USPS International Delivery Time

[Stephen]

Of late I have had 2 shipments from 2 vendors not delivered or taking longer than the usual time. I have noticed that vendors who insure the packages are delivered much faster. I am unable to get information from USPS on their policies.
Would appreciate your experience.
On another note USPS gives a discount to vendors who ship online but is not passed to the customers. With shipping rates rocketing I would expect Vendors to keep shipping costs reasonable to make more sales. Thoughts please.
Thanks
Stephen

 

[zig613]

Hi Stephen,

Keep in mind that the postage cost you see online is is only one part of the total cost of shipping a product. There is the packing material, delivery to the post office, international order require additional paperwork, and then their time (labour) to pack the order. Unfortunately, all these inputs have been increasing over the past few years.

I'm not a vendor on this forum however, for my own business all these factors go into my shipping costs. I'm sure vendors selling pen related supplies look at all the costs and weigh the actual cost to what the market is willing to pay for.

Wade

 

[SDB777]

Stephen, I'll try to answer your inquiries...but not having shipped to Singapore....I don't know what happens to your parcels once they arrive in your country.....


I've only seen shipping taking longer if the order is placed on Saturday after the USPS facilities are closed. Everyone thinks that 2 or 3 days shipping time includes the time between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning when the USPS opens(I haven't figured out how to 'force them' into picking up parcels yet)....of course, those shipping times do not apply to parcels leaving the States(I've seen 12-22 days for USPS stuff to get to Japan, Australia, Germany, Belgium-we have shipped to those locations to very happy customs)

Insurance....touchy subject, especially on parcels leaving the borders of the USA. Most of the time, that additional charge will never be honored....citing they can not control the package once it goes to the third party for delivery. Can't imagine 'insurance' making the parcel move any quicker?

Yes, USPS does give discounts to printing postage online, at home, or whatever term you'd like to use. I guess vendors could raise their prices to recover all the costs of printing at home? Would a dollar extra per pen kit be acceptable for you?
USPS hasn't raised their rates for 2-1/2yrs....not sure where the 'rocketing' is coming from? And you are wanting vendors to have to take the hit on postage now.....can't do it, we sell at just above cost(we find it to be fun to offer the lowest prices for 'stuff'), I guess we could 'take the hit on costs', or I could just go into my bank account and grab some cash and flush it down the toilet?




Hope that helped.....

Scott (toilets flows clockwise here-with no cash in it) B

 

[Stephen]

Hi Stephen,

Keep in mind that the postage cost you see online is is only one part of the total cost of shipping a product. There is the packing material, delivery to the post office, international order require additional paperwork, and then their time (labour) to pack the order. Unfortunately, all these inputs have been increasing over the past few years.

I'm not a vendor on this forum however, for my own business all these factors go into my shipping costs. I'm sure vendors selling pen related supplies look at all the costs and weigh the actual cost to what the market is willing to pay for.

Wade

Thanks Wade,
A very good and simple explanation from a vendors point. This is what I was looking for.
Thanks again
Stephen

 

[ed4copies]

We do a dozen or so international packages each week.

International customers want lowest possible price, so they try (as a whole) to get products that will fit in the international small flat rate (domestic "video box"). This offers minimal "tracking". Once the package leaves the USA, (usually within a couple days) delivery depends on the receiving country. AND USPS tracking ENDS.

Packages that arrive in the USA from other countries can sit in Customs for a couple weeks---we are on the "receiving end", so I am familiar with this. How long does YOUR country take to "clear Customs"----we have no way of knowing. Then, your local Postal System needs to actually GET the package to you. In many places, they also have to SEE you, to COLLECT the Customs, VAT, or other charges your government feels you should pay. (So they may have to attempt delivery more than once)

IF you sell pens, you are a business. Businesses have inventories----STOCK the pens you sell. Then, each shipment is not a crisis.

PLAN on a month (Our lead time for product from Taiwan is 75 to 120 days--not easy, but with today's computerization it IS possible).

Hope this helps!!
Ed

 

[avbill]

You may think i'm a fool but I only charge $ 2.00 for shipping. But my lowest priced pen is 95 dollars for a modified slimline. I have no problems with shipping costs. I can hear the clients voice You only charge two dollars. The actually [average] shipping cost has been added to the pen cost. Period.

 

[elody21]

I am not sure where you are shipping from but the US post office raises their prices EVERY Jan.

Stephen, I'll try to answer your inquiries...but not having shipped to Singapore....I don't know what happens to your parcels once they arrive in your country.....


I've only seen shipping taking longer if the order is placed on Saturday after the USPS facilities are closed. Everyone thinks that 2 or 3 days shipping time includes the time between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning when the USPS opens(I haven't figured out how to 'force them' into picking up parcels yet)....of course, those shipping times do not apply to parcels leaving the States(I've seen 12-22 days for USPS stuff to get to Japan, Australia, Germany, Belgium-we have shipped to those locations to very happy customs)

Insurance....touchy subject, especially on parcels leaving the borders of the USA. Most of the time, that additional charge will never be honored....citing they can not control the package once it goes to the third party for delivery. Can't imagine 'insurance' making the parcel move any quicker?

Yes, USPS does give discounts to printing postage online, at home, or whatever term you'd like to use. I guess vendors could raise their prices to recover all the costs of printing at home? Would a dollar extra per pen kit be acceptable for you?
USPS hasn't raised their rates for 2-1/2yrs....not sure where the 'rocketing' is coming from? And you are wanting vendors to have to take the hit on postage now.....can't do it, we sell at just above cost(we find it to be fun to offer the lowest prices for 'stuff'), I guess we could 'take the hit on costs', or I could just go into my bank account and grab some cash and flush it down the toilet?




Hope that helped.....

Scott (toilets flows clockwise here-with no cash in it) B

 

[dogcatcher]

I got tired of listening to the complaints about shipping costs, so I upped the price to cover the shipping. No more complaints about shipping costs, and when the customer buys more than one I make an extra $5.95 per extra item. It was a win win situation, more profit with no complaints.

 

[Stephen]

QUOTE.

How long does YOUR country take to "clear Customs"----we have no way of knowing. Then, your local Postal System needs to actually GET the package to you. In many places, they also have to SEE you, to COLLECT the Customs, VAT, or other charges your
government feels you should pay. (So they may have to attempt delivery more than once)

Thanks Ed,

"Parcels containing non-dutiable and non-controlled goods of a total value not exceeding $400 CIF are granted GST relief. Such parcels are released directly to SP for delivery to the addressees. Please arrange to have the invoice attached to the parcel to facilitate clearance."
It usually takes 2/3 days to be delivered after receiving in Singapore.
SIN$400 = USD320 SP = Singapore Post
My packages fall well within these limits. Pen kits and wood working accessories are non- dutiable and non-controlled items.
The two shipments that have not been delivered - one was sent to Australia by error, and is in transit to Singapore. They sat in New York for 4 weeks although the tracking showed in transit to destination.
The other was not shipped by the vendor. The vendor has apologised and despatched on expedited basis.
I have usually received packages in 2/3 weeks from US.
Looks like things are falling in place.
Thanks again ED

 

[SDB777]

I live in Cabot, Arkansas(it's under my username), but I guess I move around to ship things. And the "EVERY Jan.' is incorrect.....okay though, if that's the only thing you wanted to find in the whole post, so be it?



Scott (toilet is spinning again) B

I am not sure where you are shipping from but the US post office raises their prices EVERY Jan.

Stephen, I'll try to answer your inquiries...but not having shipped to Singapore....I don't know what happens to your parcels once they arrive in your country.....


I've only seen shipping taking longer if the order is placed on Saturday after the USPS facilities are closed. Everyone thinks that 2 or 3 days shipping time includes the time between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning when the USPS opens(I haven't figured out how to 'force them' into picking up parcels yet)....of course, those shipping times do not apply to parcels leaving the States(I've seen 12-22 days for USPS stuff to get to Japan, Australia, Germany, Belgium-we have shipped to those locations to very happy customs)

Insurance....touchy subject, especially on parcels leaving the borders of the USA. Most of the time, that additional charge will never be honored....citing they can not control the package once it goes to the third party for delivery. Can't imagine 'insurance' making the parcel move any quicker?

Yes, USPS does give discounts to printing postage online, at home, or whatever term you'd like to use. I guess vendors could raise their prices to recover all the costs of printing at home? Would a dollar extra per pen kit be acceptable for you?
USPS hasn't raised their rates for 2-1/2yrs....not sure where the 'rocketing' is coming from? And you are wanting vendors to have to take the hit on postage now.....can't do it, we sell at just above cost(we find it to be fun to offer the lowest prices for 'stuff'), I guess we could 'take the hit on costs', or I could just go into my bank account and grab some cash and flush it down the toilet?




Hope that helped.....

Scott (toilets flows clockwise here-with no cash in it) B