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TCB => Trader & Shipping Support => Topic started by: Galactica on December 30, 2016, 10:02:37 AM

Title: Is shipping to the UK from the US really so much??
Post by: Galactica on December 30, 2016, 10:02:37 AM
I don't know if something is up with the USPS.com calculator, or what-

but the price I'm getting for a 10 oz package to the UK - is $22?!??

Did rates go WAY up recently is the calculator broken or am I missing something?

Check it out: https://ircalc.usps.com/Default.aspx?country=10150&m=0&dpb=0&mdt=2016/12/30%2011:00
Title: Re: Is shipping to the UK from the US really so much??
Post by: banditpony on December 30, 2016, 10:13:59 AM
o_o; well that sucks.

Is there any way to get your package to weigh a couple oz ligher? 8oz is 13.50.... 9oz jumps to 22.50........  :shocked:
Title: Re: Is shipping to the UK from the US really so much??
Post by: Makaroni_the_pony on December 30, 2016, 10:17:50 AM
Alternatively, you could also buy a flatrate international box, and fill it with /more/ stuff for a similar cost
Title: Re: Is shipping to the UK from the US really so much??
Post by: Breyer600 on December 30, 2016, 10:43:41 AM
The calculator is correct. The rates changed back in January as I recall.  Part of what made them go up so much is that they eliminated most of the weight divisions.  The price used to change every 4 oz. but now there is one price for up to 8 oz. and the next price covers up to 2 lbs. then changes every pound after.

Alternatively, you could also buy a flatrate international box, and fill it with /more/ stuff for a similar cost
This only works out if you are shipping items that are very heavy for their size; the vast majority of the time it's cheaper to just use a normal box.
Title: Re: Is shipping to the UK from the US really so much??
Post by: LadyMoondancer on December 30, 2016, 10:56:17 AM
Wow, I got the same thing.  And for First Class shipping, too.  O__O
Title: Re: Is shipping to the UK from the US really so much??
Post by: Galactica on December 30, 2016, 11:24:44 AM
Yeah the flat rate for a video mailer or international priority is $33.50 (ouch!)

o_o; well that sucks.

Is there any way to get your package to weigh a couple oz ligher? 8oz is 13.50.... 9oz jumps to 22.50........  :shocked:

Oh maybe I can do that-  I'll experiment
Title: Re: Is shipping to the UK from the US really so much??
Post by: Taffeta on December 30, 2016, 11:30:59 AM
Rates have gone up and the currency conversion also sucks, so it's a double whammy. The last time I had a MOC sent to me from the US it cost $63 (albeit with insurance). $22 sounds like pretty normal to me from the US to the UK as a lot of sellers on ebay have been charging that kind of amount for years on single ponies...

Title: Re: Is shipping to the UK from the US really so much??
Post by: Galactica on December 30, 2016, 11:32:24 AM
Rates have gone up and the currency conversion also sucks, so it's a double whammy. The last time I had a MOC sent to me from the US it cost $63 (albeit with insurance). $22 sounds like pretty normal to me from the US to the UK as a lot of sellers on ebay have been charging that kind of amount for years on single ponies...

OWWWWCH
Title: Re: Is shipping to the UK from the US really so much??
Post by: Taffeta on December 30, 2016, 11:34:20 AM
Yep. That was the actual price, not what the seller asked, she didn't take a profit on it.

What's worse is that that used to be about £40 and now it's £51 in conversion. So buying from the US right now is very off-putting.

On the positive, though, it should be cheaper for you guys to buy from the UK ;)
Title: Re: Is shipping to the UK from the US really so much??
Post by: Galactica on December 30, 2016, 11:38:04 AM
Yep. That was the actual price, not what the seller asked, she didn't take a profit on it.

What's worse is that that used to be about £40 and now it's £51 in conversion. So buying from the US right now is very off-putting.

On the positive, though, it should be cheaper for you guys to buy from the UK ;)
So far, that hasn't been the case for some reason- although maybe I need to shop on ebay more ;)

Consumer goods are likely to get very expensive in the US during hte Trump administration- he has said he will be imposing huge Tarrifs on China and Mexico goods- where is basically where everything comes from here.  Of course the companies will pass the increased cost to them onto us the consumers.  Not looking forward to that. :(
Title: Re: Is shipping to the UK from the US really so much??
Post by: lovesbabysquirmy on December 30, 2016, 07:01:06 PM
Sadly the answer to all questions like, "Is shipping really that much?!" is usually "yes" these days! :(
Title: Re: Is shipping to the UK from the US really so much??
Post by: Ringlets on January 02, 2017, 04:18:18 AM
yep. It sounds about normal  :(  international shipping prices have gone crazy now  :sad:
Title: Re: Is shipping to the UK from the US really so much??
Post by: Pierlala on January 14, 2017, 09:58:13 AM
The worst is when people sell via the Global Shipping Program. That is just laughable.
Title: Re: Is shipping to the UK from the US really so much??
Post by: Taffeta on January 14, 2017, 04:15:39 PM
The worst is when people sell via the Global Shipping Program. That is just laughable.
GSP is something I've realised you have to play with. I mean, sometimes it's ridiculous. The import charges are about 3x the real charges, and the shipping cost is ludicrous considering how they repack things to save themselves money in the middle.

Very occasionally, though, GSP actually makes shipping cheaper. I don't know how, but I have got some ponies from the US at a lower price on GSP shipping than what the USPS charges.

It does take longer, though. Which is annoying.
Title: Re: Is shipping to the UK from the US really so much??
Post by: Artemesia's Garden on January 14, 2017, 05:38:20 PM
Yes, really offputting. Does Ebay's currency conversion keep up with the real rate? It's been all over the place.
Title: Re: Is shipping to the UK from the US really so much??
Post by: bright rabbit 1 on March 17, 2017, 06:50:26 AM
Yes it is. It cost me £65 (P&P included). For a Barbie doll new in boxed. And that was from Amazon.uk
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