S2C Forum Archives
Main Section => Welcome to our virtual Pub Meeting ... => Topic started by: Kernowcam on August 15, 2019, 08:00:15 AM
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Does anyone know why buying bits from the USA is so ridiculously expensive for postage.
I need a spring for my dog tag machine im restoring . $6 or offers for spring on eBay. Approx 3" long and 1/2" wide weight a few grams, £46 postage on eBay.
On the guys main site not far off those prices!
The whole machine is about 35 lbs and the postage is £74 which to befare is not so bad as it's quite a lump.
I know there is vat , customs duty etc over 10-15£ etc but this is bonkers.
Is he blatantly marking postage up and pocketing the difference? He will send items out to the USA for $11 by ups courier.
I know parts from the lr dealer in Cyprus are quite heavily loaded for postage.
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Do you have friends or relatives in America / Cyprus? If so, could they order locally and then post the items to you at a more realistic cost? Perhaps there is someone on this forum that lives on the other side of the pond that could help ???
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Have you asked seller directly about postage costs I sell on ebay and the ebay shipping option can be expensive but you can often send stuff much cheaper if you dont ask you dont get.
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There is a huge jump in US postal charges between a letter and a small packet.
There is a particular part I need which is only available in the US (it's the stop pin for the butterfly on the swan neck manifold). It is essentially a bolt, about an inch long and a quarter inch thick, so with an envelope it will be just over the quarter inch. The part is about $1.50 and if it could go as a letter it would be about the same to send, but because it is over the quarter inch it will be $36 to ship it here :agh
I am still looking for other options...
Alec
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In the last two months I have sent a pair of bonnet retaining springs + fixings to a member in boulder creak with royal mail came to just under a £10.00.they weighed about 475 grams. As^^^^^^ get it sent to a friend then sent to you.
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I'm sure we'd have some forum volunteers to do this for our overseas friends :cheers
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I was told that US mail don't do surface mail anymore it is all air freight. I stand to be corrected though.
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I am working on a helpful contact. 1 spring delivered to USA $14 dollars. Set of 10 free post to USA $39.
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Well part of it is the exchange rate, When I first started buying parts form the UK around 2011/12 the exchange rate was £1.55 to $1.00, now it is £1.20 to $1.00. Another thing is I had a neighbor who made part of his living from reselling things on Ebay, he once told me he made most of his money by overcharging on shipping.
On the other hand I have a friend in the UK and we exchange B-day gifts, usually Tee shirts, I can buy a shirt here for $20 and it costs me $25 to ship it. :stars
That being said if I can help, I'm in California.
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It typically costs me more to have any thing shipped here from the UK than it takes me to ship things there.
What's odd is that there are two businesses there I deal with a lot. When they ship to me it's relatively cheap and is sent either priority mail or FedEx/DHL, yet everyone else I buy from is a lot higher.
I'm in Kansas if it's any help.
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I recently had some fairly small machine parts sent from the US for 22$ which considering the size box they came in, and the speed they arrived, I didn't think was too bad... I had another couple of tiny bits that came as a letter, which they didn't even charge me for at all !
As mentioned, I expect letter versus parcel is quite a big price jump...have to say I've always had good experience dealing with the US getting stuff sent over
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I recently had some fairly small machine parts sent from the US for 22$ which considering the size box they came in, and the speed they arrived, I didn't think was too bad... I had another couple of tiny bits that came as a letter, which they didn't even charge me for at all !
As mentioned, I expect letter versus parcel is quite a big price jump...have to say I've always had good experience dealing with the US getting stuff sent over
You just reminded me of something I ment to mention earlier.
Recently I've ordered three items from Britain. I had ordered similar parts before from there and the items arrived in boxes. These last three items though arrived in padded envelopes - but the box was included!! The sellers had flattened each part's box and included it. I had never noticed anyone ever doing this before and now, 3 sellers have done it back-to-back and there was a big difference in the shipping amount. Was wondering if the Royal Mail had altered shipping rates
On the other hand... there is a LR parts company here in the US - perhaps THE top shelf dealer here in the States - and it doesn't really matter what it is you buy, it'll come in a box. I bought 3 gaskets from them; instead of arriving in an envelope it came in a 4"x3"x6" box and the shipping was a lot more than the gaskets!!!
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Hi, Probably OT.
We were living in Wales, and had a cottage in France (just South of St. Malo) Barbara ordered a spiral staircase (400kg) from Italy to be delivered to France.
Nope, her memory fails her. A rare event. All she can remember was that delivery to France was cheaper than to UK, but she can't remember how much cheaper.
Get a quote for hiring a van, buying a trailer and renting a trailer. Also price of using the Chunnel during unsocial hours. First train of the day. That should give you a top line to get under.
602
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There is a huge jump in US postal charges between a letter and a small packet.
There is a particular part I need which is only available in the US (it's the stop pin for the butterfly on the swan neck manifold). It is essentially a bolt, about an inch long and a quarter inch thick, so with an envelope it will be just over the quarter inch. The part is about $1.50 and if it could go as a letter it would be about the same to send, but because it is over the quarter inch it will be $36 to ship it here :agh
I am still looking for other options...
Alec
Make one !..it sounds fairly straight forward.. ???
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Make one !..it sounds fairly straight forward.. ???
It would be, if I had a picture to copy and the thread size. I have a corroded mess to drill out and re-tap, and I'm not quite sure what the end should look like. Parts book doesn't say and nobody in the UK seems to have one, certainly not in a removable state.
Alec
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You'd think there would be a picture of one somewhere.. ??? If you're drilling out and re tapping a thread, you'll probably have to go a bit oversize anyway so could choose another nearest but easy available thread for your 'repro'...
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There is a huge jump in US postal charges between a letter and a small packet.
There is a particular part I need which is only available in the US (it's the stop pin for the butterfly on the swan neck manifold). It is essentially a bolt, about an inch long and a quarter inch thick, so with an envelope it will be just over the quarter inch. The part is about $1.50 and if it could go as a letter it would be about the same to send, but because it is over the quarter inch it will be $36 to ship it here :agh
I am still looking for other options...
Alec
Do you have a part number? I know someone who might be able to help.
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Alec
Try messaging 58Paul he may have missed this thread but he has lots of early bits he may be able to get you a proper photo.
Peter
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Thanks for the suggestions.
Correus - part number is 247819 Stop pin for adjusting plate.
I will also drop 58Paul a PM.
Alec
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In business I ship to the USA using UPS. The service is very good but you pay for it - eye watering. Royal Mail is cheap but takes longer and is less reliable and there is no proof of delivery. UPS is fairly foolproof. Given that people are happy to try and be less than genuine, in the belief that defrauding a company is victim-less (it isn't) then it has to be UPS with proof of delivery every time despite that this means the cost is much much greater given the difference in shipping. Of course it is only 1 in 100 that are less than honest but nevertheless this 1 in 100 mean everyone else has to pay the higher. with evidence, shipping.
So part of the reason for high shipping is the high service level of the shipping, just to be sure.
Paul
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Thanks for the suggestions.
Correus - part number is 247819 Stop pin for adjusting plate.
I will also drop 58Paul a PM.
Alec
Thanks, let me see what I can find out.
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Thanks for the suggestions.
Correus - part number is 247819 Stop pin for adjusting plate.
I will also drop 58Paul a PM.
Alec
Is this the item? Description says "stop", but not much else.
https://www.lrdirect.com/247819-Stop/
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I've found a picture, small and indistinct, in the parts list 'Series II & IIA Bonneted Control. Jan 58, Rev'd Oct 1961. Part 4187.'.
Do you have access to that, or similar?
Regards.
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Any good?
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Thanks All,
Correus - yes it is that part, but the statement 'subject to LR stock' turns out to mean that they do not have it in stock, and neither do LR so this route doesn't work unfortunately. The usual suspects in the UK do not have one; in fact, the only supplier I can find is Atlantic British (roverparts.com) who have confirmed that they have one, and the price is reasonable, but they can't sort shipping for less than $36.00 (for a small stop pin :agh), which brings us back on topic.
David & Old Hywel - thanks for the pictures & reference. I do have a copy of the October 1960 parts catalogue which shows the same, ie a constant diameter pin, threaded at one end and slotted at the other. The problem is that for it to function I need to get the diameter right and unusually for a S2 part, the thread is not stated or I could use that information to get the diameter. My ideal approach would be running a tap through the rust which should, if I am lucky, just clear it out, but for that I need to know which tap to use (diameter and BSF or UNF). If not, to make a single part replacement I need to know the diameter as I will need to tap the hole oversize and then turn down the exposed part of the pin to the correct size. I could do this by trial and error, but would prefer not to.
Given how cheap the part is, it would be worth just buying one and putting in a solid insert to repair the thread if necessary, were it not for the cost of shipping from the US being so high (thread back on topic...)
Alec
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Correus - yes it is that part, but the statement 'subject to LR stock' turns out to mean that they do not have it in stock, and neither do LR so this route doesn't work unfortunately. The usual suspects in the UK do not have one; in fact, the only supplier I can find is Atlantic British (roverparts.com) who have confirmed that they have one, and the price is reasonable, but they can't sort shipping for less than $36.00 (for a small stop pin :agh), which brings us back on topic.
Okay, I was mainly trying to find a pic and that was the first thing that popped up.
However - how would $1.00 US be?
The main guy I buy from has it, but he can be slow. Shipping cost to me is probably about $4 to $5 dollars per his automated system. With it being just a bolt. He is good at charging ONLY the actual shipping cost. I have gotten many shipping refunds from him when the automated system over charged.
Here is the link to Trevor's website.
https://rovahfarm.com/
You could send him an email to confirm he has it and check the availability. If shipping is still high let me know. I could have it shipped to me and then ship it to you and we could split the difference.
If he doesn't have it let me know and I'll poke the other guy who might.
Is this mainly a S1 and S2 item?
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However - how would $1.00 US be?
The main guy I buy from has it, but he can be slow. Shipping cost to me is probably about $4 to $5 dollars per his automated system. With it being just a bolt. He is good at charging ONLY the actual shipping cost. I have gotten many shipping refunds from him when the automated system over charged.
Here is the link to Trevor's website.
https://rovahfarm.com/
You could send him an email to confirm he has it and check the availability. If shipping is still high let me know. I could have it shipped to me and then ship it to you and we could split the difference.
If he doesn't have it let me know and I'll poke the other guy who might.
Is this mainly a S1 and S2 item?
Thanks, I hadn't found this supplier. I have dropped Trevor an email and will see what he says. Yes, it's an S1/S2 item - not sure where it went on the S1 but on the S2 it is the stop pin for the butterfly valve which was only fitted to the early exhaust manifolds, both the infamous "swan neck" manifold and its immediate successor. I think it was dropped completely around 1962.
Alec
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Thanks, I hadn't found this supplier. I have dropped Trevor an email and will see what he says. Yes, it's an S1/S2 item - not sure where it went on the S1 but on the S2 it is the stop pin for the butterfly valve which was only fitted to the early exhaust manifolds, both the infamous "swan neck" manifold and its immediate successor. I think it was dropped completely around 1962.
Alec
Thanks for the info. If Trevor doesn't actually have it in stock let me know. The other guy I know is a S1 guy.
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Have heard back from Trevor - apparently he last had one 10yrs ago.
Alec
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Have heard back from Trevor - apparently he last had one 10yrs ago.
Alec
Let me check with the other guy. I'll see how much it costs to ship to me from AB.
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A few years ago I used to get aircraft rivets sent over in small Pr paid packets about 6" by 4". As long as it fitted and was under the max weight that was it. Would end up with about 1lb rivets for £4.00.
It was a ups postal services ? Something like that?
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I wonder correus if you could try to work out. How much to send a very small packet to the uk is? I looked on usps and there seems to be hundreds of v expensive options ? My dies are 1/4" square by 1" like a small lathe tool. Prob 6 off.
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Correus - part number is 247819 Stop pin for adjusting plate.
Okay, I've contacted the two guys I know who might be able to help.
I've also checked with Atlantic British. Shipping to me - USPS 1st Class Parcel with Tracking - is $3.95.
Having seen the schematic drawing provided by Old Hywel, that's a tiny part!! Am I missing something? I might just take a similar sized bolt/pin to my local post office and ask them about it.
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I wonder correus if you could try to work out. How much to send a very small packet to the uk is? I looked on usps and there seems to be hundreds of v expensive options ? My dies are 1/4" square by 1" like a small lathe tool. Prob 6 off.
Are you talking about purchasing the dies from a company here in the US and shipping to you? Or from a private person?
Part of the issue could be that some businesses have minimum amounts charged for shipping.
If it's an item from a business, send me the part info and seller. I'll see what I can do.
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General question! How much to send from us to uk? I have a friend sending a small parcel over . Trader wants huge amount.
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Okay, I've contacted the two guys I know who might be able to help.
I've also checked with Atlantic British. Shipping to me - USPS 1st Class Parcel with Tracking - is $3.95.
Having seen the schematic drawing provided by Old Hywel, that's a tiny part!! Am I missing something? I might just take a similar sized bolt/pin to my local post office and ask them about it.
Sincere thanks for all the help with this. I have just been emailed a sketch drawing of one which is firmly embedded in the manifold but it tells me the diameter is 1/4" and the length is approximately 3/4". At that size, I think it is allowed in a standard USPS envelope.
Alec
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No one on the forum has one to copy or get dimensions and thread size? So much hassle for such a small part.
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No one on the forum has one to copy or get dimensions and thread size? So much hassle for such a small part.
The problem with this particular one is that it is a very uncommon part, having been used for ~4yrs at the start of the production run and then superseded. Because the manifold it fits in to was also superseded and not available until fairly recently as a pattern part, the numbers of surviving parts are extremely low. Those which have survived tend to be (unsurprisingly, given the lack of protection and the heat burning out any lubrication) rusted solid into the exhaust manifold with no chance of removal for a quick inspection.
Perhaps the more surprising thing (to me at least) is that whilst not even the specialist suppliers in the UK, such as Blanchard and Craddocks, have it, it is available off the shelf in the US. Of course, I could just take a 1/4" UNF bolt, cut it down to a reasonable length that came flush with the inside of the manifold wall and didn't foul the bob weight on the outside and then saw a slot in the top. This will be the last resort, but there is a certain level of determination on my part to fit the actual part, since it is clearly available and at a reasonable price! Actually, if I end up with one shipped to Correus and then forwarded, it will still have cost me very little in real terms and there will be a sense of satisfaction in resolving the logistics.
Alec
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Sincere thanks for all the help with this. I have just been emailed a sketch drawing of one which is firmly embedded in the manifold but it tells me the diameter is 1/4" and the length is approximately 3/4". At that size, I think it is allowed in a standard USPS envelope.
Alec
At that size is should be!! Not sure what's going on with AB. Just say the word and I'll go ahead and get it ordered.
The main guy I talked to is a real guru when it comes to the S1 & S2. He said that part was so hard to get he finally got rid of a manifold like that all together.
He did ask.... do you have the bimetallic strip, or are you needing it as well?
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General question! How much to send from us to uk? I have a friend sending a small parcel over . Trader wants huge amount.
Tough question...depends on the size and weight. I have sent some rather odd packages, but the most I've paid in shipping something to the UK was about $25 - a rather largish and heavy book.
We have a system over here for priority mail parcels called "if it fits it ships" and that starts at $25.85 for international.
1st Class parcels take a little longer, not much, but cost a lot less.
They are starting to crack down on some items going through the post though - just depends.
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The problem with this particular one is that it is a very uncommon part, having been used for ~4yrs at the start of the production run and then superseded. Because the manifold it fits in to was also superseded and not available until fairly recently as a pattern part, the numbers of surviving parts are extremely low. Those which have survived tend to be (unsurprisingly, given the lack of protection and the heat burning out any lubrication) rusted solid into the exhaust manifold with no chance of removal for a quick inspection.
Perhaps the more surprising thing (to me at least) is that whilst not even the specialist suppliers in the UK, such as Blanchard and Craddocks, have it, it is available off the shelf in the US. Of course, I could just take a 1/4" UNF bolt, cut it down to a reasonable length that came flush with the inside of the manifold wall and didn't foul the bob weight on the outside and then saw a slot in the top. This will be the last resort, but there is a certain level of determination on my part to fit the actual part, since it is clearly available and at a reasonable price! Actually, if I end up with one shipped to Correus and then forwarded, it will still have cost me very little in real terms and there will be a sense of satisfaction in resolving the logistics.
Alec
Just need the green light.
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At that size is should be!! Not sure what's going on with AB. Just say the word and I'll go ahead and get it ordered.
The main guy I talked to is a real guru when it comes to the S1 & S2. He said that part was so hard to get he finally got rid of a manifold like that all together.
He did ask.... do you have the bimetallic strip, or are you needing it as well?
Yes, please do. If you drop me a PM or email to let me know how much I owe you I will sort out transfer of cash. Yes, I do have the bimetallic strip - one came up NOS on ebay. Blanchard have the counterweight which I will be ordering as part of a batch in the next week or so.
It's a bit of a rivet counter thing this - the part is directly interchangeable with the standard, off the shelf later manifold so it is not necessary to do this, but I want to as I have gone to reasonable lengths with the rest of the vehicle to get it back to as-built, hence I want to do the same with the manifold which is one of the more obvious parts.
Alec
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Yes, please do. If you drop me a PM or email to let me know how much I owe you I will sort out transfer of cash. Yes, I do have the bimetallic strip - one came up NOS on ebay. Blanchard have the counterweight which I will be ordering as part of a batch in the next week or so.
It's a bit of a rivet counter thing this - the part is directly interchangeable with the standard, off the shelf later manifold so it is not necessary to do this, but I want to as I have gone to reasonable lengths with the rest of the vehicle to get it back to as-built, hence I want to do the same with the manifold which is one of the more obvious parts.
Alec
Part has been ordered!!! I'll send you a PM with the details. It's confirmed on their website, but no email confirmation yet.
Check this out...I'm needing to get a handful of grommets, so I thought I'd add some to the order. While they do have your oddball, hard to find part, they don't have ANY of the grommets!!! Go figure...
I will let the S1 guru know you have the other items. He said there were a couple of suppliers in the UK that had the bimetallic strip, just didn't say who.
Don't sweat the rivet counter thing...I'm NOT a rivet counter at all, and Grover ISN'T being "restored", yet there are things I've run across wherein I find myself saying "I've gone this far on this item, why not go ahead and do this".
Case in point - Grover's original 2-fuse fuse box. It is in bad shape and the cover wasn't there when I got him. The original is being kept and placed in an "original bits-n-pieces" box, but a new, genuine Lucas box is being installed. For grins-n-giggles I removed the fuses from the original in order to stick them in the two "spares" spots in the new one - so they'd be there when needed. Guess what...they wouldn't stay in place, the little metal retention clips weren't there!! So, I carefully removed the original, cleaned it up and will be inserting it in the new one today.
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Yes, please do. If you drop me a PM or email to let me know how much I owe you I will sort out transfer of cash. Yes, I do have the bimetallic strip - one came up NOS on ebay. Blanchard have the counterweight which I will be ordering as part of a batch in the next week or so.
It's a bit of a rivet counter thing this - the part is directly interchangeable with the standard, off the shelf later manifold so it is not necessary to do this, but I want to as I have gone to reasonable lengths with the rest of the vehicle to get it back to as-built, hence I want to do the same with the manifold which is one of the more obvious parts.
Alec
Alec,
I should have your part by Saturday, but won't be able to post it yo you until Monday. Will PM once it's on its way to you.
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There is a huge jump in US postal charges between a letter and a small packet.
There is a particular part I need which is only available in the US (it's the stop pin for the butterfly on the swan neck manifold). It is essentially a bolt, about an inch long and a quarter inch thick, so with an envelope it will be just over the quarter inch. The part is about $1.50 and if it could go as a letter it would be about the same to send, but because it is over the quarter inch it will be $36 to ship it here :agh
I am still looking for other options...
Alec
Alec, your part arrived. I'll send you a PM for further info, but thought others might like to see what that thing looks like.
It arrived in a LARGE heavily padded envelope that weighed a lot considering.
Also, the danged thing is rusty!!! I can clean the rust off for you if you'd like.
Attached below is you "$36 to ship" part.
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$36 to post that is insane, the part I was posted free of charge in a letter from the US was probably slightly longer than that.
Tbh I'd have just cut down and slit a bolt to replicate that.. ;)
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$36 to post that is insane, the part I was posted free of charge in a letter from the US was probably slightly longer than that.
Tbh I'd have just cut down and slit a bolt to replicate that.. ;)
Yup - insane. It's one of the reasons I don't buy from them, but others are getting just as bad.
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Alec, your part arrived. I'll send you a PM for further info, but thought others might like to see what that thing looks like.
It arrived in a LARGE heavily padded envelope that weighed a lot considering.
Also, the danged thing is rusty!!! I can clean the rust off for you if you'd like.
Attached below is you "$36 to ship" part.
Thanks for the photo - good to see what a real one looks like! Don't worry about the rust - I will be spraying the exposed part with aluminium and the thread will be fitted with boron nitride spray before it goes in.
$36 to post that is insane, the part I was posted free of charge in a letter from the US was probably slightly longer than that.
Tbh I'd have just cut down and slit a bolt to replicate that.. ;)
That was always my fallback. However, the problem was seeing what a real one actually looks like, including getting the right thread. Once i have it, I will measure the thread and post it up for future reference.
Alec
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For those of you interested...
Alec's bolt is on its way to its new home - I hope.
I have no idea what is going on with the postal service here in the States, but I feel like I just got out of an interrogation! :agh
The shipping wasn't as cheap as I had hoped, but it was less than half of what ABP was going to charge. The total weight was 1.80 ounces, and the packet was 6" x 9". I asked if it would of been cheaper if I had used the 5" x 7.5" packet and he said "no".
The last package I shipped to the UK was just a few months ago, weighed almost a pound, was in a small box and only cost me about $12.00.
If I had used the International Express Mail, like ABP would of, the cost was going to be about - $38.50 - but it is shipping form the middle of the country and not the east coast so it woukd be slightly more. International 1st Class would of been about $23.50.
The Postal Clerck said it will probably take 2 to 3 weeks to get to Alec, but said it could hit the airport at the right time and get there faster.
In re the tracking number the clerk said "good luck with that". The USPS is notoriously bad when it comes to tracking numbers. I have all of my packages tracked and I'm lucky if half of them actually enter the system before it gets delivered. There are a couple of companies in the UK that no longer provide tracking numbers though.
Since Alec isn't "technically" buying it from me we were able to list it as a "gift/other" on the customs form. Here in the US, an auto is an "antique" once it's 30 years old, so it's listed as an "antique screw replacement" on the form.
The clerk said that the UK customs service is getting really bad when it comes to packages arriving from the US. So far I've had no issues with packages I've sent. He said it WILL BE scanned and if it looks funny to them they will open it. I collect WWI militaria, you should see some of the descriptions sellers have put on customs form when shipping to me!!
Also...his address... the kept putting it in the system and the system didn't like it. This isn't the first time either. Every time I ship to the UK this happens, the USPS system just doesn't like UK addresses!! I always worry a package won't arrive because of this, but haven't had one go missing yet.
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:-* top marks for effort. :first
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Phew! So couldn't the bolt go in a simple letter? Like I said the thing I got ( sent with no charge, a couple of weeks ago ish) effectively also a headless bolt, they sent to me in a paper 'catalogue' ie a couple of folded A4 sheets of paper with the part in the middle, it came in a letter envelope, I'd have thought this would be the same but ???
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I recently purchased a couple of small items from a NewYork based company 5”/1” both items packaged together under 500g, standard deliver £3.99 but 10-21 days so opted for the DHL express service 3-5 days..
Order was placed on Sunday afternoon 1500hrs, items paid for £33, express post £15, got a text from DHL later that Sunday evening to say I have a parcel that is due a uk customs charge of £17? No mention of this from the dealer the goods were from but after a bit of reading it was due!!! So paid the £17 using the DHL link provided, got a confirmation text and email from DHL so say my parcel was on route, Monday got a text and email to give me a time slot for delivery on Tuesday, received the parcel 11am Tuesday morning, amazing service and turnaround but not cheap, although it would have cost me a bit more to collect in person!!!!!
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It has been an interesting exercise which, assuming it arrives safely through the post, will also have been very useful in resolving both my part issue and understanding the current situation with shipping. Very grateful to Correus for his help with this.
Fortunately, the whole thing will fall below the threshold where duty will become payable, otherwise I too could expect a nasty final sting in the tail from our helpful UK postal service who charge £12 for the privilege of collecting your duty and refuse to release the goods until you pay them.
Alec
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Phew! So couldn't the bolt go in a simple letter? Like I said the thing I got ( sent with no charge, a couple of weeks ago ish) effectively also a headless bolt, they sent to me in a paper 'catalogue' ie a couple of folded A4 sheets of paper with the part in the middle, it came in a letter envelope, I'd have thought this would be the same but ???
I considered trying to ship it as you mention, yet I had a packet of similar items shipped to me about 6 weeks, when it arrived the packet had been torn and one of the items lost. When I asked about it the postal clerk said that items, like what I ordered, are sent in envelopes (even padded ones), they can get snagged on the sorting machines and the envelope can be torn open. This one is going to go through several of these and I just don't want to take the chance, too much effort has gone into it.
For what it's worth... I just ordered some grommets from a supplier here in the US. The 1st one I went to wanted to charge me $14.85 from the east coast to Kansas. The company I bought them from is charging just over $10. However, the company I'm buying from is know for refunding shipping charges if their automated system over charges for it.
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It has been an interesting exercise which, assuming it arrives safely through the post, will also have been very useful in resolving both my part issue and understanding the current situation with shipping. Very grateful to Correus for his help with this.
Fortunately, the whole thing will fall below the threshold where duty will become payable, otherwise I too could expect a nasty final sting in the tail from our helpful UK postal service who charge £12 for the privilege of collecting your duty and refuse to release the goods until you pay them.
Alec
Glad to be of service, just wish a cheaper rate could of been had.
I was telling the father-in-law about this and he told me about the notice their church secretary got from the post office. Their church has a youth program that starts when school starts. The church sends invitations, to kids who attend, to a cookout to kick off the beginning of the program. The secretary sent out about 60 post cards - post cards!! - a couple days ago; they were all returned with a note saying that the church owed an additional $0.15 per card.
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It's not just shipping items across the pond.
I ordered a handful of grommets from a Rover parts dealer about 450 miles away. The shipping was almost the same as what it cost to send Alec's package. There were 10 grommets. They arrived in a box instead of an envelope.
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the basic charge from the us seems to be $11.25 for a Med size Jiffy bag Not to heavy. Going back seems to be half that!
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Alec
Once this part that is as rae as rocking horse manure arrives in the UK, I presume that you are going to photograph it and produce a working drawing so that copies can be made at a sensible price.
Peter
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That would be a good plan! Looks a piece of cake to make too.. ;)
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I have been looking for parts for a 1966 GM pickup and looking on the US sites they are quite cheap until you add the carriage. I looked on Amazon.com. the US site and found the brake parts I was looking for at a cost of £8.83 and the carriage was £3.97 Considerably cheaper than the other US sites I looked at