$375USD to ship a converter ???

[andrewdisco]

I just deposited the money in Yanks account to have them ship me a stall converter (from Nevada to Melbourne) and they have replied to tell me the shipping cost has gone up from $275 to $375USD to ship it via UPS... does this sound right ???

thats like $500AUD for shipping... I could almost fly the bloody thing over and give it a seat on a plane for that ???

(thats $375USD for the shipping not for the converter).

[APCLB]

I assume thats by air?UPS is a rip off,if time is not an issue go surface.1-2 mnths & alot cheaper.
I dont think USPS will take that sort of weight,though,it would be the way to go if you want air mail.Bite the bullet & go surface.

[BlueVZSS]

Have you tried USPS by surface mail? It might be cheaper to post it.

[andrewdisco]

thanks guys, the dude refuses to send it visa USPS as he reckons they've lost them before and only trusts UPS. I've gone back and asked for it to be shipped UPS Ground mail.... (if they have it).

Considering the shipping cost is almost as much as the stally i reckon it would be worth the gamble to sent it USPS personally!

[BlueVZSS]

No risk in my experience. They have never lost anything sent to me but they can be bloody slow.

[HSV SV99]

Mate They Are Charging Way Too Much If That Is Just Postage I Had A Price To Send A Detroit Locker 9 Inch Centre Over Here And It Came To $125 Us And That Was Air Freight If You Know Some One Over There They Could Send It To You Via US mail shipping For Around $60 Us, My Mate Lives In Florida And Posts Stuff Here All The Time A Box That Weighs Anound 10 Kilos And Is Around The Size Of Two Cartons Of Beer Costs Him Around $60 US by boat

[Wonky]

Definitely agree with using US Postal Service (USPS). Have been having stuff sent over from the US for about 8 years now (on average probably 3 or 4 times per year) and never had a problem with them. Currently waiting on 2 pr of high flow cats by sea (surface) which is much cheaper than air for big and/or heavy items if you don't mind waiting an extra 5 weeks or so.

No problems with them losing it as insurance is very cheap (from memory about $US4 for $US380 on the cats) and in all that time I've never had anything get lost anyway.

Another problem I've run into when a few things were sent to me via the mongrel scumbags at DHL (and I assume UPS is the same) is that because they have their own big processing areas (warehouses?) here they seem to be closely tied to Australian Customs and hit you big time with customs and inspection fees. Got badly burned a couple of times that way (admittedly on vitamins and antioxidants, not car parts but I suspect car parts are even worse) but have never copped any such charges with USPS.

[OzJavelin]

I purchased two rear qtr patch panels for my '74 Javelin and had them shipped over .. the company INSISTED on shipping UPS Air. Well they showed up fine about a week later at a cost of about US$190!! The parts themselves only cost about that and I still haven't installed them 2months later .. so I could have easily waited for surface mail!!

[Tez82]

Yeah when I have dealed with Yank in the past its costs a fortune for shipment, quote you have given were what they gave me. Rip off for sure, they know their convertors are cheaper than our locally made ones etc. Just get a friend over there to pick up convertor u want and to send you the convertor direct :p

Tez

[VX-300]

If you know the weight of the package you can go to USPS website and calculate the exact postage cost, by air and by surface and make a decision.
Air will take about a week.
The last thing I got by USPS surface (4 to 6 weeks) took 12 weeks.
35 pounds (16kg) cost $US63.

Another thing is that items I've received by USPS have not been slugged with Customs duty and GST....whereas UPS and DHL etc always seem to attract both.

[Avalanche]

I have seen in some catalogues that u allow 40% of cost for air freight & 20% surface. I had some quad bike bash plates sent over. They took 12 weeks & cost about 60$US to send. West coast of US is cheaper than East coast as well from my dealings.

[andrewdisco]

the converter is $475US and the shipping is $375US... pretty crazy... he said UPS don't ship via surface either aparently... so I've gone back begging for USPS for the 3rd time (3-5 days for $100US with insurance) saying that i'll cover him for any out of pocket expenses...

I don't think i can pay $375 for shipping just on principle... and i don't even have any principles! :p

[CLUB_819]

YEAH that sounds pretty steep, So is there anyway in aus that has the stally for less than $1100 au. Cause by the time you go from us - au sometimes not worth it.

Cheers
Scotty

[rhoads56]

i import between two and four packages a fortnight from the USA.

$375 sounds reasonable, as its an excessively heavy object, and going by air.

USPS is CRAP. I have lost many many packages through them. UPS and Fedex is better, DHL is the best.

The reason one of the other posters got charged customs via DHL, is because they are a courier, not a postal service, and couriers have (well, did have until recently) different value limits before customs duties were enforced. Blame the government not the messenger.

[BYE911]

What is the actual gross weight and dimesions of the package.
I currently bring in 5 or 6 items a week using UPS Express Service with no problems too date.
Give me the above information and I can give you some idea of what I would pay for bringing it in.
Also ask your supplier to put on their invoice "Made in the USA from originating material" as this may help you in the duty amount you may have to pay.

[andrewdisco]

how heavy is a stally ? it would be less than 10kg wouldnt it ? i was thinking 11x11x8 inches and about 20 pound ?

i would hardly say $375US is reasonable... maybe it's in line with other courier pricing... but that's still not the word i would use to describe it...

what would you recommend then ? DHL surface ?

I'd like to keep it within $1000 if possible to avoid the customs hassle as well...

is the shipping amount taken into account for the value of the goods as far as customs are concerned ?

[nickh]

dont feel bad it works both ways.. I had a HSV Coupe bar sent to the USA and the cost was $1450 air frieght. Sea freight was lucky to be 100 cheaper..

I was genuinely shocked at the price given a rang 4 air frieght forwarders and costs varied widely from $1200 by sea to $1750 ..

What can you do..the funny thing is if i was to send a 44 foot container it would cost me around $3800-4400 landed..

Now if we only had someone over there to look after such a large shipment of items.

[BYE911]

My cost for 10Kgs would be AUD 193.00 (USD 143.00) plus fuel surcharge and other smaller charges, all up AUD 95.00 max, plus any duty payable.
Global Express Mail(EMS) around 5 days is USD 117.45 plus any duty payable.
Hope this is of some help.

[HSV SV99]

YEAH that sounds pretty steep, So is there anyway in aus that has the stally for less than $1100 au. Cause by the time you go from us - au sometimes not worth it.

Cheers
Scotty
Hey scotty i just ordered my 3500 lockup yesterday from the converter shop in brisbane it's costing me $860 i was going to get a yank but i've used convertershop converters before in my other cars and they were awesome best thing is i want the stall speed changed higher or lower they said just bring it back in and they will change it for bugger all.
Also if something should go wrong with it, it's great to know they're just around the corner.
keep your money in Aus man we've got some awesme company's here too that produce a great product. anyway i'm picking mine up tomorrow and installing friday so i'll let ya know how it goes