazy as $65k to $100k pickup trucks!!!!

 

[MClark]

Today I received my package from Pitcairn Island. A month in route.
Faster than expected.
NZ$ 9.80

 

[rsbhunter]

$9.80 ...OUTRAGEOUS!!!! (LOL) that's lunch at a fast food restaurant, probably less. Not all companies are using shipping as a profit center....good for you!!!! rsbhunter

 

[Sooner Boomer]

Today I received my package from Pitcairn Island. A month in route.
Faster than expected.
NZ$ 9.80


View attachment 674740

Neat stamps.

 

[greenlex]

Ok, here is the example I was thinking of...Wildman Rocketry...I don't believe this is the real shipping...I think something is wonky with their computer...I ordered the same thing from another place and the shipping was $8.95 !!!... this is for HDK25 delay grains ...no hazmat...rsbhunter

I am also seeing crazy shipping estimates for rocket kits on Wildman and I don't know what's going on these days. I can't justify paying $125 to ship a 4" kit

 

[soupmanrmc]

Reach out to Tim. There seems to be something a bit wonky on the backend and he can clear it up quick!

 

[greenlex]

My daughter built a LOC IV for her Level 1 cert and she mentioned she wanted to get a Zephyr for her next kit to build. I figured I would get her one for Christmas. I went to Apogee, put it in my cart and this is the quote I got for USPS shipping:

View attachment 672970

The cheapest UPS option was $50 and Fedex led the way with $45 for Ground Shipping.

This seems absolutely ludicrous. For 2-3 pounds of rocket parts that all fit in a box that is probably 3 feet long.

Maybe I have just lost context and am out of touch with current shipping costs, but how on Earth can it cost $100 for USPS to ship a 3 pound package? That's the price of the rocket!

Reach out to Tim. There seems to be something a bit wonky on the backend and he can clear it up quick!

I did and they prepared an invoice with a normal shipping cost-- thanks!

 

[Tommie D]

A vendor charged me some change over $25 to ship me a 54mm rocket kit. Was in a 5x5x30 or so box. Did state on their website that they refund any shipping overages but I never got one so I'm guessing that's what it cost them to ship it to me.

 

[bjphoenix]

Shipping for little stuff has gone way up too. I remember when there was parcel post that would ship small things relatively cheaply, these days you ship priority mail or first class. I shipped a small flash drive a week ago, put it in a simple envelope, and it cost just under $5.00. I used to occasionally sell small things on ebay and shipping cost wasn't a big deal, now shipping makes it difficult to ship items unless the item is relatively expensive.

 

[rsbhunter]

SO TRUE....I ordered a $15.00 item and pay $12.95 shipping!!!! Guess I just buy less...rsbhunter

 

[Frederocket]

Today I received my package from Pitcairn Island. A month in route.
Faster than expected.
NZ$ 9.80


View attachment 674740

A stamp collectors dream.. Wonder how much they would bring on fleebay?

 

[mr. bob]

A vendor charged me some change over $25 to ship me a 54mm rocket kit. Was in a 5x5x30 or so box. Did state on their website that they refund any shipping overages but I never got one so I'm guessing that's what it cost them to ship it to me.

Depending on the distance thats pretty close for a box that size

 

[mr. bob]

My new Starlight catalogs cost around $1.00 to print and $1,50 to mail in a "oversize" envelope. Since I ship them out at no charge. Its going to be a heck of a tax write off LOL

 

[ShadowSpire48]

I ordered something from Mach1 a few weeks ago and it came in a box about 30" long. Shipping was about 20ish if I recall. Apogee is one of the worst possible places to buy stuff from though. On top of their kits costing more than equivalent better stuff, their shipping rate problems have always been ridiculous and I can guarantee it's been mentioned to them many many times and they don't care enough to fix it.

 

[rsbhunter]

I just looked at ordering a engine for my lvl 1 cert...hazmat and shipping for a $50.00 engine was $71.00 !!!!!! That is ridiculous!!! rsbhunter

 

[ShadowSpire48]

I just looked at ordering a engine for my lvl 1 cert...hazmat and shipping for a $50.00 engine was $71.00 !!!!!! That is ridiculous!!! rsbhunter

I have considered ordering motors so many times throughout the year to stock up for our November launch but that damn hazmat and the shipping always turns me off. I just wait until launch day and pick up stuff from the vendor on site.

 

[terryg]

Ordered some 2032 batteries and this is how they arrived.

 

[bjphoenix]

Ordered some 2032 batteries and this is how they arrived.

I usually order batteries like that from ebay, much cheaper than local stores. Most stores sell those for about $6 each or 2 for $11. I ordered 5 on ebay for around $3, including shipping. The seller shipped the batteries in a small envelope, the envelope came back shredded so he refunded my money. I was out of town visiting my daughter and she had a package of 5 so she gave them to me. I get home and find out that they are all dead. So I ordered another 5 from another ebay seller, waiting for them to arrive. I don't know how a seller can list something on ebay for $3, deal with the listing, have someone print a mailing label and put the thing in an envelope, and make money, but they do. Retail businesses should find out how they do it and do the same thing.

 

[Azamiryou]

Batteries aren't created equal. Name brand from reputable sellers are much superior. Online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay are flooded with counterfeits as well as cheap batteries from companies you've never heard of. Even if they aren't dead on arrival, they usually don't last.

 

[Art Upton]

<"I was out of town visiting my daughter and she had a package of 5 so she gave them to me. I get home and find out that they are all dead.">

Good Quality 2032 batteries should last ten years without going dead. I have a strip of them from 10+ years ago that are still working when I used them this year.

 

[dhurstell]

So, TLDR, the money you save on Black Friday sale is going to be captured by the shipping company?

 

[jadebox]

Ordered some 2032 batteries and this is how they arrived. View attachment 675400

For some shippers, the cost of labor is more than what they would save by using a smaller box and less packaging material. Overall it might be less expensive to have people throw stuff in a bigger box than to have them take the time to search for a more appropriately sized one.

The good news is that we, JonRocket.com, seldom have to buy bubble wrap or other cushioning material because we collect so much of it from the packages that we receive at home.