Thread: Postage costs from LeeValley

Sounds about right to me.

I recently bought a Tiltbox direct from Beall in the US - sent by USPS the freight was US$11.00 for a small package, and it arrived in a week or so.

You'll find the UPS/Fedex charges have gone up quite a bit recently (especially from Canada....).

These days I always have stuff sent USPS (US Parcel Service), as the charges are quite reasonable. A recent order from Stewart McDonald (USA) arrived in my PO Box in country NSW just 6 days after posting.

I guess what I'm saying is that the service from standard (and cheap) USPS is surprisingly good. I wouldn't bother with UPS or Fedex for the extra $$$.

Don't got the UPS/FedEx route whatever you do! USPS/Canada Post are the best bet and on small shipments way better value than any of the parcel companies. Australia recently changed it's rules regarding acceptance of larger parcels so some items you may wish to bring in will only be accepeted if you use Priority Post which is very, very expensive. Seek other options if that happens.

Yep, unfortunately that does sound about right. last pen swap I had was from a guy in the USA and a relatively small package cost him around the $50 mark to send it to Australia.

Shane, that is correct, but the cheapest rate doesn't usually take 8 weeks and it's only taken 12 weeks when the packaging fell apart and it sat in a USPS office for 4 weeks while we worked out who was going to pay for the repacking. In the end the USPS stuffed into one of the wonderful canvas bags and so now I have one of those.

What I have found is just about everything small comes by air even though I paid for surface. My guess is if the pile of surface mail waiting to be shipped is small they just send it by air.

Time for surface varies from about as little as 2 weeks to 8 weeks.

Air mail takes a week to 3 weeks, but usually less than 2 weeks.

I always use USPS and have not lost anything.

I would also suggest that Lee Valley doesn't in general rip customers off. I've dealt with them a few times and have never had a problem (in fact I find them great), although I agree that shipping costs from the US are high.

I always go the lowest cost shipping option, because I'm rarely in a hurry. And for heavy or big items it has taken 8-10 weeks to get things, so be prepared for that. But I've never had anything from Lee Valley go astray, and the items have been packed well and the service has been excellent.

I always take the UPS option, mainly because I want whatever it is I've ordered straight away! The price is generally around $45. Place an order Monday night, reply to the Lee Valley confirmation e-mail Tuesday morning and receive the delivery Friday. I'm happy with that.

Alan

I think you'll find that you have been caught by the 'volume' clause - these days most Post Services have 2 ways of charging you the most money - one is the old fashioned 'weight' - this works best when you are getting a bunch of hardware, planes etc.

The other, more recent method is 'volume' where they calculate a nominal weight for the size of the parcel - have a look at the pre-paid boxes at your local Post Office - they nearly all have a small note saying that this sized box will be charged postage as if it weighs 'X' kilos if it weighs less than 'X', of course they charge on weight if it is more than 'X' kilo's.

You could ask Lee Valley how much more stuff you could get in the parcel without paying more postage, then " fill'er up ".

I suspect that my last parcel from LV got caught by the volume clause - $118 Xpresspost for 1 cabinet scraper, 4 rulers, 6 punches, a book, 2 torch holders & 2 calendars.