Thread: shipping method from the U.S.

I ave just purchased 2 longcase movements,pendulums etc from a supplier in the States, and have given up trying to get insurance, One of the suppliers I deal with over there (and have done for some time) told me to save my money.
UPS can only track parcels in the US and once in the air they will not cover thier insurance.
A waste of money as I was told.
I have not lost any YET and touch wood it will stay that way.
Catchya AJ

AJ, you have plenty of wood to touch! hope all comes through ok. I am patiently waiting for a parcel of pen blanks, well, I am starting to get a little edgy!, Amos Happy New Year.

Evan did you end up anywhere with this? Have they come to their senses or do they still have their heads in the sand.

Reason I ask is because I have been wanting to get some of these extra sizes for my Barrel Trimmers as well.

i import a lot of things from the states as locals cant or wont stock things . and i can get them delivered to town ,rather than chasing around after them, to be told it aint in yet etc . found insured post works good ,several parcels , have been returned at no charge . and every thing has a tracking number. they have stopped surface mail from usa, wich took up to a 100days for one thing to surface . but was really cheap . there are flat rate envelopes and boxes , try their website . some charge for handling??/what is this ???,try and get it specified before you place the order . cheers bob

Originally Posted by DJ's Timber

Evan did you end up anywhere with this? Have they come to their senses or do they still have their heads in the sand.

Reason I ask is because I have been wanting to get some of these extra sizes for my Barrel Trimmers as well.

G'day DJ, the last e-mail sent to me is as follows:

Evan,

I apologize for taking so long to get back to you. Unfortunately even
though USPS allows it, our business policies prohibit us from
insuring packages through the mail. It is impossible to successfully
complete a claim with them. Through UPS we can track and insure the
package much more easily so that is the only way we will insure
orders over $150. I did speak with the general manager about this
matter and he confirmed that for me. If you have any other questions
about the policy you may email him at
xxxxxxxxxxx or when you are ready to order I can
help you with that. Thanks and let me know if I can do anything else
for you.

Thanks
Customer Service
Craft Supplies USA
1-800-551-8876


So I stand corrected in that insurance for international shipping is available for all shipping methods; their e-mail is a contradiction standing out like a sore thumb. They came to their senses after I sent them an excerpt from the USPS website detailing shipping methods and insurance costs.

In late 2005 I ordered my first baron kits and others from Arizona Sillhouete before they stopped accepting international orders and they used USPS with insurance as an option for any amount and a tracking number was e-mailed to me also and I knew at all times where my parcel was. In fact Bill Baumbeck recommended I should insure for peace of mind; it only cost about $US3 from memory. My parcel arrived in 8 days, no problems.
These guys are an absolute pain; they don't want to get off their backsides and take the parcel to the post office themselves because I presume they have a courier that does the rounds for them and their computerised system is linked to their shipping company of choice, UPS, which is much more expensive. That's why they've been telling me you cannot use USPS with the insurance option. I reckon they're a UPS agent.

No way in the world I'm buying from them unless they change their ways; I am the customer and will never yield to their way. I'll do without until I find another retailer. Beartoothwoods.com use both shipping methods with insurance options and they ask you which shipping method you prefer.
My correspondence with them (CSUSA) has ceased.


Cheers,
Evan

Originally Posted by Evan Pavlidis

G'day DJ, the last e-mail sent to me is as follows:

Evan,

I apologize for taking so long to get back to you. Unfortunately even
though USPS allows it, our business policies prohibit us from
insuring packages through the mail. It is impossible to successfully
complete a claim with them. Through UPS we can track and insure the
package much more easily so that is the only way we will insure
orders over $150. I did speak with the general manager about this
matter and he confirmed that for me. If you have any other questions
about the policy you may email him at
xxxxxx or when you are ready to order I can
help you with that. Thanks and let me know if I can do anything else
for you.

Thanks
Customer Service
Craft Supplies USA
1-800-551-8876


So I stand corrected in that insurance for international shipping is available for all shipping methods; their e-mail is a contradiction standing out like a sore thumb. They came to their senses after I sent them an excerpt from the USPS website detailing shipping methods and insurance costs.

In late 2005 I ordered my first baron kits and others from Arizona Sillhouete before they stopped accepting international orders and they used USPS with insurance as an option for any amount and a tracking number was e-mailed to me also and I knew at all times where my parcel was. In fact Bill Baumbeck recommended I should insure for peace of mind; it only cost about from memory. My parcel arrived in 8 days, no problems.
These guys are an absolute pain; they don't want to get off their backsides and take the parcel to the post office themselves because I presume they have a courier that does the rounds for them and their computerised system is linked to their shipping company of choice, UPS, which is much more expensive. That's why they've been telling me you cannot use USPS with the insurance option. I reckon they're a UPS agent.

No way in the world I'm buying from them unless they change their ways; I am the customer and will never yield to their way. I'll do without until I find another retailer. Beartoothwoods.com use both shipping methods with insurance options and they ask you which shipping method you prefer.
My correspondence with them (CSUSA) has ceased.


Cheers,
Evan

By reading your post it sounds like you might understand that they would most likely take a loss if they catered to your demands. Having to use up man power to take the parcel(s) to the USPS depot, purchase the insurance, tracking parcels all over the world instead of letting the shipping company burn up the time doing it... Explain why they should do that.

By the way. Posting his email address to a public forum open to the www from what was a private correspondence - not cool.

Originally Posted by Toolin Around

By reading your post it sounds like you might understand that they would most likely take a loss if they catered to your demands. Having to use up man power to take the parcel(s) to the USPS depot, purchase the insurance, tracking parcels all over the world instead of letting the shipping company burn up the time doing it... Explain why they should do that.

By the way. Posting his email address to a public forum open to the www from what was a private correspondence - not cool.

Toolin Around,

By using the USPS shipping method they don't keep track of parcels; the customer is given a tracking number and then enters this in the USPS website tracking facility to see where the parcel is. I'm not making any demands as you say; only asking to insure my parcel in the event of loss or theft at my expense. There are retailers in the US that charge a handling fee for filling out customs forms, packaging and for taking the parcel to the USPS depot. I have used this method and never questioned it. This way they do not take a loss and I do have the right as a custmer to ask for insurance and preferred shipping method. If this cannot be catered for, then I'll go elsewhere. I mean no harm or malice toward CSUSA by pasting my correspondence in a public forum; only informing others of how things eventuated. There is no defamation or defamatory remarks involved.
In my previous correspondence I was informed by CSUSA that insurance was not available for USPS shipping and I ended up directing their staff to the website to see that it is. Their preferred shipping method is with UPS which is much more expensive which obviously I do not prefer.

FWIW I've bought a good deal of woodwork and lightweight camping stuff from the US and found rates, times and policies vary a lot. I've never insured btw and never had a loss.

I suspect that some retailers prefer UPS or Fedex because they pick up and a counter jumper doesn't have to trek down to a PO.

Some it seems to me bump up their postage costs to pad their margins.