I know this hobby is based a lot on shipping parts all over the place, FYI for those that might not know UPS & Fedex went up 5% and USPS 6-12% depending on delivery type. I used to be able to ship something like a steering box coast to coast for under $25 now it's closer to $50.

 

I agree it is getting tougher Gary. The USPS One Rate boxes went up the same which means a large box will be about $19.95 now. Small box will be $7.90 now. Medium I didn't catch the price but they jump up Sunday.

Good thing I don't have much to ship any longer. Getting tougher and tougher to do so affordably.

David

 

Try bringing something up here across the border (especially with UPS or Fedex, I just got caught with a $40 brokerage charge on top of a $40 shipping charge for a $75 set of parts)
Then again, we're all still so much better than those poor guys over (down?) in Australia, can't believe what it cost to get stuff over there,,,,

But anyway.
Back in the day (whenever that was) I remember everything being more or less local. Everything you needed to get had to come from somewhere around where you lived. Flea markets, gm dealership parts-counters, speed shops, wrecking yards, buy&sell, word of mouth, etc. You didn't know about some parts someone had on the other side of the country.
Along comes the "net" and ebay and forums and all of a sudden you're shopping globally
Free shipping was widespread a few years back when the economy was so-so, (even from corvette central up here to canada on special occasions)
Now the shipping costs are going up (again) and I'm back to looking for local sources or trying to arrange shipping to places I might be going to at a later date. Glad my car is almost complete as the cost (forget about the exchange rate up here) is starting to hurt again.
M

 

I'm seeing the amazon delivery vans everywhere now.

 

I have given up on trying to find the best way to ship something at the lowest cost. Taking the time to drive to three different places to save a few bucks and it takes $100 worth of my time of driving and wear and tear on my truck is pointless. I have just come to realize that it is a part of repairing these cars when I get stuff shipped in and some of the stuff I ship out.. Those people who are serious about getting their car repaired will not blink an eye at it...while those who look for budget options will be freaking out.

Actually I am more concerned about the quality of parts I am getting shipped in. THAT is my primary concern.

DUB

 

Some people don't realize that time is money and will drive all over the place to save $10.

 

Talk about shipping-

Walmart is hiring hundreds(900!!!) of truck drivers- averaging salary at $90K/ year-

Bottom line- stuff has got to go up in price.

 

That about sizes it up correctly. I do ship outside the usa to places as far away as Australia and it is very expensive but there is a reason they come looking here for work.

 

 

I am also lucky living 10 minutes from the border in Sarnia and a 5 dollar per parcel charge Phil

 

Years ago UPS purchased the Mail Boxes Etc and re branded them to The UPS Store. When UPS did this they also created a new set of higher priced rates called Retail Rates, prior to this there where only one set of rates called Daily Rates. If you ship at The UPS Store, big office stores like Staples, FedEx Office, Independent Pack & Ship stores or even main UPS and FedEx hubs you are getting the higher Retail Rates (aka street rates). If you ship on a regular basis and get a daily pickup (like most big Corvette venders) you will get the much cheaper Daily Rates (there is a weekly fee for this service but in the end you will save more then that fee). Another option fined a friend with a business who utilizes a daily pickup.

Example of rates below Retail vs Daily, look at the difference in price of a 15lbs package in zone 8.

Rick

RETAIL RATES




DAILY RATES

 

YEP..as you know I send my customers who want it DONE RIGHT directly to you for the service work you perform that I just cannot do like you do. If I tried to rebuild and blueprint a gear box...the cost would be INSANE. Even though there are shops here in town that can slap together a steering gear box...they are not like what you do. Some want to buy the rebuilt crap out there because they have no clue...even though I tell them...they still chose their own path and say it will be "Okay to use". Sometimes I just have to roll my eyes and move on.

And THAT is why those who give a hoot...send parts to be rebuilt to those who do it right....or buy parts from those companies that make them right even if it causes them to be shipped in.

DUB

 

UPS rates usually go up at the beginning of the year. When I started driving for UPS a next day air letter was $8.00. Now it is close to $40.00.

For the lowest UPS shipping rates, skip the UPS store and go directly to the customer counter at your local UPS hub/center.

 

Though I don't ship much, that is what I always did. Can't save the bucks any more because my local UPS hub/terminal no longer accepts cash as payment to ship items. They stopped this to send people to the UPS stores who wanted the business. Yes, the UPS store's rates are higher. To ship direct from the terminal, you must have an account or use a credit card.

 

Well said DUB, well said.
David

 

I just shipped a steering box from CT- AZ using Fedex. $42 home delivery. They old rule of thumb until recently was shipping was around $1 lb. That box was 21 lbs so it's about double from where it was not all that long ago.

 

It used to be a better value when it was heavy, but that seems to have gone away as well. Now I am seeing a lot more charges using square feet or "cubes" to determine what costs to charge. An example is a larger box, weighing 16 pounds, charged as if it was 55 pounds due to size. They are saying now that "we could have gotten 55 pounds in that space, so that is what your box is being charged." And the future looks to be even worse. Oh boy.

 

If you have easy access to a Greyhound bus terminal or have a Fastenal store near by, you can save on shipping heavy items. Of course there must be a bus station or Fastenal store on the other end as well. Last year I was interested in a set of factory 8" ralleys on eBay. The seller checked with Greyhound and shipping cost was about 60% of UPS.

 

That sounds interesting, I didn't know Fastenal does shipping, I have an account with them. Lugging a 130# crate around isn't an option but a steering box might be. USPS has the thin cardboard Flat rate boxes but they have tendency to rip open even when packed tight.

 

Both seem to be good viable options to help in shipping costs. But for me I cannot drive to go get parts when they get delivered to my door.... so...it is what it is and I just shrug it off like so many other things that disgust me. I could see it if the economy was in the tank and fuel prices were $7 a gallon for diesel...but it is not and I think it is just the establishments way of the grabbing 'their share of money' the economy is now having. Taking it right back away from us to keep us still in a state of financial flux.

Heck..I am so used to GREED controlling things most of the time....it is pointless to try to do anything about it. Because it would take ALL of us to switch to an alternate source of shipping stuff like those two mentioned above to WAKE UP the big shipping companies to let them know things need to change due to a week or so of NO shipping orders would surely get their attention and wake them up. But...that never will happen.

Sorry for the disruption of this thread.

DUB