Trying to figure out AS shipping

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Mikey

Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2005
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1,293
Location
Cleveland, OH, USA.
For the life of me I cannot figure out the shipping pricing for AS. They can't compute shipping until they pack the stuff up but try to give you an idea of what will fit in a cheap USPS box. My last two or three orders for whatever reason did not fit in the flat rate box and shipping was up there.

This time I ordered $130 worth of stuff which was 1 bottle stopper blank, 1 mini stopper mandrel, and a total of 15 cosmetic brushes. I opted for insurance. I see that the shipping was $10 and I'm trying to figure out where I went wrong in the process that the stuff wouldn't fit into a flat rate envelope?:confused: In fact, I was going to order a buffing handle, but cancelled that simply because of the length and the possibility that it would not fit in a small package. I'd hate to think that the stopper would have cost me an extra $3 or $4 in shipping. (one expensive stopper blank)

Is there anyone else that for whatever reason cannot figure out what size package their order will fit in for shipping charges?
 
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When I need to place an order with AS, I do it and whatever the cost of shipping is is just another business expense. I try not to drive myself nuts worrying about things like shipping cost when dealing with our regular suppliers.
 
Bill packs for two things. least expensive but safe. I've never received a pack from him that was the video box inside the evelope that many here use to provide the extra protection. So if he feels that the envelope might be damaged (ripped open) or that the product might be damaged inside, he will always opt for the flat rate box. Added to that that he is always throwing a couple extra blanks in there so your what you order isn't the only factor. ;)

Heck if you receive one of his large flat rate box packages that you need your tablesaw to get into (he glues AND tapes it shut) then you'll see exactly how seriously he takes the safety of each order.
 
gerryr said:
When I need to place an order with AS, I do it and whatever the cost of shipping is is just another business expense. I try not to drive myself nuts worrying about things like shipping cost when dealing with our regular suppliers.
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I try to order as little as possible from there.

Anyway, I don't sell much of anything so I look at total cost. If adding a $5 item is going to cost me an extra $4 in shipping then that items becomes $9 to me and not acceptable. What I would do instead is either not order that one item or order a bunch more so that the actual cost per part is not so high.

If they know that their item will not fit into a small box then they should clearly state that instead of referring people to a page that estimates how much stuff you can fit into a small box.
 
Shipping is what it is he has little control over the cost and Bill has always thrown in extras packed the boxes so it takes a half hour to cut the tape. He charges the cheapest shipping he can to get you what you ordered in the condition he mailed it in. There are many vendors who rape you on shipping Bill is not one of those his packing and shipping probably cost him profits (he has to own stock in tape company.) :biggrin: I do try to make sure what I order is worth the cost of shipping but if I need it and BIll has it I know I will get it FAST & in good condition.
 
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If you are concerned, give him a call... he's sometimes a little abrupt on the phone, but guarantee he will answer your queston for you. I haven't ordered a lot from him, but have been pleased every time and delighted with the extra's he throws in.
 
dntrost said:
Shipping is what it is he has little control over the cost and Bill has always thrown in extras packed the boxes so it takes a half hour to cut the tape. He charges the cheapest shipping he can to get you what you ordered in the condition he mailed it in. There are many vendors who rape you on shipping Bill is not one of those his packing and shipping probably cost him profits (he has to own stock in tape company.) :biggrin: I do try to make sure what I order is worth the cost of shipping but if I need it and BIll has it I know I will get it FAST & in good condition.
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You pretty much nailed my thoughts and experience.....

Plus, in my experience, other vendors seem to automatically calculate shipping based on how much you spend, not actually what you physically order.
 
Mikey said:
For the life of me I cannot figure out the shipping pricing for AS. They can't compute shipping until they pack the stuff up but try to give you an idea of what will fit in a cheap USPS box. My last two or three orders for whatever reason did not fit in the flat rate box and shipping was up there.

This time I ordered $130 worth of stuff which was 1 bottle stopper blank, 1 mini stopper mandrel, and a total of 15 cosmetic brushes. I opted for insurance. I see that the shipping was $10 and I'm trying to figure out where I went wrong in the process that the stuff wouldn't fit into a flat rate envelope?:confused: In fact, I was going to order a buffing handle, but cancelled that simply because of the length and the possibility that it would not fit in a small package. I'd hate to think that the stopper would have cost me an extra $3 or $4 in shipping. (one expensive stopper blank)

Is there anyone else that for whatever reason cannot figure out what size package their order will fit in for shipping charges?
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Let's take a look at your cost. Flat rate envelope - $4.80. Insurance - $2.60. Looks like $8.40 to me. If he used a flat rate box, it would have been $9.80 for the box plus the same $2.60 for insurance for a total of $12.40. I suppose Bill could have jammed your cosmetic brushes into the smaller package, but is that the way you want them treated? I understand not wanting to overspend for postage, but it is certainly NOT in Bill's interest to pack products in larger boxes. He doesn't make a dime on it. (Unlike some nameless company who charges a "fee" on top of the shipping cost.)
 
Tablesaw...!!!..so that's the trick..!!...and here I've been spending half-hour with a sharp pointy thing in some fairly eyeball raising breath holding positions..


Russianwolf said:
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Heck if you receive one of his large flat rate box packages that you need your tablesaw to get into (he glues AND tapes it shut) then you'll see exactly how seriously he takes the safety of each order.
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Lou, I see your point and it is only over a few or three bucks. It just seems as though I try to be careful what i order so I can get everything in a small box and it still doesn't work out.

I think I realize my mistake on this one. The brushes aren't just in poly bags. I think I remember watching Yo-Yos movie and they came in a little plastic box. That would explain why they couldn't all be shoved together.

(smacks myself on the head)
 
I've ordered quite a few things from BB over the years and will continue to order from him. In my book he's one of the fairest, honest, most reliable vendors that I deal with. Yeah, I know .... he can be "abrupt" sometimes. But, you know what? He's a big boy, he can take it right back. (No need to go into details .... we worked our little difference of opinion out).

It's always a nice surprise getting a "freebie" or two from BB and he has the best double dyed box elder on the face of the planet. But the thing I really like about AS is they have the fastest shipping I've ever seen.
 
AS has been on of my favorite go to places for some time. they're not perfect, but they will always work with you when a problem comes up. If you have an issue with shipping costs send them an email. I've found them nothing else but quick and courteous.
 
Shipping is a funning thing everywhere now, but BB ships the way he does out of concern for the customer. If it isn't shipped properly it causes a lot of problems on both sides. Better to avoid those problems in my opinion. A better safe then sorry type of business decision. You might have a point on shipping if BB didn't send the freebies that he does. I kow for a fact that he has sent at least $10.00 worth of freebies to me before. That in my opinion makes up for charging a liitle more to make sure our packages arrives safe and sound.
 
I do not believe that in any way Mike meant that Bill was being dishonest at all. I agree with Mike about wanting to know how much shipping will be, I've ordered from him before and I ususally put in a note to inform me if shipping will be more than the flat rate envelope would cost. I don't order that much and the few extra $ spent on shipping can start to cut pretty deep into profits on a small job. Other places tell you exactly how much shipping is going to be when you order, and sometimes its worth the convenience of knowing instead of waiting to see your bank statement or invoice after you get your order to find out.
 
I don't think anyone thought Mike was making an accusation. This just depends on your business model. Shipping and handling costs go directly into my formula for final pen cost. And with a truly custom pen, the buyer also understands that formula. What I do know is that Bill won't overcharge me which works fine for my model.

If you quote a hard price, then pre-stated costs give you a margin of safety. In the final analysis, though Bill lets me best serve my customers, the fixed price model serve the pen maker best, but occasionally stiffs the customer. Every maker has to decide for him or herself what works best.

Marc

turned_for_good said:
I do not believe that in any way Mike meant that Bill was being dishonest at all. I agree with Mike about wanting to know how much shipping will be, I've ordered from him before and I ususally put in a note to inform me if shipping will be more than the flat rate envelope would cost. I don't order that much and the few extra $ spent on shipping can start to cut pretty deep into profits on a small job. Other places tell you exactly how much shipping is going to be when you order, and sometimes its worth the convenience of knowing instead of waiting to see your bank statement or invoice after you get your order to find out.
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I'm going to pipe in here, maybe a little off topic.

When I had my past business, I decided early on that the prices that shipping vendors were charging for insurance was to high. I was shipping out 25-50 boxes a day with values from less than a $100 to several $1000's. It was all product made by my business. I gave the customer the option of insurance coverage. If they accepted it, I charged them the same price as the carrier, only I put that in my insurance fund and I insured their package. I would have been much, much quicker to deal with than the shipper, believe me! This little, accepted fee saved me from having a handling fee to cover shipping materials and such, and at the end of 4 years, a tidy little sum....just imagine how much the carriers are making off of us!

Now, I continue to be self insured. I accept no carrier insurance, knowing that if a package is lost or damaged in transit, I'm responsible. Therefore, I appreciate very much the extra effort vendors such as Bill take in securing my product.

Just food for thought on one way to boost your bottom line.

Doug
 
I already answered my own question on this one. (post #10) The brushes are in little plastic boxes and with the number of them I got, they were just a bit much for the smaller box. I got the package today (USPS record time) and was happy with what I got.

I guess in the grand scheme it's not such a big deal. some sizes listed on a few items would be nice though so you could possibly plan your purchases. (I would have added back the one item I cancelled if I knew I would be getting a bigger box and possibly would have added more items.)
 
I don't get it, I like Bills attitude. He says what he means without any bull mixed in. His shipping is probably the most accurate of the vendors I have dealt with and is also the fastest I have had to date. There are a lot of close seconds, but I feel his service level is what all vendors should strive to reach. Once again, this is my opinion.
 
Just my 2 cents worth,
I don't buy a lot, but Bill treats me and my small orders the same as if I spent a thousand bucks a month. I have talked to him on the phone, and as others have said, he tells it like it is. His customer service is top notch!
 
I absolutely DO NOT UNDERSTAND how all of you guys all over the continent are getting your packages from Bill so fast, when I know FOR A FACT that he waits down on the corner of the street I live on, to pack and promptly ship out MY ORDERS!!!!
 
I absolutely DO NOT UNDERSTAND how all of you people, all over the continent, can brag about the speed of shipping when you order from Bill. I know for a fact that he hangs out on the corner just down the street from my house, just waiting to pack and ship my next order! Or.......maybe he's like Santy Claus---everywhere at the same time????
 
Personally, I don't mind paying a little extra to get items fast and safe. I hate paying for shipping and get the items damaged or missing and they charged a premium for. I have ordered many times from AS and will always order from there.
 
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