Postal charges when ordering from USA sites

Hazi411 started this discussion · 4/13/2013

Hi, this post is particularly for the Aussie polers...I was just about to place an order with a site in the USA, but decided not to when the postage came out to something like $40, which I think is ridiculous. Aussie girls - do you buy stuff from the USA or does the postage cost put you off? I've placed orders for various things from the UK, and I think the most I've paid (and that was for recorded delivery) was 14.95 UK pounds. So why is postage from the USA so ridiculously expensive?

20 replies

kasanya · 4/13/2013
I've run into this too. Has something changed with US post lately? I've wanted to order stuff from several different places recently and the minimum shipping charge for all of them has been something like $44 US. It's sufficiently outrageous that I've ended up not placing most of those orders. ><
Hazi411 · 4/13/2013
Kasanya, that's even more ridiculous - you're practically next door. How can the US postal "service" justify that? Or is it the suppliers who are overcharging I wonder.
chemgoddess1 · 4/13/2013
From the USPS site: International Flat Rate Products Express Mail International (Retail) Canada All Other Countries Envelope1 $34.95 $44.95 Boxes2 $64.95 $79.95 Priority Mail International (Retail) Canada All Other Countries Envelopes3 $19.95 $23.95 Small4 $19.95 $23.95 Medium boxes5 $40.95 $59.95 Large boxes6 $53.95 $77.95
chemgoddess1 · 4/13/2013
These rates went into effect at the end of January.
Lee lee · 4/13/2013
I honestly don't think it's suppliers up charging, I do think it's the postal service or delivery company. When I order something personally from Aus/UK/NZ, shipping charges are generally reasonable, but when it comes from a company they don't always use the cheapest option. Some places will tell you it's because they are using tracking to ensure that a package doesn't get lost and become an issue. I am in Canada and some of the worst shipping costs I've seen are from products I've ordered from the US. In more cases then not, it can be quicker for me to receive an item from somewhere like Poland than the USA.
Hazi411 · 4/13/2013
Thanks Chemgoddess1 - can always rely on you to come up with the answers ;-) Don't know how you do it - you seem to have an endless supply of knowledge, links, info, etc. I'm envious! And thanks too, Verticali - I suspected it was more to do with the postal charges than the companies trying to rip us off (which was just a passing thought as I was typing). I honestly can't justify paying $40 US for an item costing $10 US. The only way I could justify it would be either to place an order for several items, or to get together with a few others and place an order together - but for just a couple of items, there's no way it's worth it.
Lee lee · 4/13/2013
And then you also have the possibility of incurring customs charges, which can be very discouraging to ordering overseas. 😕
Hazi411 · 4/13/2013
Luckily we are now allowed to import up to $1000 worth of clothing before being hit with Customs charges ;-)
Hazi411 · 4/13/2013
Luckily we are now allowed to import up to $1000 worth of clothing before being hit with Customs charges ;-)
kasanya · 4/13/2013
Yup, sure enough, the one order I did actually go through with used the USPS Priority Medium Flat Rate Box. Anyway, guess I won't be placing many orders from the States anymore.
Dirty Girl POLEtice · 4/13/2013
Yes the rates went up considerably (more than double to some places). It's quite frustrating. I sent a 6 oz package to Aus and it cost $12.75. That was bare bones minimum shipping too. It's absolutely insane. I've talked to a few retailers and they are just as frustrated. We feel like we robbing our international customers :(
Hazi411 · 4/14/2013
I've just seen that there is another thread (but with "discussion title" as its title) on much the same thing. I wonder if the postal/courier services in the USA realise just how much they could be damaging USA businesses (and the country's export trade!) by the doubling of their charges. It's sure to put a lot of people off ordering things from the USA (especially small, light items I guess). Maybe they just don't care - but it is very frustrating, not only for those of us outside the USA, but also for businesses in the USA, as Dirty Girl POLEtice points out. Wonder if there's anything that can be done to get the postal/courier services to reconsider. Maybe they have "shot themselves in the foot" by almost doubling their charges, if they lose custom because of it. Would serve them right, I reckon!
Serzi · 4/14/2013
As a US citizen, I would like to mention a few things I've noticed about our postal service. Since 9/11 it seems the price of everything keeps going up (possibly due to increased security measures), BUT the quality of service has gone way down. I have not had an out-going mailbox in the communities I've lived in since 2005, and instead I have had to bring it to the post office myself every time. It's obvious they have cut as many postal workers as possible to save money because there's usually only two or three working behind the counter and the line is so long it's ab
Serzi · 4/14/2013
out an hour wait to mail a package. My carrier is over-worked and disgruntled. Usually my mail isn't delivered until about 4pm...except on Fridays. For some reason my carrier is happy on Friday, jammin' out listening to her iPod, and gets the mail done in record time before it's even 11am. I've heard the US postal service has started it's own clothing line (srsly?) to try and strum up more funds. I've also heard they're considering only delivering mail Mon-Fri and doing away w/ Saturday deliveries. Idk if any of this has anything to do w/ International postal gouging, but I wouldn't be surprised. Our US postal services are going belly-up and they're getting very reckless (and greedy) as a result.
Dirty Girl POLEtice · 4/14/2013
They aren't shooting themselves in the foot, because honestly, they are still the least expensive way to ship anywhere. They are not a private firm like I think (not sure) some other countries postal services are. They are keeping Sat service for now, but if they do cut, the talks are that the post office will still be open, just no service to homes/businesses. I don't really care about that, just less bills for that week! lol @Hazi I do notice there are less blue boxes around, but the usps does have an app that will tell you where they are and that helps a lot! To get around hanging at the post office, print your postage for free (and actually cheaper than at the counter) at usps.com You can get a really inexpensive weight scale on ebay. I got one years ago for like $12, totally worth it and will pay for itself with the reduced postage costs online. Also, when you print your postage, you can request a pick up for the next day, so your mail person will come to your house and pick it up! The only thing you can't print and ship on line is first class international. But everything else you can! HTH!
Might Grip · 4/14/2013
We, at Mighty Grip, are well aware of the problems with shipping outside the U.S. For instance a container of Mighty Grip would cost $3.00 to ship to Canada before the price increase. That same parcel now costs $6.55 and instead of arriving in 7-10 days can now take 2-3 weeks. We are now speaking with UPS and FedEx to see if we can get some contracts to lower the overall price of shipping outside the U.S. This still will not make a big difference in shipping small orders such as a pair of gloves or some Mighty Grip or combination. But if you can combine orders with friends or studios I am pretty sure with a decent contract from UPS we can cut shipping costs in half. Please watch this space for further developments on shipping prices. Thank you for your patience. Joel B.
Might Grip · 4/14/2013
We, at Mighty Grip, are well aware of the problems with shipping outside the U.S. For instance a container of Mighty Grip would cost $3.00 to ship to Canada before the price increase. That same parcel now costs $6.55 and instead of arriving in 7-10 days can now take 2-3 weeks. We are now speaking with UPS and FedEx to see if we can get some contracts to lower the overall price of shipping outside the U.S. This still will not make a big difference in shipping small orders such as a pair of gloves or some Mighty Grip or combination. But if you can combine orders with friends or studios I am pretty sure with a decent contract from UPS we can cut shipping costs in half. Please watch this space for further developments on shipping prices. Thank you for your patience. Joel B.
minicoopergrl · 4/14/2013
My mom is a USPS carrier, ive heard the whole losing Saturday hours for at least 15+ years, they are finally doing it. I have to say they keep digging deeper in the hole from all the benefits they offer their employees. My mom is planning on moving to MT in a few months, shes not stressed about getting a job right away. Only because shes got over 3 mos of personal leave stocked away! They dont do much of 'use it or lose it' around there. My moms route has been cut multiple times which has resulted in a pay cut to get new carriers in. But with them cutting Sat hours, they are saving a ton of money. The USPS are so far in the hole, that they had to borrow from against the Fed. Reserve to pay some carriers their salaries. Since 9/11 the blue boxes have been getting cut, especially after the Anthrax threats years ago. The clothing line is mostly for the carriers - depending on your route depends if you are required to wear a uniform. My mom is not but has plenty of USPS gear in her house!
aliceBheartless · 4/15/2013
It's true. USPS has almost no money. And it is still with the doubling one of the cheapest ways to ship. I used to work jobs where I was evaluating building materials in their facilities. They don't even maintain them because they can't afford to. Interestingly enough, in some remote areas, USPS delivers Fedex and UPS packages. It's a huge, far reaching system that is still affordable. But its kind of falling apart. I am not in any way surprised that rates are going up.
Hazi411 · 4/16/2013
Just had a reply from the website I wanted to order from (I sent them an email querying the postal charges) and they said pretty much there was nothing they could do and apologising they couldnt help at this time. I think they are members on this site but I don't want to "name and shame" as I am pretty sure I've seen posts on here saying how helpful they are with sizing etc.