Scattergun An American BLT

[Tim Hale]

Just reelin’ in shock from the shipping charge levied on my credit card for an order of a caboose body wooden kit (little bits of basswood in a jiffy bag) the kit was $51.95 and the seller whacked on an extra $260 for USPS* worldwide surface shipping.

I think that further purchases from the home of the free are on hold.

*I forgot, these are the same folk who have ‘lost’ my GEM brass F-12e. Their response was ‘it must be somewhere’

Tim

 

[2996 Victor]

Just reelin’ in shock from the shipping charge levied on my credit card for an order of a caboose body wooden kit (little bits of basswood in a jiffy bag) the kit was $51.95 and the seller whacked on an extra $260 for USPS* worldwide surface shipping.

I think that further purchases from the home of the free are on hold.

*I forgot, these are the same folk who have ‘lost’ my GEM brass F-12e. Their response was ‘it must be somewhere’

Tim

Oh my days! That's obscene!

 

[alastairq]

USPS seems to me to be a waste of time?
Such a pity there wasn't a shipping option?
Even Fedex is a better bet.
[I have a US Ford old car....for which spares, etc are plentiful. [1967] and I get most of the necessaries from a US parts dealer [RockAuto].
As an example, this summer I ordered a full gasket & seal kit for its power steering. Around £100 plus delivery from UK specialist dealer....£70, delivered, including all taxes & duties paid, from Rock Auto, via Fedex. Not for just the one item, but 2 separate kits plus a hydraulic hose [as a spare]!!
Ordered on the Monday, at my front door Friday morning.

Despite the [sometimes only slightly] increased shipping costs, I would use Fedex or DHL in preference to any postal service...even Parcelforce!

If only for the one-off payment! [Never mind the speed of delivery]
I bought a couple of HO B/mann 4-4-0s [moderns, not old-time] from Trainworld some years ago now [they've sat in their boxes ever since]...and a Russian Decapod [similar].... I chose the DHL shipping option, despite the slightly increased cost over USPS...I recall ordering them on the Monday, and getting a knock on my front door by DHL on the Thursday. None of this 'demand for payment, and a fee for the pleasure of doing it' lark from the likes of PArcelforce!
Or the tracking that shows items taking ''barely 3 days to get from the USA to a UK airport, and two weeks of sitting in various UK warehouses'' malarkey.

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

the kit was $51.95 and the seller whacked on an extra $260 for USPS* worldwide surface shipping.

I would never close an order without knowing in advance the actual shipping cost, even within the UK, never mind from across The Pond.

 

[Flaxfield]

The whole issue of p&p is a minefield be it from Europe or the rest of the world. I agree with Jordan confirm all charges prior to confirming payment.

 

[PhilH]

Just reelin’ in shock from the shipping charge levied on my credit card for an order of a caboose body wooden kit (little bits of basswood in a jiffy bag) the kit was $51.95 and the seller whacked on an extra $260 for USPS* worldwide surface shipping.
Tim

Don't forget you also have to pay VAT on the shipping charge as well as the item cost

 

[Tim Hale]

Hi,
I do purchase outside the UK but only if the price is affordable and the item is unavailable in the UK. The GEM F-12e fell into both categories and VAT+handling charge were taken into account when the order was placed.
Incidentally, the order for the AMB caboose body kit was cancelled with extreme prejudice.

​

Tim

 

[Focalplane]

Brasstrains.com use USPS and Royal Mail and fees have to be paid to Royal Mail before the parcel will be delivered. I have to be desperate now to think about any item from them. Never say never but treat them with caution.

My old contacts in Houston tell me that a trip to the post office these days can be a nightmare with forms, questions etc. about the contents. Dog Star came up with the suggestion to buy in France (only because am often in France) and hand carry the item into the U.K. This requires planning and patience. I am slowly getting a plan together and will report when I know it can work.

 

[Tim Hale]

Gosh,

I am amazed by the overwhelming number of experts on the importing of goods from overseas. Have you considered setting up as consultants on such matters?

A bit like the discovery that half the internet were eminent virologists when vaccination against Covid was a ‘thing’

Tim

 

[Simon]

Enough already.