International shipping prices from U.S.

[shlomsi]

Hello
I want to discuss the prices for shipping from U.S to other countries and do it as a constructive criticism.
I'm from Israel,
While looking to buy some nicotine lately, I've noticed that most, if not all vendors only offer the expensive USPS "priority mail international" option.

Now, for most normal sized orders, this option is in the region of $35 - $40.
Let's take the cheaper option (which vary quite a lot depended on weight) "first class international" This option reduces the price to about $12 for an 8 OZ package.

Why, why not offer this option?? same effort from the vendor point of view.
In the past when I ordered with the "first class"/"priority" delivery times were virtually the same!

See why it's so wrong?
How can I order a $19.99 nicotine and pay $40 shipping and still feel not ripped-off, while there is an option to pay $12 for virtually the same service?

I would like feedback from vendors as well as other users

 

[ScottP]

While I do feel for you, you might want to type this up in a more pleasant manner and less accusatory and send it via email to the vendors in question. Maybe you can get a few to add this level of service.

 

[gjanderson]

Yes i do understand also. Odd thing though is most of the usps do not offer both. Just depends in the area. I could have shipped my fiance her birthday gift and gifts for her family for around $50 instead of $150. Wish they offered the better rate in my area. Some of the vendors may not know or maybe they are not always offered the cheaper rates for certain countries.

Stinks really.

 

[shlomsi]

That's odd. You mean that USPS does not offer first class international if sent from certain parts/post offices in the U.S, or they do not offer this service to certain countries?

 

[Myk]

Priority is easy and USPS may give suitable shipping supplies for free.

I don't know how you're getting $12. I tried to price shipping something to AU and about $30 was the cheapest I could get for anything I could hope to get there in one piece.
I would barely trust a first class package to go across town let alone out of the country.
Don't forget, if the place is reputable they're responsible for the package until your carrier drops it off. It's up to the seller to decide which service they want to risk their money and reputation on. If you say you want $12 international shipping who are you going to blame when you have packages come damaged or not come at all?

 

[Myk]

Well that's interesting. I may have to try to send my Aussie friend an unbreakable gift that I don't really care if it arrives or not. $12-$15 is much more worth it.

It actually looks like they could ship to you for about $25 using priority.
If I was a business shipping goods I would require priority mail. I don't think I've ever had priority get lost or damaged.

 

[Maggiemw]

I live in Israel also, but have not yet ordered anything vaper-ish from the US. For my other hobbies and purchases, I find that USPS First Class International gets here in 10 days, with no problems. There are also flat rate package options that are cost-effective, too.

I frequently send a note to the online shops I buy things from to ask them if they would use First Class International rather than more expensive options. They are usually happy to comply, and I take full responsibility for the fate of the package.

The two methods I DON'T want are FedEx/DHL or UPS specials. In my experience, they are nearly always examined by Customs, and thus get taxed to the sky, and delivery is not faster.

 

[Markh5682]

Have you not tried vendors closer to home such as the EU? they may be a little cheaper as the distance is not so far, plus some chinese vendors such as fast tech and some others offer Worldwide free shipping, or reduced shipping rates.

 

[lilmrsyeti]

For the price of shipping, from what you are saying...I'd have to start up DIY ejuice! LOL Pay that high S&H once and get enough stuff to make your own ejuice to last you for months!

USPS really is high though, on some stuff. I just shelled out 12.00 for a package that barely weighed 2 pounds...regular mail rate..just because it wasn't a tiny small box.

 

[shlomsi]

I live in Israel also, but have not yet ordered anything vaper-ish from the US. For my other hobbies and purchases, I find that USPS First Class International gets here in 10 days, with no problems. There are also flat rate package options that are cost-effective, too.

I frequently send a note to the online shops I buy things from to ask them if they would use First Class International rather than more expensive options. They are usually happy to comply, and I take full responsibility for the fate of the package.

The two methods I DON'T want are FedEx/DHL or UPS specials. In my experience, they are nearly always examined by Customs, and thus get taxed to the sky, and delivery is not faster.

Exactly, and in the few cases they don't get examined by customs you still pay a "release from customs" fee.

Priority is easy and USPS may give suitable shipping supplies for free.

I don't know how you're getting $12. I tried to price shipping something to AU and about $30 was the cheapest I could get for anything I could hope to get there in one piece.
I would barely trust a first class package to go across town let alone out of the country.
Don't forget, if the place is reputable they're responsible for the package until your carrier drops it off. It's up to the seller to decide which service they want to risk their money and reputation on. If you say you want $12 international shipping who are you going to blame when you have packages come damaged or not come at all?

If you check USPS' site for prices you will see that 8 OZ package shipping costs $12 to anywhere in the world using "1st class".

Have you not tried vendors closer to home such as the EU? they may be a little cheaper as the distance is not so far, plus some chinese vendors such as Fast Tech and some others offer Worldwide free shipping, or reduced shipping rates.

Sure did, I order sometimes from you brits you can't beat Royal mail for rates & service. However prices tend to be quite a bit higher than US, plus the fact that I read about certain US vendors that sell great nicotine, so I wanted to try that myself.
As for Chinese sellers, I order a lot of stuff from them (free shipping and all), but still I would not trust buying nicotine there.

For the price of shipping, from what you are saying...I'd have to start up DIY ejuice! LOL Pay that high S&H once and get enough stuff to make your own ejuice to last you for months!

USPS really is high though, on some stuff. I just shelled out 12.00 for a package that barely weighed 2 pounds...regular mail rate..just because it wasn't a tiny small box.

Haha, yes true but the caveat here is that a big package most likely get held by customs and we would have to pay hefty tax/fees or worse even get confiscated for importing nicotine in large amounts.

 

[kiwivap]

Hello
I want to discuss the prices for shipping from U.S to other countries and do it as a constructive criticism.
I'm from Israel,
While looking to buy some nicotine lately, I've noticed that most, if not all vendors only offer the expensive USPS "priority mail international" option.

Now, for most normal sized orders, this option is in the region of $35 - $40.
Let's take the cheaper option (which vary quite a lot depended on weight) "first class international" This option reduces the price to about $12 for an 8 OZ package.

Why, why not offer this option?? same effort from the vendor point of view.
In the past when I ordered with the "first class"/"priority" delivery times were virtually the same!

See why it's so wrong?
How can I order a $19.99 nicotine and pay $40 shipping and still feel not ripped-off, while there is an option to pay $12 for virtually the same service?

I would like feedback from vendors as well as other users

I won't pay $40 shipping. The US vendors I use have USPS (USPS (First Class Mail International Parcels)). Costs $12-14. I've also had cheap DHL from China which was brilliant - tracked every step of the way.
I don't think vendors will be able to give you feedback here - they have to respond in their supplier forums I believe.
I think some vendors are just more experienced with intl shipping than others too - vendors like Mad Vapes and Mt Baker Vapor have reasonable shipping. There's a bunch of them that I've found to be ok. Discount Vapers isn't bad either. If any are reading - it is a good idea to use first class mail international - its not slow - I've had juice reach me in 6 days which is very quick for getting to NZ.

Oh, and I've been ordering stuff this way for over a year now. Nothing has arrived broken - I've bought juice, pvs, attachments etc

 

[kiwivap]

Priority is easy and USPS may give suitable shipping supplies for free.

I don't know how you're getting $12. I tried to price shipping something to AU and about $30 was the cheapest I could get for anything I could hope to get there in one piece.
I would barely trust a first class package to go across town let alone out of the country.
Don't forget, if the place is reputable they're responsible for the package until your carrier drops it off. It's up to the seller to decide which service they want to risk their money and reputation on. If you say you want $12 international shipping who are you going to blame when you have packages come damaged or not come at all?

$12-17 shipping has been fine for me Myk - they just bubble wrap it up and its fine.

 

[Myk]

If you check USPS' site for prices you will see that 8 OZ package shipping costs $12 to anywhere in the world using "1st class".

If you couldn't tell from my other reply I did check and was amazed.
One thing you are not considering is I just weighed a small box and the box alone was almost 8oz. You didn't say what you were wanting but I just had 2 batteries and 2 Vivis in a very small padded envelope that was an 8oz package.

If that's what you want you should do like the person above and contact them and say you are accepting responsibility for loss or damage. I wouldn't offer it if I was shipping anything. Look on US to US Ebay and you'll see everyone using Priority.

$12-17 shipping has been fine for me Myk - they just bubble wrap it up and its fine.

Maybe they only beat up first class domestic boxes so we will use Priority for everything

 

[kiwivap]

Maybe they only beat up first class domestic boxes so we will use Priority for everything

Maybe. There's quite a few of us buy things and we don't pay $40 shipping every time that's for sure. I've ordered vivis, cartos, RBAs, mods... and more that I can't remember right now. There's no need for vendors to charge that much, or not have the first class international option for people. I do know this from lots of experience and using several vendors - I've ordered glass that's arrived fine too. If in doubt I ask them to please wrap carefully.

 

[shlomsi]

If you couldn't tell from my other reply I did check and was amazed.
One thing you are not considering is I just weighed a small box and the box alone was almost 8oz. You didn't say what you were wanting but I just had 2 batteries and 2 Vivis in a very small padded envelope that was an 8oz package.

If that's what you want you should do like the person above and contact them and say you are accepting responsibility for loss or damage. I wouldn't offer it if I was shipping anything. Look on US to US Ebay and you'll see everyone using Priority.



Maybe they only beat up first class domestic boxes so we will use Priority for everything

My bad, now I read your other reply
But I have to say that 1 pound shipping is still low at $15 and even 2 pounds @ $21 or so is a great deal cheaper

 

[Myk]

But I have to say that 1 pound shipping is still low at $15 and even 2 pounds @ $21 or so is a great deal cheaper

I totally did not realize that. I got my box of chocolates and whatnots from AU and it cost her something like $35 shipping. When I priced sending sending something similar back it was the same. I think I even looked into sending jewelry so there would be almost no weight.
I probably didn't even consider checking first class because I have so little faith in it.

 

[gjanderson]

Yes some vendors will be able to use first class international. If you look on the usps website about shipping, it clearly states that not all services are offered in every location. It took me a little time getting the information but from San Antonio, Texas to Israel must be in an envelope and weigh no more than 2 pounds unless it is books or media and must be examined. The $12 amount for 8 oz is not correct as of March 2013 but us currently $15. For a vendor in San Antonio to use this service they must go to the main office which is near the airport. Anybody who has ever gone to that office can tell you that it takes a person about 4 - 5 hours to get seen at the quickest. Maybe as a buyer it is easier and more cost effective but from a vendor's point of view is it takes too long and time is money. Please remember that not all online businesses are big with the ability to take advantage of this service.

I do understand wanting to save money and also not wanting your purchased goods to be delayed. Just saying that you may have a lot of experience as a customer but as a small vendor in the USA you don't. Also, a person can claim responsibility but it is the care and professional pride the vendor's have. Priority mail may cost a little more but it guarantees delivery. That you may not understand. It may not have happened to you for many years of a package getting lost and such but it happens a lot. Consider yourself fortunate. As a former vendor (other type of products) I would not care if one or two customers wanted first class shipping cuz they wanted to save money; I would just refund the money and not do business with them. I took pride knowing they got the product. You may not like it and such but i had a 99% positive feedback rating on ebay with over 3000 transactions. That also included about 1000 international.

Either vendors have more pride in delivery of the product, have had negative feedback cuz product got lost (even by ppl claiming responsibility), or too small of company to wair half a work day to get product shipped to begin with. Just saying.