The USPS is losing money, lots of it, and relies on taxpayers to subsidize it. They recently changed the fees for international shipping to try to stem the losses.
That meant the end of "free" shipping on many things destined for export.
Canada Post operates on a break even model, and receives no subsidies. Still their rates can be a little ridiculous. So you don't make small orders where the freight will be a significant part of the cost.
Yes, it's a little extra hassle as a seller to deal with an international buyer. But one reason why they are willing to spend for the shipping is that it's most likely cheaper than either buying an American item in their country or buying the local alternative, should it exist. After all, we model mostly what we see, as do other MRRs around the world. But some of us dabble in odd and distant railways. For some people, that's a UP diesel.
I have also found First Class International reliable and inexpensive, with service in some cases being just as fast as the premium ones. But ebay is taking a cut out of shipping now, so wants to push people to use the more expensive options, so their piece of our pie is bigger. And the post office is pretty much doing the same.
In the long run, only things truly unusual, rare, or cheap enough to bear the costs involved in the rest of the sale will make it worth the cost once things are totaled up.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
bigpianoguyA case in point would be the mini spycams (great for track-level vids); the Hong Kong sellers decided that the net price would be $17.99. So you would see all possible permutations of this price, i.e., .99 for the camera, & $17 shipping, or $6.99 for the camera, & $11.00 shipping...you get the idea.
They're not the only ones.
For those that may not know when in doubt about the shipping charges double check by going to usps.com and getting the correct shipping.
Sadly there are those trying to add their e-bay fees to the shipping.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
The cheapest way to send, say, a passenger car even in Canada, is $14.00 by Canada Post Priority Mail. Ebay has been trying to force sellers to Canada to only use Priority Post, as it can be tracked & insured. But as other posters have noted, it doesn't make much sense when it doubles or triples the original sales price.
But it's still a free country, on both sides of the border; and I generally find that sellers are more than happy to send items by whatever method requested by the seller. So now I only do business with those sellers willing to send by First Class International. In over 5 years of doing this, only two packages have disappeared into the ether, and this happened while I was moving & our wonderful postal system couldn't figure out how to forward packages...so yes, I find it quite safe. And since it's always paid through PayPal, my purchases are covered by their insurance plan, so I've never been out funds.
Care must be taken, though, as unscrupulous sellers often try to hide their 'real' asking price within the shipping fees. A case in point would be the mini spycams (great for track-level vids); the Hong Kong sellers decided that the net price would be $17.99. So you would see all possible permutations of this price, i.e., .99 for the camera, & $17 shipping, or $6.99 for the camera, & $11.00 shipping...you get the idea.
Yes, I have found this to be true as well.
I have purchased 80% of my M.R. goods from Stateside. Everything from 3 Controlmaster 20 power packs to my 40 Locos and everything else. I have always had good service with using USPS on the shipping end and Canada Post on the delivery end.
Only once did I have a package broken into and a Loco stolen and replaced with some black iron tongs. Who knows how or why or where this happened. It might not have been stolen but several packages broken and goods mixed up. (giving benefit of doubt). The problem here in lies in this situation,,,, when going to attempt a closure through insurance, USPS will not pay because they didn't finalize the process of delivering. Canada Post ignores you because they weren't involved at the shipping end. However I was blest in this instance as the shipper from a small place in Utah found it in his heart and refunded my money
The last two purchases I have made and had shipped here, I found the cost of the shipping had more than doubled, so I now will have anything I find or want from south of the 49th shipped to my Son (Stateside) and get it from him when we visit or he comes home, which together is about 3 times a year.
UPS or FEDEX have always been ridiculous in their charges and after my first couple of tries there, years ago, I have avoided them like the plague. They truly have a license to steal.
If there is a one stop shop here in Canada, I would think it would be Trains & Such in Calgary or Credit Valley in Ontario. If others have a one stop source with fair prices please let us know..
I am glad most of my purchases are done..How often have I told my Wife that.
Johnboy out..........................
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
And yet...
A couple of weeks back, I was looking for the battery charger for a digital camera we own. I couldn't find it anywhere, which made the camera useless. At my daughter's suggestion, I looked into ordering another one. There it was, $7.99 on eBay, But It Now, free shipping.
The item was in Hong Kong. It arrived 5 days later, USPS. I was able to track the progress of the item, too.
I can't imagine what it would cost me to send the same item to Hong Kong, but I'm guessing it would be more than $7.99. It's hard to believe that the Chinese are not subsidizing mail to the US. Of course, that's one reason that China is on the rise as an economic power and the US is not.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Some how I just know this will be taken wrong by some of our Canadian friends, but living here in the USA, we are largely removed from these issues.
I don't live in Canada, and I cannot begin to understand your circumstances as Canadians who buy model trains, but personally, I never buy anything directly from a retailer in another country. And I find it interesting that there are not retailers or mail order outlets in your country willing and able to sell to you these products without all these high shipping fees.
I guess I just don't understand, and that has prompted my comments today.
I buy and sell a little (very little) on Ebay. I would never even consider bidding on something listed by someone in another country. Only a few times have I sold anything to people in other countries. And while I did not mind doing the little extra work required to ship stuff to another country, I could not understand their willingness to pay all those extra costs?
When I do use the USPS to ship items within the US, I am very happy with their prices and services. Not sure why our collective governments have made this so complex?
Yes, I'm another spoiled American,
Sheldon
jalajoie Due to new USPS shipping regulations we are no longer able to offer First Class shipping to our international customers.
That's exactly why I won't order or buy from any on line store or e-Bay store outside the US..The shipping is ridiculous----and you still have to watch for jacked up domestic shipping charges.
Thanks for letting us know, Jack. I hadn't seen that, although I haven't ordered anything from them in a couple of months or more. I wonder if trainworld and the other etailers are now facing the same thing.
I think it's the writing on the wall for postal systems the world over.
Crandell
For many years I have been doing all my on line purchase with M.B. Klein aka Model Train Stuff.
Recently I notice the following on their web site: "Attention Customers: Due to new USPS shipping regulations we are no longer able to offer First Class shipping to our international customers. Priority Mail and UPS shipping options are still available. We apologize for any inconvenience." I did not pay much attention to this notice until my recent order.
A few day ago I ordered 3 freight car for a total purchase of $62.77. When I processed the shipping cost it was $30. via USPS and nearly $130 UPS. $30. for a purchase of $62.77, this stopped me right there and then and this will put an end to my relationship with Klein.
I don't blame Klein one bit for this as they are also a victim of USPS and probably our own Canadian postal service
This is most unfortunate for me as there is not hobby shop within 100 miles from my location.
Had I went ahead with this transaction total cost to me would have been $119.15 when all currency exchange, handling charges and taxes were added. This add $56,38 CAD to a $62.77USD purchase.
Unbeleivable.
Jack W.