Postage

jack neville · #1 09-06-17, 14:18

We all buy parts from all over the world these days, and at times we complain about the freight costs. But can someone explain the whys and wherefores of the rational behind packaging please.

This from Holland to Australia.

Phil Waterman · #2 10-06-17, 00:27

Hi Jack

While it is wasteful, it might be related to small packages get lost. But then again it might just be the people packing the box don't care they grab the closest box.

The other side of the coin is I received a CMP transmission shipped in a plastic bag.

Cheers Phil

rob love · #3 10-06-17, 01:52

There was a gun dealer here in Manitoba that was mailing rifles to customers (particularly SKS rifles) in black plastic sealed bags. He is now out of business.

In Canada, you can actually pay a few dollars more and send your stuff unwrapped (not rifles however). I, personally. have not been tempted to do this.

Jacques Reed · #4 10-06-17, 02:48

Hi Jack,

Yes, it sure is a pain that Postage costs from anywhere to Australia is so high.
The Netherlands Post is especially high. They have a minimum charge of about $37 for a package up to 500gm last time I dealt with someone from there. I actually bought a few more Items I didn't desperately need just to bring the weight up to just under 500gm to maximize the freight costs.

Many countries do not even offer sea mail anymore so you are stuck with air cargo rates through the postal systems even for relatively small items.

Postage varies quiet a bit between European countries too despite the EEU.
I bought a Boeing 737 model kit from Daco based in Belgium a couple years ago and the owner who is also the manufacturer kindly offered to post it from Germany, instead of Belgium, the following week when he was there on business as the postage would be a lot cheaper. This was actually his policy for overseas purchasers. Cannot quote exactly the difference but it was quite substantial from memory.

And people wonder why Brexit got up.

Cheers,

Jacques Reed · #5 10-06-17, 02:54

Oops!

Forgot to add that the box size in the case from the Netherlands has no significant bearing on the postage in view of the minimum charge for a 500gm package although cubic size may come into it if the box size exceeds the cubic/weight.

Cheers,

Bruce Parker (RIP) · #6 10-06-17, 03:16

Great. The internet means super cheap transmission of information, but the shipping of an actual item (for individuals) is prohibitively expensive. Yet containers of crap get shipped for next to nothing finding its way onto Canadian Tire and Walmart shelves. You'd almost think it's a plan.

chris vickery · #7 10-06-17, 03:29

Exactly why I find it is cheaper to ship a bunch of items rather than one-offs.
Usually the box fee is the same whether or not it is a few grams or a Kg as the rate is usually scheduled up to a certain weight .
As was mentioned, I would rather see my valuable item in a box rather than an envelope, even when an envelope would likely do. Unfortunately, envelopes take a beating and so does your item.

Wayne Henderson · #8 10-06-17, 04:24

Gentlemen,
Packaging is the sole responsibility of the supplier/sender.
The days of sea mail for shipping online purchases died years ago.
Your children will not wait 6 weeks for a parcel to be delivered, they track the parcel on their phones and ipads every hour or less and scream at any delay. The future

Jack, that item could have been wrapped in paper or a small piece of bubble wrap and mailed in a satchel. Instead you got a strong box, that was on hand probably, air mail, and a signature on delivery, hence the cost but you did get it in good condition.

There are many ways to get things posted into Australia by air mail or sea mail. Many companies, apart from the government one, bring in all sorts of goodies, some of it even gets examined by Customs and Aqis.

The cheap items bought online ie China free postage, Latvia

the choice of smugglers or GB mail houses, takes up to several weeks and is low low priority and examined/sorted/delivered with the same attitude.

Jacques Reed · #9 10-06-17, 05:25

Yes, and in most cases the sender is not going to waste his time and effort to find for you a cheaper means of shipping an item even where they exist.

He will just take it to the most convenient PO, FedEx, etc and pay their going rate.

My experience with Daco was the only time the seller tried to find me a better deal on the shipping cost. A very rare exception indeed. Pity he does not sell CMP truck parts!

Cheers.

lendlease · #10 12-06-17, 00:43

Well, the way I see it is this: Buy your parts locally (within your own country), or pay the price. Also, international postage costs are determined on weight only (at the present time, however that might change anytime soon), so the external size of the box does not affect postage cost.

Jacques Reed · #11 12-06-17, 04:43

I agree it is best to buy locally and have always tried to do so to keep the money in our economy but sometimes things are just not available here or are in very limited supply and get snapped up before you even hear about it.

Try buying original NOS dash and diff/tail light changeover switches here in Australia or original Lucas type side mirrors. I bought the last 8 dash switches Treleavens had in Adelaide 20 years ago and haven't seen any since. I bought my changeover switch from Holland after never even seeing one here.

I bought original Lucas type mirrors from the UK via Argentina from a fellow MLU member after twenty plus year of searching here. You hardly ever even see the remains of the mirrors on CMP vehicles here in Australia.

So buy wisely, support local businesses where you can, but if there is only an overseas supplier for an item you want you either go without or pay the price.

Cheers