Shipping> The "NEW" Cash Cow

[thepumpguysc]

The shipping rates are CRAZY..
I order parts ALL THE TIME.. and often, the shipping rates exceed the cost of the parts.!! {just kidding}
The places I get my parts from charge 25.00 for a 1lb box..
I'm just a 1 man show & don't keep a lot of stock.. but THAT has changed in the last few months..
Instead of getting my parts "as needed".. I'm now ordering enough stock to do 5 pumps at a time..
I DID "find" a loop hole last week tho.. I had to order Orings for a small PFR style pump..
They would have cost me 25.00 in shipping cost, that I would have HAD TO pass on to the customer or take if off the "bottom line"..
I asked the parts guy if he could/would just throw them in an envelope & ship'm USPS.??
He said, "I'll ask the shipping dept.. but no guarantees"..
I got my "bubble pack" in the mail yesterday.. the pkg CLEARLY says, 1.00.!!! My invoice says 2.75.. Lol.
BUT it beats the hellouta the 25.00 I woulda paid, had I not asked !!!!
I tried it on another vendor & IT WORKED too..
So heres a tip for you guys>> if the parts are small.. ask them to be shipped by MAIL instead of frt carrier..
& BTW>> they make those "bubble packs" in larger sizes too..

 

[redneckracin]

It seems like more and more places are advertising "free" shipping and just adding in the price to the item. It is a bit ridiculous to charge $25 for a little box though.

 

[thepumpguysc]

Yup.. I see that more & more when browsing on ebay.. & whats funny is> the SAME items are posted right next to each other.. so its not like you cant "comparison shop"..
That's what I was saying in my post RNR.. a SMALL box with orings.. 25.00..!!!!!
a bubble pack w/ SAME orings, 1.00.. {2.75 w/ shipping & handling}

 

[kshansen]

I get a bit ticked when you order something that is about the size of a ball point pen and they ship it in a box that would hold a pair of work boots. All bubble wrapped like it was going to break if dropped six inches onto a mattress and it is actually a piece of hardened steel 1/2 inch diameter and six inches long. You could run over it with a Mack truck and not hurt it.

 

[thepumpguysc]

AMEN to that Hansen.. I haven't "bought" packing material in YEARS.. Lol
A 5pk of orings in 20 ft of bubble wrap.. LOL..
WITH "insurance" on the package..

 

[thepumpguysc]

& whats-up w/ the "insurance" anyway???
The insurance for shipping a repaired inj. pump costs MORE than the actual shipping cost.!!!
I DID file a claim ONCE.. and I HAD TO PROVE the ACTUAL COST for a replacement pump..
It didn't matter how much I insured the package for.. they would ONLY pay out the replacement cost..
Luckily they got off their behinds & found it.. & no money changed hands.. BUT STILL..
I insure my repaired returning pumps for 1000.00..
A NEW pump would be well over THAT.. & even a reman without a core, is more than that..
But if I put anymore insurance on it.. my customers couldn't afford to SEND me work..

 

[92U 3406]

I get a bit ticked when you order something that is about the size of a ball point pen and they ship it in a box that would hold a pair of work boots. All bubble wrapped like it was going to break if dropped six inches onto a mattress and it is actually a piece of hardened steel 1/2 inch diameter and six inches long. You could run over it with a Mack truck and not hurt it.

I see that all the time from the Cat dealer. I'll pick up 6 big boxes on a parts run. Take them to the parts room and it ends up being 2 headlight bulbs, a couple fuel injectors and a dash vent.

 

[Wes J]

There is a flip side though. I order stuff from Grainger and McMaster Carr, and they shipping costs are always crazy low. McMaster is close to me, maybe 3 hours drive, but it still seems cheap. They'll ship my order in a box the size of a coffin that weighs 50lbs and I'll pay maybe $15 shipping. All UPS.

 

[Tones]

It's not just in the US that this happens. This rort has been going on in Australia for years. Parts always seem to be on the other side of the country to your location. Back in the day dealers stocked most parts but now only seem to have filters and maybe a fan belt or two.
I got a seal kit for a Bosh lift pump, cost $6, freight $13.70. The package wouldn't fill the palm of my hand.

 

[DIYDAVE]

Just ordered a coupla Fuel filters, for the Dixie chopper mower, offn the innernut, wal-mart haddem, cheapest, and no shippin. They are sendin each one, individually! Go figger!

 

[Wes J]

Are you working out of your home? If the shipper is charging you the actual cost, understand that UPS gouges you for home delivery. If you had a commercial address, you'd pay much less.

 

[hosspuller]

About insuring the package for $1,000... even if actual value is more. FedEx lost an order of mine worth $275 and didn't think much of it. I hope $1,000 makes it worth their trouble to keep up with it. Someone should answer for it, if lost. At least that's my thinking when I shipped a pump for rebuild.

 

[Bumpsteer]

Had to order a new contact switch for a Baldor motor a while back.....same crap, $25 shipping for a pack of Camels, wtf?

Got it on ebay for a few bux cheaper & free shipping.

Ed

 

[thepumpguysc]

Hoss> yes, its worth their while to get up & look for it.. They SURELY didn't wanna pay out 1000.00!!
it was lost for months.. I didn't know it until the customer contacted me.. I filed the claim & within 48 hrs it "was found".. Funny how that works..??
OH & the "Priority" 2-3 delivery is bunk too.. the small print in the "claim form" says they wont even look for it until its been 10-14 days from the scheduled del. date.!!!
Bump>> I was browsing ebay 1 day & found a part that I ALWAYS PAY 100.00 for.. {75. for part & 25.shipping}.. on ebay for 68.00 w/free shipping.. I jumped all over THAT.. To bad they only had 1 or I'da bought 10.. lol

 

[thepumpguysc]

I have a customer that's sending me a pump from Oregon.. I got a Fedx notification of the shipment..
He shipped it LAST Thursday.. expected delivery date is 5/17/18.. THIS Thursday..7 DAYS!!!
You wanna talk about a "slow boat".??
I ship pumps to Texas all the time & it only takes 2-3 days BY MAIL.!!
I don't know what the guy paid for shipping but it wasn't worth it..

 

[Tones]

Geez TPG, you reckon you have problems. An outfit by the name of Toll LOST my brand new 1.5 ton forestry mulcher for 3 days.

 

[thepumpguysc]

hahaha.. THATS a pretty big item to lose..
I can see it now.. "I'm not movin' THAT".. "well, I'm not movin' it either"..
Boss>> "customers on the phone & want to know where his mulcher is"??
Shipper>> "Gdammit.. SOMEBODY go deliver this thing"!!!
hahahaha

 

[92U 3406]

A few years ago we assembled I think 6 new excavators for a customer. Somehow between the shop and the customer's yard (like an hour drive away), one of the 470's went missing. It was found a few days later.

 

[lumberjack]

Had the hour meter kept the battery charged?

 

[old-iron-habit]

I bought a used UNIMOG wheel in Canada once. They shipped it UPS. I paid $150.00 for it. Because UPS automatically insures packages for $500.00 customs grabbed it and help it ransom until I paid $52.12 duty fees. Burned my a** big time and held up my wheel a couple of weeks.