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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: chadt1 on March 05, 2012, 08:53:00 PM

Title: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: chadt1 on March 05, 2012, 08:53:00 PM
I shipped my last bow ever today, it cost me 35.00 to ship a longbow today and that just blew my mind. I never entend on paying for shipping again on a bow I sell, if it means I dont sell the bow then so be it. Sorry for bitching I'm just venting, not mad at anybody but the postal service Ha Ha.

Chad
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Hermon on March 05, 2012, 08:56:00 PM
Why so much?  I have sent several one piece longbows and recurves this last year in pvc tubes, insured priority and none of them cost more that $23.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Rick Richard on March 05, 2012, 08:57:00 PM
I know what you mean.  I just shipped one a couple of weeks ago and feel the "ouch"
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: awbowman on March 05, 2012, 09:01:00 PM
I had a set of limbs boxed and shipped with insurance a couple of weeks ago and it was $44.  I about lost my mind!
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Alexander Traditional on March 05, 2012, 09:02:00 PM
Know what you mean I just shipped the riser on my take down and it was $20
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: JRY309 on March 05, 2012, 09:10:00 PM
When I ship a longbow I try to keep it under the 84" limit,which is length plus girth.If you go over that you'll get hit with an oversize charge.I have shipped 68" and 70" Hill style bows under the 84" limit.It cost me $31.05 to ship and insure for $700 a longbow to Alaska.I didn't think that was too bad to Alaska.An oversize charge can add up,I always measure my packages and write it on the package before I get to the Post office.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: TDHunter on March 05, 2012, 09:27:00 PM
I feel you pain. I've shipped a few to you good folk in the US and it cast me 50-60 bucks each time.  I have 3 bow s to sell right now and I too will try and sell this spring at the local 3D. Lots of cash to ship these days.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Bud B. on March 05, 2012, 09:40:00 PM
I shipped Faith from Asheboro, NC to Texas. I got it from Virginia for about $18 from the previous user. It cost me almost $38 to ship.


Ridiculous.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Dodger on March 05, 2012, 09:45:00 PM
Count your blessings guys...

USPS wont accept a package longer than 46" to India. This means courier, which comes out to approximately $250.00  :(

A 2-piece longbow cost me $185.00 I am not making this stuff up.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on March 05, 2012, 09:50:00 PM
When you see an add in the classifieds saying TYD, take these costs into account, the bow could be a good deal.

I have spent anywhere from 12-24 shipping bows. The PO can be moody some days   :biglaugh:
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Doc Nock on March 05, 2012, 09:56:00 PM
Prices keep going up and up and up...

My postal guy tells me when asked, "We're going down the tubes!"

Prices jumped in the past few weeks I think on many things like this... or last 2 months...
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: wckid2 on March 05, 2012, 10:11:00 PM
They are going down the tubes because it is a federal run institution and they cant get a hammer for less than 500 dollars. Id say that it is because the cost of fuel that our government cant seem to control. It could always be worse.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Mon Valley on March 05, 2012, 10:12:00 PM
I shipped a bow with wheels today for a friend for 46.20. I measured the box rounding up to the nearest inch, weighed it and looked the price up on the USPS website.  There are 2 prices, one you print the label the other the post office does the work. For some reason it was 8 dollars more than the website said it should be. When I questioned the person behind the desk all I got was a smart a## answer. Wow great customer service, but still the cheapest game in town.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Bishop on March 05, 2012, 10:22:00 PM
I shipped a longbow a couple of weeks ago and was hit with the balloon charge. I'm in no rush to ship another one.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: TJK68 on March 05, 2012, 10:27:00 PM
I just shipped a 64" 1 piece Longbow today, priority, with insurance and delivery confirmation.... $19.00. I did not think that was to bad.
Tom
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: The Vanilla Gorilla on March 05, 2012, 10:29:00 PM
What kills me is when I leave to go to work at 8.30am,  my post office is closed.  

When I get off work at 4pm....they're already closed again!!  I have to reconfigure my day to Actually see someone behind the counter when I have a package too big to fit in my PO box (such as a bow) or to ship something or sign for it.

I'd pay extra shipping costs if it meant they would work normal hours!
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: BowHunterGA on March 05, 2012, 10:39:00 PM
I am done with the USPS. I will never ship anything through them of an value. Too many lost and damaged items lately and the absolute worst customer service I have ever dealt with. Never again for me.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: LYONEL on March 05, 2012, 10:44:00 PM
The last cople of take downs I have had sent to Australia cost under $60 insured but that was a couple of years ago. I currently have a Sasquatch on order so I will wait to see what that costs me.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Alexander Traditional on March 05, 2012, 10:48:00 PM
I know what you mean Steve I've had then lose stuff and then they acted like I did something wrong. I shipped my riser with UPS.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Swamp Yankee on March 05, 2012, 10:50:00 PM
Is UPS or FEDEX any cheaper?  It's pretty much a free market.  Somebody has to pay for the price of transportation, seen the price of gas lately?  No mystery in my mind.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: BowHunterGA on March 05, 2012, 10:50:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Alexander Traditional:
I know what you mean Steve I've had then lose stuff and then they acted like I did something wrong. I shipped my riser with UPS.
You should have seen the package they had the gall to leave at my door last week. I swear a decent human being would have a hard time doing that much damage to a package if someone PAID them to do so. Simply unexcusable!
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: RUTANDSTRUT on March 05, 2012, 11:08:00 PM
i have found that some usps offices charge an extra fee on top of shipping because its "oversized" or "tubular" package.  the post offices by me seem to be very inconsistent in the shipping fees.  i now found a post office by me that is consistent with its fees.  it costs me between $18 to $25 to send a bow now with delivery confirmation and insurance.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Gator1 on March 05, 2012, 11:12:00 PM
I think what happened is your local post office, mis measured/calclulated the shipping costs.

I have to drive to the next town over from my work, as the local Post Office wants the 35.00 range, I go to the next town down, and its in the 20.00 range insured...
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: tracker1 on March 05, 2012, 11:18:00 PM
It depends on the day of the week, who is working, the weather forcast.  No seriously.  I have had the same size shipping tubes go to the same area of the country and get $10 dollar different in price to ship???
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: elkken on March 06, 2012, 12:38:00 AM
Let's see ... I shipped a bow today and it will get across the country in two days and cost about $35. A tank of gas for my truck costs about $85 and I can only drive 350 miles ... I think some of you guys are expecting a little too much for nothing . Just take the time to think of how many hands touch that package, the logistics involved, the planes,trains and automobiles involved to make it arrive on time. Sure a package gets lost occasionally, but they ship MILLIONS of them. Do all your arrows hit the bulls eye ...

Put the price of shipping into your bow price, the bowyers do. They don't get their shipping free any more than any of us.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: don_h on March 06, 2012, 12:51:00 AM
Elk ken, I agree with you, but the real crime here is you go 350 on $85, cost me about $125 for that distance. Ups is far worse for pricing if you are shipping to or from Alaska.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: trad_in_cali on March 06, 2012, 12:57:00 AM
Just shipped a Korean Hwarang within the US, very wide because of the unstrung shape. $46.50!!!
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Ben Maher on March 06, 2012, 04:48:00 AM
try having a 1 pce longbow shipped to Australia ... up to $290.00 ...

Yep a $500 brand new longbow costs me nearly 1/2 as much again just in postage . I am a dealer for Howard Hill and a few other archery companies and try ... make that beg my customers to get t/d's !!!
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: slivrslingr on March 06, 2012, 05:13:00 AM
The USPS is a bargain, shipping here in Aus is way more.  I had  a t/d recurve shipped across the country and it cost $60.  The USPS actually looses money every year and the tax payers end up footing the bill.  In reality, the PO needs to raise prices and start supporting itself.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: ishoot4thrills on March 06, 2012, 06:03:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by elkken:
Let's see ... I shipped a bow today and it will get across the country in two days and cost about $35. A tank of gas for my truck costs about $85 and I can only drive 350 miles ... I think some of you guys are expecting a little too much for nothing . Just take the time to think of how many hands touch that package, the logistics involved, the planes,trains and automobiles involved to make it arrive on time. Sure a package gets lost occasionally, but they ship MILLIONS of them. Do all your arrows hit the bulls eye ...
Yeah, BUT.......You're right about the millions of things they ship out, so multiply those millions by the price that they are charging and it adds up to a lot of money! It ain't just one bow gettin' shipped across the country, it's a bow plus tons of other stuff that they're charging an arm and a leg for.

Plus, look at what some are saying about the inconsistencies that they are getting charged for shipping the same package to the same place and it's costing 10 or 15 dollars difference each time. NO excuse for that.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Keith Langford on March 06, 2012, 06:26:00 AM
My last bow shipped was $ 58.00 UPS, I also will not include shipping in the price anymore, I lost over 225 on a like new bow. Shipping is crazy
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Collaco-RJ on March 06, 2012, 06:32:00 AM
Don´t mention it. It´s because of that crazyness that is very difficult to find someone on auction market to send 60´´+ bows to Brazil. Only courier, and expensive.
Not to mention the 60% (yeah, sixty) tax we probably will pay.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: BowHunterGA on March 06, 2012, 06:34:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by ishoot4thrills:
 
QuoteOriginally posted by elkken:
Let's see ... I shipped a bow today and it will get across the country in two days and cost about $35. A tank of gas for my truck costs about $85 and I can only drive 350 miles ... I think some of you guys are expecting a little too much for nothing . Just take the time to think of how many hands touch that package, the logistics involved, the planes,trains and automobiles involved to make it arrive on time. Sure a package gets lost occasionally, but they ship MILLIONS of them. Do all your arrows hit the bulls eye ...
Yeah, BUT.......You're right about the millions of things they ship out, so multiply those millions by the price that they are charging and it adds up to a lot of money! It ain't just one bow gettin' shipped across the country, it's a bow plus tons of other stuff that they're charging an arm and a leg for.

Plus, look at what some are saying about the inconsistencies that they are getting charged for shipping the same package to the same place and it's costing 10 or 15 dollars difference each time. NO excuse for that. [/b]
EXACTLY Doug!
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Craig on March 06, 2012, 06:37:00 AM
Do your own shipping on USPS web page. The weight ends up costing you more. When you use tape tape tape tape it all adds up in weight. Remember gas prices keep going up. almost $4.00 gal. For every penny it goes up the USPS gas goes up 700 thousand dollars. Drive it there yourself and see what it is going to cost you. I went to a 3d shoot 56min. away and it cost me $25.00 in gas. I don't here anyone complaining about the cost of smokes or beer. I now know they will delete this post. It happens every time I post about the subject.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Mac11700 on March 06, 2012, 09:05:00 AM
I shipped a 68" LB to Mobile Ala...from St.Louis last month in a PVC tube..total weight 9 lb. 7oz..they hammered me with a Balloon Priority of $10.95...which I am assuming is because it was in a tube..total cost for Priority mail..which is a 2-3 day wait for the recipient..$36.70...added on a arrow box with a dozen arrows...another $11.15 for a total of $47.85...That is still way cheaper than Fed Ex...or Brown...or for me to get in the car and drive it down there...

Is it a lot...yes it is...the days of shipping for cheap...is long past...

Shipping via the post office can be a pain...but..no more than any other way of shipping..and still cheaper than most of the other places...Next time you go to ship...just ask Fed Ex or Brown what a 2 day delivery rate will be for that same package...Now...when you go to the post office...check on what the regular ground shipping rates are...if your wanting to save a little...the package will arrive in 5-7 days...and be about 1/3-1/2 cheaper..

So...when getting upset at the shipping cost...try being a little realistic...If you don't like 1 particular post office..find another to do your shipping from..and ask for all of the rates and compare them...you will see they still are the cheapest for any CONUS shipping on bows..and be firm on your price when selling something...everyone is looking to buy things dirt cheap these days...and you can tell who understands this when you get a bid on something your selling when they try to low ball you on the price..Just be firm..but polite..Let them choose how fast they want it..and charge them accordingly..if they want it faster..

Mac
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Lamey on March 06, 2012, 09:08:00 AM
I hate to be Captain Obvious here but just factor the shipping cost when you price your bow for sale.   Even if you "ship for free" simply price the bow so that shipping will be covered...  no brainer.

All shippers screw up,  they all have issues,  none of them are perfect, Ive used them all commercially for 20 years.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: lpcjon2 on March 06, 2012, 09:19:00 AM
:deadhorse:     :deadhorse:    :deadhorse:
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Rob DiStefano on March 06, 2012, 09:20:00 AM
selling anything where you the seller pay for shipping - 1pc bows in particular - without understanding shipping vendor requirements and cost may cost you more than you realize.  

there is much to learn about shipping stuff, 1pc bows in particular.  if you ship a fair amount, you'll learn the ins and outs and how best to box.  if not, particularly about "boxing" and dimensions, you'll usually pay more than you should.

be careful about insurance - this is a good thing to do ONLY if you can back up the dollar amount with a valid manufacturer or vendor receipt - NOT a seller's "receipt".  the shipping vendor will only recognize "authorized" receipts.  if not, the insurance dollars ae wasted as you won't get any of it back for a lost or damaged bow.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Lost Arra on March 06, 2012, 10:08:00 AM
I have yet to take a pvc-packaged bow to the post office for two reasons:

1. What Vanilla Gorilla said. I can't get there during their hours.

2. Pricing is consistent when I print the priority mailing label online. I never have to argue with a postal worker.

I take the package to work and our postman takes it with him. No problem. He's used to it. He delivered some osage logs to me one time that I got in a trade.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Gil Verwey on March 06, 2012, 10:18:00 AM
If you don't like the prices of USPS try UPS and Fedex. They are out of this world.

I send all of my bows USPS Priority, confirmed and insured. As soon as you go over the standard size it jumps up high. You have to make sure you don't hit that mark.

I sent a bow recently to France through UPS it was $220! USPS wanted $60, but that only gets it to the French Postal Service. The buyer wanted to pay the extra shipping because he didn't trust the French Postal Service. Theirs must be pretty bad.

Customer Service at the Post Office depends which branch office you go to. I have two great branches I deal with, so I couldn't be happier.
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Gen273 on March 06, 2012, 11:06:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by Lamey:
[QB] I hate to be Captain Obvious here but just factor the shipping cost when you price your bow for sale.   Even if you "ship for free" simply price the bow so that shipping will be covered...  no brainer.


+1
Title: Re: SHIPPING BOWS BAD,BAD,BAD
Post by: Mon Valley on March 06, 2012, 12:21:00 PM
My point in my earlier post was; I looked up the shipping charges in order to add that shipping cost to the cost of the bow and have the buyer pay for it. This was done so I would be able to gauge the true selling price. When the USPS website is differnt that the actual cost, I look at it as if I did not get what I wanted out of the bow. Like I said it is still the best game in town but not very consistant.