Johnnyringo: The second box (the bass drum) was shipped inside the US. USPS is charging a stupid "baloon" surcharge for big items. No matter if it only weights 8 pounds. People complains all the time about the shipping like the sellers got any word on that. I don't charge for the handling (that includes box, bubble wrap, tape plus the gas and time to go to the post office) but still the shipping prices are soaring. Around $30 for a snare drum? and then they're not even including tracking number!

Recently, shipping prices have increased due to UPS and FedEx changing more to dimensional shipping instead of weight based.

This means you can save on shipping costs by using the smallest box that the item will fit in, but it also means packages will have an increased risk of shipping damage due to lack of adequate bubble wrap or other protection.

I cringe when I have to provide a shipping cost to someone lately. Most people are understanding, but I always provide proof of the price so they know I am not making any money on it.

With Fedex you cannot go cheap on the size of the box because if it doesn't have an excess of 2" around every side of the item the insurance won't protect you. I'll start checking Greyhound but I don't know if people will be willing to go pick up. I'm sure on this economy every cent counts. For both: buyers and sellers…

Can only get worse in OZ.. As result of retailers whinging for years down here of being disadvantaged .. there is now serious discussion on an import tax/levy being imposed.. As if our costs of purchase from overseas weren't bad enough already...

Cheers

John

Same thing being discussed here John. Talk about trying to get blood out of a stone. Just like in Oz, retailers here in NZ have been gouging prices for years but now bleating because consumers have the option to buy from overseas where they can make HUGE savings. Example: Fuel pump for my Land Rover in NZ $1,045 but from the UK including carriage, $150.

NZA Post have a service now which I use where they give me PO box number in the US, so you only get domestic cost of carriage from vendor. Then NZ Post do the international carriage back to NZ. It's a bit more economical and gets around the issue of US vendors who won't send overseas.

Try living outside of US. I pay for the drum plus international shipping plus taxes. If the drum is US $350, I pay about another 100 €uro on top of that when it arrives at my door, not to mention the high cost of international shipping. Sucks! :)

Even smaller stuff.. I wanted 1/2doz Zyl cymbal rivets.. I can buy 100 from US for about 15 bucks but add 30 bucks on the fee bay freight calculator..

I'll do without..

Cheers

John

Well, if the buyer really wants the drum, then they will just have to pay what it cost to ship. I don't see what you or any other seller can do about that, I mean, everything has skyrocketed in the last 8 years.

I'm not sure if it's the same now, but a couple of years ago I did the math and it was cheaper to buy a Brady kit from Fork's (or any of those kind of retailers) and pay to have it shipped to Australia than it was to buy the kit locally... they're made here godammnit! Yet it was still cheaper to ship it to the other side of the world and back again than to buy from a dealer here! Substantially cheaper, like also get a snare (maybe not a brady one) for the same cash outlay. Ridiculous.

Again, just terrible sales practices. By all means, it is your right not to ship overseas or outside of USA. But keep in mind how many potential buyers you lose. I've been shut out of auctions because I'm Canadian, only to watch the sale go for under half of what I would've paid!

Also, for everyone complaining about the shipping costs - that is something the BUYER would be concerned about. You simply get the quote for them and and buyer can decide if it's worth it or not. I do agree that it sucks when the price restricts buyers from participating.