Beware of the postage when ordering from MR.....

[Graffen]

I was going to order some special issues from MR today, and I looked up the international (as in to Europe) shipping for one mag, and it was $3.95 as the cost for the order was under $10. As the two mags I wanted were $17.90 together the shipping would be $10.50 and a total of $28.40!!! Are they joking????? I made two separate orders instead, and when checking out, the total became $25.80. So by making more work for them, increasing the cost of packaging and having to make two packages, I saved $2.60!! Rather disturbing business model there.... it sure as heck doesn't give an incentive to order several items when you get punished for it..... So keep a watchful eye on the shipping when ordering from MR!

[galaxy]

That is too bad.At least you saw and could take advantage of the difference.

 But I can top that...

I once placed an order with the folks at Kalmbach for several books on a pop-up offer that also offered FREE SHIPPING!

BUT, then, when I went through check out after my credit card info had been inserted, IT ADDED SHIPPING CHARGES to my bill!!!

I wrote,and posted a thread here on the topic, {I was NOT a happy camper},  and was soon assured there would be NO shipping charges...and they retracted the charges from my bill.

I wondered how many were lured in by free shipping, only to be charged shipping who did not catch that...

Enjoy your reading material...

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

Well, in my experiance all this computerized, online, automated checkout software is still in the testing phase - not just at Kalmbach, but at many web sites.

Shipping/mailing to other counties can easily make it worse - but it seems to be the wave of the future - replacing people with machines.

Sheldon

[Railphotog]

Shipping costs sure can be strange at times.   A reprint of "Model Railroading with John Allen", originally published by Kalmbach is now published by Benchmark Publications, and distributed by Hayden Consulting.  To ship the $63.95 book to Canada, they want $32.00!  Half the price of the book. 

It's worse if you're not in North America, the cost for Overseas shipping is $48.00.   Not realistic at all, what are they shipping the book in, a large wood crate?  Thanks but no thanks.

 

 

[betamax]

Railphotog

Shipping costs sure can be strange at times.   A reprint of "Model Railroading with John Allen", originally published by Kalmbach is now published by Benchmark Publications, and distributed by Hayden Consulting.  To ship the $63.95 book to Canada, they want $32.00!  Half the price of the book. 

It's worse if you're not in North America, the cost for Overseas shipping is $48.00.   Not realistic at all, what are they shipping the book in, a large wood crate?  Thanks but no thanks.

 

I got that book for $65 CDN from a local model railroad retailer. And it was 10% off that price because of the CARM convention.  I asked if he could get a copy one day when I visited the shop, and he was able to get me a copy.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I got you both beat. I picked up the book (Kalmbach label on it) from a bookstore dealing in used and damaged books. Cost me $15. The first three pages are missing. It starts at page 3 of the forward.by Lynn Westcott. Other than that it's in great shape.

[pastorbob]

Now that's funny!

Bob

[maxman]

Graffen

I was going to order some special issues from MR today, and I looked up the international (as in to Europe) shipping for one mag, and it was $3.95 as the cost for the order was under $10. As the two mags I wanted were $17.90 together the shipping would be $10.50 and a total of $28.40!!! Are they joking?????

Yes, they are bad people.

What was the weight of the total order?  I looked at the USPS website and to ship 8 ounces first class to Sweden using a large envelope that could be folded and otherwise spindled and mutilated by the postal service would cost $7.21.   I did a very rough check of the recent MR and that weight was about 8 ounces.  One pound to Sweden would cost $10.35.

Seems to me they are right in line with the USPS.

[Graffen]

Biggest difference is that a publisher has very different prices compared to the regular prices... I guess that the real difference between one or two mags in postage is no more than a 30% addition on the price....... In either case, Kalmbach has made a very big error when charging shipping by how much money you spend...... I guess it's the "easy way".......

[Anonymous]

The OP has made his point loud and clear.

No need to continue the kvetching.