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Author Topic: US shipping malarkey  (Read 2986 times)

Offline 6milPhil

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US shipping malarkey
« on: September 14, 2019, 02:35:17 PM »

U.S. to leave global postal union next month barring last-minute action; exit could send global parcel rates soaring...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/us-to-leave-global-postal-union-next-month

Offline Storm Wolf

  • Mad Scientist
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Re: US shipping malarkey
« Reply #1 on: September 14, 2019, 02:36:17 PM »
Post is too bloody high already, have given up ordering from the states for some time now >:(
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Offline Antonio J Carrasco

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Re: US shipping malarkey
« Reply #2 on: September 14, 2019, 04:14:48 PM »
Luckily, I have accumulated enough miniatures to last a lifetime, because between this and Brexit miniatures prices are going to become prohibitive for poor old Europeans!  lol

E-commerce will take a hit.

Offline zemjw

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Re: US shipping malarkey
« Reply #3 on: September 14, 2019, 04:20:59 PM »
Likewise on both size of lead mountain and not buying from abroad for a while now. Apart from the post cost, the customs cost stops me as well :'(

Offline redzed

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Re: US shipping malarkey
« Reply #4 on: September 14, 2019, 05:22:05 PM »
After reading it the USA does make a very valid point.
 :D
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Offline FramFramson

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Re: US shipping malarkey
« Reply #5 on: September 14, 2019, 05:34:54 PM »
Whoof. The postal service is the last refuge for reasonable shipping prices up here. Importing anything via courier is functionally prohibitive for all but the largest shipments.


I joined my gun with pirate swords, and sailed the seas of cyberspace.

Offline Elbows

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Re: US shipping malarkey
« Reply #6 on: September 14, 2019, 05:57:30 PM »
Like many large international organizations, the US often carries the burden of supporting everyone else.  We have no government subsidized shipping like other countries.  Also, in the US we essentially accept the cost of delivering every other country's packages once they hit our shores.

If I order something from China, I can have a simple small product shipped here for $3.99 (including the cost of the product!).  The shipping on that item is essentially more than that, etc.

If I want to ship something to even the UK, it's something like $16 bare minimum, and $25-26 over 1 lb.  Honestly that's probably what it should cost, considering what we're doing.

If ripping off a band-aid is going to help address some issues, I'm fine with it - even if it increases the cost of cheap Chinese stuff, or importing stuff from other countries.  I feel like we've gotten awfully comfortable with the luxury of ordering stuff from anywhere in the world for cheap - even if the end result is bad for economies.
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Offline grant

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Re: US shipping malarkey
« Reply #7 on: September 14, 2019, 06:22:34 PM »
 Couldn’t tell you the last time I ordered from the US. Far too expensive already, just another way to hurt their exports I guess.

I order from Europe, hell even New Zealand, cheaper and easier.

I actually haven’t visited the US in a very long time either. It’s become a non-destination.
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Offline carlos marighela

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Re: US shipping malarkey
« Reply #8 on: September 14, 2019, 09:54:26 PM »
After reading it the USA does make a very valid point.
 :D

Indeed but making it will further harm their economy.
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Ficou marcado na história
E no Rio não tem outro igual
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Offline syrinx0

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Re: US shipping malarkey
« Reply #9 on: September 15, 2019, 01:42:18 AM »
I doubt it will do additional harm.  Given that it has subsidized some foreign businesses in the US market, allowing them to undercut local retailers on shipping, it might improve some US businesses profit margins.  This has been an ongoing issue for at quite a long time. 

I usually only buy Canadian and UK figures and that rather sparingly.  I expect those rates won't change much if at all after new deals are worked out.
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Offline Poiter50

  • Scatterbrained Genius
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Re: US shipping malarkey
« Reply #10 on: September 15, 2019, 01:59:07 AM »
So Trump's ongoing war on China trade affects the rest of us yet again?
Cheers,
Poiter50

Offline redzed

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Re: US shipping malarkey
« Reply #11 on: September 15, 2019, 02:05:11 AM »
I must of read a different article than everybody else.

Offline syrinx0

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Re: US shipping malarkey
« Reply #12 on: September 15, 2019, 02:53:20 AM »
This complaint surfaced before Trump was elected though perhaps is only getting addressed now for other reasons. I think I first read about it on TMP years ago regarding cheap terrain from China.  It really is silly that the US postal system subsidizes Chinese postage but not other UK or Canada.   

Offline Elbows

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Re: US shipping malarkey
« Reply #13 on: September 15, 2019, 03:55:07 AM »
I must of read a different article than everybody else.

It's to be expected these days.

RE: Syrinx

Yeah, we basically do all the work for free once it gets to the US for numerous countries.  Our national shipping rates are decidedly okay, but shipping from various other countries are actually cheaper.
« Last Edit: September 15, 2019, 03:56:43 AM by Elbows »

Offline Codsticker

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Re: US shipping malarkey
« Reply #14 on: September 15, 2019, 04:10:25 AM »
Ultimately it may not change much for most countries as once the US withdraws it will negotiate new arrangements with individual foreign postal services. Postal rates will probably go up a few dollars for countries such as Canada and the UK, but much more for China.