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Unless otherwise noted, small items (3 lb &
under) are shipped USPS Priority Mail (within the US) uninsured. S&H fees
are usually noted with each listing or on the linked page
dedicated to that item. When ordering using PayPal, please
include the description & the S&H fee in the total amount.
NOTE: if overpayment is made on the
shipping fees, I will refund any amount over $1.00
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
INFO - PLEASE
READ!
....................................................................................
Items shipped by USPS
do not include insurance! USPS charges extra for insurance and if
desired, it must be requested. Items shipped uninsured are at the buyers risk. You can calculate the
insurance cost here: http://postcalc.usps.gov/
Inquire for orders to
be shipped outside the USA.
How I pack most items for safe transit:
First, if I'm shipping a radio or any item with a chassis, make
sure the insides are properly secured, I never ship with loose or
missing screws or bolts, then...............
Appropriate first box: I find an appropriate sized box for
the radio to fit loosely in, then float the set face down in this
box with crumpled news print or some kind of soft packing material
such as bubble wrap, that will absorb shock when the set is dropped
or tossed (and believe me it will be during shipping). I maintain at
least an area of 1 1/2 - 2 inches of packing on all sides. mark the
box so you know where to face of the radio is. IMPORTANT!
when using newsprint, take single sheets and crumple loosely, using
multiple sheets will be too hard and will not be very shock
absorbent, likewise, when using bubble wrap, wrap loosely, not
tight.
Second box: Now I find another box and float the first box
(face down) inside with a minimum of 2" of loose packing material on
all sides such as Styrofoam peanuts or crumpled news print. News
print crumpled to the tennis ball size is great packing material as
it absorbs impact real well as long as you use single sheets. Do not
use bubble wrap here, as this seems a good way to pack but it
transfers the force of an impact to the internal box. The idea is to
have plenty of give so an impact will be absorbed by the packing
material.
Note: If the set is large or heavy, I usually use a double
walled heavy duty box for the outer box. I will often use glue to
make sure the flaps are secure and double tape the corners so that
an impact will not burst the box. The idea of the outer box is to
protect the inner box from damage, if the radio is packed properly
in the inner box, it could be shipped in that box alone, that is if
it were not dropped or thrown. If you pack the radio as recommended,
the outer box can be severely damaged and the radio will survive.
The point of all this is simple: I spend a considerable amount of
money for the material I use, little of it is free (with the exception
of an occasional cardboard box) plus the expense of the UPS fees over
and above the documented shipping cost (they charge to come and pick
this stuff up) and if you go to their place you pay additional to use
their counter service or their authorized shipping locations.
I don't try and recover the time I spend packing things (I will often
spend an entire morning packing a particular item just right), but I
do quote a small amount over the actual shipping cost in an attempt to
recover the cost and expense of the materials used and the additional
charges imposed by UPS for pick up. It is not possible to break down
the cost of each item, so I base it on the size, weight and type of
item. It's hard to be right on the money because it has to be
calculated before packing, the boxes and material adds about 4 lb. to
the average small item and up to 20 pounds or more on large heavy
items. Sometimes it cost me more than the quoted price. The following
is a guide of what I charge over the actual postage or shipping rate:
Packing/Handling Fees
(plus UPS, FedEx or postage cost to these fees)
Priority Mail items under 2 lbs
Mail items under 2 lbs (non Priority)
Small items, 2 - 3 lbs
Small items to 5 lbs
Items ....to 20 lbs
Items.... to 40 lbs
Over 40 lbs
TV's (over 30 lb) and *Console
Radios add |
<$1.50
$2.50
$3.00
$4.00
$7.00
$10.00
$20.00
$30.00 |
PLEASE NOTE, many of my items
(and most all paper items & small things) have a fixed amount posted
on the page where the item is posted. Be sure and look for this before
doing your own calculations.
NOTE for items shipped outside the USA: for customs
declaration, due to potential and experienced problems, I must declare
the actual purchased value. Please do not ask me to send as a "gift"
or declare a value lower than the purchase price.
* Most console items are too large to ship FedEx and will be packaged
and shipped by a professional packaging company. Since all console
items require special or large cartons, these always involve a large
amount of time and energy for me to locate the right size container
and I will charge a fair fee to pack these items if they are within
the UPS prescribed size limits. If the item is packaged and shipped by
the professional packing company you will pay only what they charge.
I use
for
most items (over 4 pounds) and USPS "Priority" on most lighter weight
items, depending on value, size etc.
Large console items too large for
are
packaged and shipped via a professional company in Portland, OR. Their
fees are not cheap but they do a fantastic job. I have shipped over 20
console radios within the last year with 100% safe arrival. These fees
vary with size and weight and have ranged between $125.00 to $350.00.
So be sure and consider these fees before falling in love with that
large console.
Shipping Costs &
Tracking
My zip code is: 98607
FedEx calculator, click here:
Be sure to consider the package size, figure at least 3" on all sides
of the measurements.
(OS) means oversized and will be figured at the 30# weight.
US Postal Service
shipping calculator, go to:
USPS rate
calculator
Some items (even though light weight) may require packing that exceeds
certain dimensions, in these cases FedEx charges extra if the combined
length and girth are more than 84". Many radios that exceed 22" in
length will be "oversized" when double boxed.
I hope the above answers any questions you may have about my
"packing/shipping" fees.
When inquiring on packing/shipping cost, please provide me with your
country, city and postal code. |