[Amps] Shipping Costs

[Joe Giacobello, K2XX]

Over the years I have sold ham gear and occasionally shipped 
internationally.  At one time, one could ship packages internationally 
via USPS surface mail.  The packages would take up to six weeks to get 
to their recipient, but it was a relatively economical way to ship.  
That changed about 10 years ago or so when the international surface 
mail option was discontinued.  I have no idea why.  The same is true 
with shipments to Canada.  During around the same period, the cost of 
shipping to Canada really escalated.  In fact, several Canadians that I 
know, who live close to the U.S. border, have stuff shipped to their 
U.S. friends just across the border and simply drive there to pick them up.

A couple of years ago I sold a Titan 425 amp to a Russian ham.  It was 
shipped in three boxes via the USPS.  He paid $450 for shipping.  I 
couldn't believe that he wanted it that badly.

73, Joe
K2XX

> Jim Brown <mailto:jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>
> Wednesday, March 1, 2017 3:37 AM
> I've shipped a lot of used gear (and other stuff) by USPS, UPS, and 
> FedEx. With all of them, I do my own packing. I save the good boxes 
> and good packing materials that I receive (there is a special place in 
> hell for shippers who use those f#%king packing peanuts). I have more 
> boxes and packing material than I can ever use. :)
>
> With UPS and FedEx, I fill out shipping paperwork, pay online, print 
> my own documents, tape them to the package, and drop the package off 
> at one of their locations (or hand them to a FedEx or UPS driver).  
> Their websites are very easy to use. I take boxes I'm shipping via 
> USPS to the post office, let them compute the postage (and advise me 
> as to the best way to ship), and pay them. NONE of these locations 
> charge for handling that package.  For most stuff, my preferred 
> shipper is USPS. I may be lucky, but I've never had a problem with 
> anything I've shipped with any of those shippers.  If you're paying to 
> use those shipping locations, you're ignorant, or lazy, or you've got 
> a job and your time is worth more than mine.  I'm retired. :)
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
>
>
>
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> Tom Osborne <mailto:w7why1 at gmail.com>
> Tuesday, February 28, 2017 9:20 PM
> I worked in a shop here in town that did UPS shipping. There was about a
> 25% markup on shipping charges through our store. Going to the local UPS
> Store here, it cost WAY more than that to ship the same box by UPS.
>
> Some of these smaller stores just use UPS to bring in customers. The UPS
> store is in it to make a profit after paying their employees. Not the best
> way to ship. 73
> Tom W7WHY
>
>
> On Tue, Feb 28, 2017 at 6:05 PM, Roger (K8RI) <k8ri at rogerhalstead.com>
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> Roger (K8RI) <mailto:k8ri at rogerhalstead.com>
> Tuesday, February 28, 2017 9:05 PM
> $475 to ship a Palstar Auto-tuner?  How much did it weigh?
>
> I've received amplifiers in two boxes at well over 100# total from 
> Australia for considerably less than that.  OTOH, I was charged nearly 
> $200 on import duty, when there should have been none due to a trade 
> agreement.  I think it went into somebody's pocket. Calls and e-mails 
> went unanswered.  My FT5000MP at 1# under max for UPS was considerably 
> less than that from CA.
>
> I agree that the USPS, "If it fits, it ships" boxes are by far the 
> least expensive, but I've found USPS to be the least reliable.
>
> Don't have UPS, or FED-X pick up. Ship from their stores. It's much 
> cheaper.
> I use both services as well as USPS and have not run into these 
> excessive charges..."YET"   OTOH  I've not shipped anything large 
> recently.  I did receive an AV680 from the E coast and w whole bunch 
> of of AL tubing from DX engineering with quite reasonable charges.
>
> Some companies have outrageous shipping and handling charges.
>
> 73, Roger (K8RI)
>
>
>
>
>
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