Ask anyone outside of the US and they'd probably tell you that this is a major bugbear. I have heard almost every excuse possible from Vendors as to why they do no provide economically priced shipping:
I won't even mention those US Vendors that won't ship Internationally at all or those US Vendors who only do Express Delivery.
Here's the thing- would you pay USD$30 for juice and then pay USD$17 for shipping from one Vendor when you can pay less from another? That's a big jump in price and there is no benefit to the customer at all. There is still the wait of over a week at the letterbox. That's why those of us outside the US just end up ignoring those Vendors who insist on using Priority mail.
These Vendors are losing customers and we are losing out on some of the most well-known juice flavours. Looking at their common excuses, I cannot help but wonder if they would have the same attitude to their US customers.
I live in a country where it is legal to import for own use but the product cannot be sold. I am totally reliant on importing everything and won't pay a cent more than I have to. I'm a retailer's delight as I am a customer that will come back if there are good prices, good service and economical shipping. Strange then, that these Vendors who probably bend over backwards for their US customers won't provide economical shipping to International clients.
It's not good enough.
- It's faster (Outside of the US, it's about the same as First Class)
- It's handled better (Not really, mail handling between mail types is not different despite what the marketing says. Ultimately, it is the senders responsibility to package the contents properly)
- International mail is a hassle what with all that extra packaging, labelling (What- US customers don't get their delivery carefully wrapped? See my above note on postal handling)
- There's issues with Customs (If a Vendor is concerned about Customs, they should be doing the legwork to research countries and put those countries on their shipping list- not leave it to chance)
- We only ship Priority mail (that's not an answer or even a real excuse- just a parroting back of policy with all the overtones of arrogance that comes with it)
I won't even mention those US Vendors that won't ship Internationally at all or those US Vendors who only do Express Delivery.
Here's the thing- would you pay USD$30 for juice and then pay USD$17 for shipping from one Vendor when you can pay less from another? That's a big jump in price and there is no benefit to the customer at all. There is still the wait of over a week at the letterbox. That's why those of us outside the US just end up ignoring those Vendors who insist on using Priority mail.
These Vendors are losing customers and we are losing out on some of the most well-known juice flavours. Looking at their common excuses, I cannot help but wonder if they would have the same attitude to their US customers.
I live in a country where it is legal to import for own use but the product cannot be sold. I am totally reliant on importing everything and won't pay a cent more than I have to. I'm a retailer's delight as I am a customer that will come back if there are good prices, good service and economical shipping. Strange then, that these Vendors who probably bend over backwards for their US customers won't provide economical shipping to International clients.
It's not good enough.
