View Full Version : Shipping is how much?
I was going to email this seller about this.....but decided to let the board handle it......
A9 in the Cafe Classifieds, $50 shipping? (http://www.mandolincafe.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/classifieds.cgi?search_and_display_db_button=on&db_id=9527&query=retrieval)
onlyagibsonisgoodenuff
Apr-28-2004, 7:56am
Maybe that's for FEDEX.
Better be Fedex overnight......... or UPS 2nd Day Air. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
I have shipped several mandolin and $50 for shipping and insurance sound pretty fair to me. Some of you with dealer accounts get a much better deal but I remember a couple of mandolins I sent back and forth to Dale cost me about that much and I'm just one state over.
Ben, I don't have a dealer account. I carry them to the local drug store that also has a UPS counter. If $50 for UPS Ground is acceptable.....I'm damn sure going up then.....I could clear $25 - $30 per deal on shipping......
Ben, I still maintain you got ripped on those shipping charges......
$900 worth of insurance from UPS costs $3, USPS charges $9.....down here it does anyway.
$25 should send that A9 UPS Ground & insured just about anywhere in the continental USA.
Ben, I still maintain you got ripped on those shipping charges......
Could be....but on a $3000 instrument that insurance can get pretty expensive. #I have started going to the official UPS counter and it is a little cheaper. #I just mailed a case a couple of weeks ago and it cost $16.00 at the USPS and that was with no insurance or mandolin in the case. #Who knows maybe they charge a little more here in Arkansas to feed the horses the Pony Express riders use to deliver packages outside the state. # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
I use either the office depot for my UPS shipments or the UPS sales counter.
Alot of people don't realize that the mail boxes etc. stores overcharge for shipping and other mom and pop stores that claim they ship UPS. The story is they do ship UPS but their rates are different especially if you try to insure something.
I have found the UPS sales counter the best. 2nd best office depot
I just shipped a tweed case out to Scott in Kansas and it was only 8.55 for shipping via UPS from Kansas to Georgia
Yeah, I have to charge more on the higher priced mandos because of extra insurance. But a thousand dollar mando should ship for no more than $25 UPS Ground.......
August Watters
Apr-28-2004, 9:20am
One thing I've learned from these discussions is that shipping rates can vary dramatically across the US -- I've spent $50 or close to it several times to ship a mandolin here in Boston, although it seems things cost more than lots of other places. Even USPS charges can approach $50, since their insurance charges are high.
There's also the question of time expenses -- if you're buying from a small store they may be trying to get back part of the cost of paying someone to package and ship it.
August W
Thanks for the info guys....I guess I have been getting the dirty end of the stick....
There's also the question of time expenses -- if you're buying from a small store they may be trying to get back part of the cost of paying someone to package and ship it.
That is a big beef with me....When buying something from someone and then they charge to put it in a box and ship it. When I buy groceries they don't charge to put it in a bag for me. I expect to pay shipping but not overblown handling charges!
withak
Apr-28-2004, 10:21am
The only time I shipped a mandolin it cost about $50. It was USPS priority mail, insured for somewhere around $2500.
Moose
Apr-28-2004, 10:40am
My dear Dale... ; might I suggest "everything's bigger in Texas"...eh!! - God Bless Texas. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
withak, $25 of that with USPS was insurance.
Well, it's a crying shame folks in some parts of the country get hosed on shipping charges so bad....... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
Coy Wylie
Apr-28-2004, 11:05am
A couple of months ago I overnighted a mando worth more than twice the price of this one fully insured from Texas to Arizona for $37. I arrived by 9:00 a.m.
mandomick
Apr-28-2004, 6:59pm
I shipped a mando priority mail from PA to CA insured for 2 grand and it cost me right around $50.
I don't doubt it using USPS Mick, they charge $1 per $100 valuation for insurance.
Bandersnatch Reverb
Apr-28-2004, 7:58pm
Jeeze folks, go over to UPS website, or FedEx or whatever (even the post office) and use the handy calculator to figure the cost - then you'll see how much the sender is gigging you for the box and his time to ship it.
I had shipped to me a $1500 guitar in January (cross country) and shipping was only $22 fully insured. Go another $5.50 to get that up to $3000 value. Fair and resonable I'd say.
levin4now
Apr-28-2004, 8:26pm
I guess he could have saved us this discussion by just stating a flat, shipped price! i saw that a9 today on ebay...if I was still looking for a mandolin, (well who isn't?) I'd be mighty tempted.
jim simpson
Apr-28-2004, 8:30pm
I much prefer the adds here or on Ebay to state what the shipping will be. Even the calculator on Ebay is cool. I always fear that I'll win something on Ebay where I didn't pay attention to the shipping then I'll get sprung with a $50 ship charge for a $5 item! Just paranoid I guess.
Mando Medic
Apr-28-2004, 8:41pm
I just shipped a mandolin from Oregon to Martha's Vinyard, 2nd day air with $3200 insurance for $67. Quit whining. Kenc
Jaded
Apr-28-2004, 11:45pm
I think $50 is probably on the high side, but not as out of line as some people seem to be implying. I've been hit with mysterious "fuel surcharges" at times that have pushed the shipping charge up over what I had the buyer pay more than once.
Whether the shipper has access to a cheap or free box and packing materials is another factor. I was shocked at what I had to pay for a box to ship my last guitar in.
Walter
Apr-29-2004, 6:12am
The seller is offering the A9 at what seems to be a great price, so I think you need to give him a break when he asks a flat $50 for shipping. The whole deal seems fair to me.
Mastersound
Apr-29-2004, 6:54am
DHL whacked the fuel surcharge on about the same time as the Iraq invasion started, then when it appeared things were settling down they upped their prices so the shipping cost was still about the same.
Oh, so if I make someone a great deal on a mando it's ok to overcharge on the shipping. Sounds like a plan to me......
Dale...Still give them those killer deals you are known for but just realize that shipping charges are different in different parts of the county. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
GTison
Apr-29-2004, 7:09am
a good plan at that HaHa.
seriously, though I was gonna ship one of mine a year ago and fedex ground was gonna cost me a bundle. but It was because of the size box I was planing to send it in. When I bought a mando, the box it came in was not much bigger than the tkl case it was in. they do charge for oversize boxes. but as long as the shipping is stated up front like above case it's honest.
OK.....but if I buy a mando from ya, I'll tell you right now I'm not paying $50 to ship it to me UPS Ground. That's a deal breaker for me.....no matter what part of the country your in.
I sent a Breedlove Quartz KF to Alaska for less than $40.....
OK.....but if I buy a mando from ya, I'll tell you right now I'm not paying $50 to ship it to me UPS Ground. That's a deal breaker for me.
You'll never get my BRW anyway! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif Besides I'd drive over next time and bring some GOOD BBQ! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
withak
Apr-29-2004, 8:18am
withak, $25 of that with USPS was insurance.
Actually a bit more, I think. The shipping alone was around $22, the insurance brought it up to just over $50. It may have been insured for more than $2500, I don't remember.
edit: Well whadday ya know, the reciept was still in my wallet. Priority mail postage from central Illinois to New Mexico was $20.20, insurance for $3200 was $33.20 for a grand total of $53.40.
Jim Garber
Apr-29-2004, 8:24am
I find that for shipping larger items like instruments, Fedex Ground works very well in the continental US, cheaper by far than USPS and UPS.
Jim
JGWoods
Apr-29-2004, 8:28am
I once shipped a banjo from MA to San Diego for $17 UPS. Maybe it was so cheap because they dragged it behind the truck?
gw
Yonkle
Apr-29-2004, 8:41am
If you think thats bad order something from StewMac!
OK, I went to UPS.com & figuired the shipping cost of that A9 from Grand Rapids To me in Mineola, TX. Based on 14 lbs, insured for $900, dropped of at the UPS store in my packaging (a Breedlove factory box, 35" x 16" x 6.5") & based on a residential delivery...........
UPS Sonic Air ®
Guaranteed by: #Same Day*
See Note* Same Day*
UPS Next Day Air ®
Guaranteed by: #By End of Day
Friday April 30, 2004
95.69*
1
UPS 2nd Day Air ®
Guaranteed by: #By End of Day
Monday May 3, 2004
54.17*
2
UPS 3 Day Select ®
Guaranteed by: #By End of Day
Tuesday May 4, 2004
37.93*
3
UPS Ground
Guaranteed by: #By End of Day
Tuesday May 4, 2004
16.10
Now, does that bother any of you naysayers?
Okay...I did the same thing...
For me to ship to Dale it would cost $35.09
For Dale to ship to me it would cost $31.44
Both second day air.
So the moral of this story is shop those shipping charges if possible...some folks are getting hosed!
cutbait2
Apr-29-2004, 9:10am
i bought a 3 oz ( 83 cents USPS)strap from a guy who charged me $3.00 for shipping. i knew the charges up front were high but i figured packaging, handling, (whatever) and just added it to the total cost. in this case guy doesn't say what priority it will be sent and at any rate i'd assume it would be negotiable.
"in this case guy doesn't say what priority it will be sent and at any rate i'd assume it would be negotiable."
If it was on Ebay you wouldn't assume it.......I'd want it verified before I purchased it.
It seems there are only a few of us who object to this shipping charge ripoff. I'm just using this A9 as a generic example & not trying to make the guy look like a crook....hell, it may be an honest mistake. I don't rip folks off on shipping intentionally.....I just use a general rule of thumb based on whether ground or air & the amount of ins needed......& I'm usually pretty close.
fpaxton
Apr-29-2004, 9:17am
Can't they just ship it and not be handlin it?
Mandobar
Apr-29-2004, 9:20am
ok, let's see, if you don't have a box you have to buy one. #$18? #then if you don't have peanuts you have to buy them and tape and bubble warp, whatever. #sometimes if you are out of this stuff you need to spend a bit more. #hey, don't shoot the typist here!!!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif i once had someone charge me over $200 to have a mandolin shipped overnight. #as it was a sobell and kind of rare in this country i just paid it. #i really wanted the mando.
seriously, i paid $67 to have my blue rigel a natural (one and only of it's kind) shipped from michigan to new jersey. #it came by noon. #thank god i had it sent overnight because the store i bought it from did not have much experience shipping things and at first they just wanted to stick a label on the case! #(for real!!!).
egads!
then they took it to the ups store and i had sent them a label from my ups account which made the people at the ups store pissy (packing and shipping is where they add the extras). #when i got the mandolin the bottom of the box had one piece of tape on it and the seam had opened half way. #thank god i had it shipped overnight.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
One more thing.....anyone that leaves the packaging of their mando up to some store clerk is a.....well a gambler at best.........
It may be a simple matter of how far the package must go and from where to where. It's probably done based on how far its going and what the overhead and trucking cost are in particular areas. Groceries are differing amounts in different areas, as are gas prices etc.. Doesn't neccessarily mean anyone is getting taken. Maybe he should have advertised, shipping will be "actual cost", but he may just be covering himself, in case he's on one end of states, and someone wants it, thats on the other end, like pennsylvania to california or something like that. He might reduce that after someone contacts him and he knows the actual cost. If he quoted $25 and it turned out to be $45, some might hold him to that, so he may be protecting himself until he knows. I think it would be nice to give a person the benefit of the doubt first, before questioning his ethics or judging him to be unfair. Just my humble opinion.
It may be a simple matter of how far the package must go and from where to where. I noticed some are quoting sends to the next state, or two states over, the more expensive are like the one, quoting from Michigan to Texas.
But how do you explain the price difference for me to ship to Dale and for Dale to ship to me? It cost me more to ship to Dale in Texas than it does for him to send it to me in Arkansas.
cutbait2
Apr-29-2004, 10:08am
the bottom line is shipping (how its to be done as well as the cost) should be a part of the discussion, and don't forget the case as well
Tom C
Apr-29-2004, 10:12am
Ever hear of "Hide the hat"? A salesman goes on a business trip to Chicago. His hat blows off his head down the street into the sewer. So he buys himself a new hat
and puts it on his expense report. His Boss then calls hin into the office asking
why the hat is on as an expense. Unsatisfied, his boss gives him the expense form back and tells him he can't expense it and to re-do it. He does, and hands in the expense form again. His boss says 'hey, this is the same amount', the salesman replys 'Yeah, but find the hat'
13 - 15 lbs is a good average weight for a mando & a TKL hardshell case in an original mando factory size box. If you use an oversize box your charged for 30 lbs. There is also a charge for residential vrs business delivery.
Talon, read the above UPS rates I was quoted Michigan to Texas....
$25 SHOULD ship that from Michigan to Texas UPS Ground insured...period.
I'm not paying the seller for tape, box, peanuts & etc.....that just goes with the territory. #IMHO
Go dumpster diving for free packing matierials....I have before! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
PCypert
Apr-29-2004, 10:31am
Ben,
It cost you more to ship to Dale from Arkansas because you have to pay people more to stay in Arkansas http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif .
Paul
One cool thing to bring up is if you take your package to the Mail boxes etc stores and places like that they measure your package and if it is the least bit oversized they charge you dearly for that. I have took the same packages to the UPS sales counter and they have never measured my packages they weigh them but never measure them. One example was I was mailing a mandolin in litte bit bigger box than usual via mail boxes etc. they was charging like 75 dollars to ship it. I took it the UPS sales counter and it was 27 bucks!
I think the UPS sales counters could care less as long as it doesnt look to big for one of their guys to carry.
Of course they try to make the retail stores follow those measurements.
mandobob
Apr-29-2004, 11:24am
2 years ago a buddy sold a mediocre Ricky bass on ebay (about $400) and with a straight face tacked on one hundred US dollars (that's $100USD) for S&H. Wasn;t in the auction listing, he just came to that figure. He explained that the extra was because since he was a 'professional' he should be compensated for his time accordingly. The buyer blew a fuse, and my buddy, who is quite full of himself came to me for some support. He didn't get any support from me and it ripped a big hole in our friendship.
He did however get the $100.
Go figure.
thistle3585
Apr-29-2004, 12:17pm
Ben, my guess forthe reason that you get two different prices is because of the point of origin. Basically, you are farther away from a hub than Dale is. In other words, it costs UPS a little extra for a driver to come to your place vs. Dales. Plus the package spends more time on the ground than in the air.
Try checking shipping rates to CA, you should notice a huge difference going in than coming out. The reason is that CA taxes inbound trucking firms due to air pollution. "Less than full loads" really get nailed going into CA.
Boy, I'm glad I get a 55% discount off UPS and FEDEX rates.
Mandobar
Apr-29-2004, 12:51pm
i guess i could see $50 more on a guitar because of the cubic weight, (which is how ups figures the actual charge- or so they say), but $50 for a mandolin is close to overnight money. unless of course it is a monteleone valued at $28k. dunno, but if that is what the guy is asking and you really want the mando, "tighten your belt and go along for the ride".
and dale,
if i'd known that the rigel dealer i bought the blue from was not well-versed in shipping i would have had second thoughts and probably just walked away from the deal. it worked out ok in the end, but i'd never take a chance like that again.
labraid
Apr-29-2004, 4:49pm
Woulda been better: mandolin, $900, free shipping. Easy as pie.
labraid
Apr-29-2004, 4:57pm
There was once, in a little town, two candy stores... In one of them, the candy man would fill up the scoop half full, then he'd add some more as the children watched, and he'd add some more, and still more until the bag was full.. In the second store the owner would fill up the bag, and take a little bit out, a little bit out, until the bag weighed just right... "There ye go, kid. 1 oz exactly." One of them was always empty. One of them was always very full of children.
I remember my father telling me that story when I was a teenager. His daddy told it in church often...
EasyEd
Apr-29-2004, 8:29pm
Hey All,
Oldtymer that store full of children was the J & M newstand in Red Lodge Montana when I was a boy growin up in the early 60s. You rarely if ever left their store with $0.05 worth of candy. Thanks for reminding me of what kind of people John and Margret were! Now if only they sold mandolins today!
Take Care! -Ed-