Outrageous International Shipping Prices !!!

Baracuda · 05-23-08, 11:25

I must say i am very very dissapointed with Autogeek's shipping policy.

When i first saw this site i was very happy about the structure, products and general info.
So after i've read alot and figured out what i wanted it was time to place an order :

I must admit on the first order i got carried away and made a ~1000$ of products. I launched my order and then the shipping quote came : 470$ !!!

When i asked why i was told that the porter cable neede to be sent via FEDEX. I said ok, what if we take the porter cable out and do the order without it. Again...i was told that orders larger than 200$ must go via FEDEX. (Nothing about this on the shipping section of the website tho). Canceled the order and got the products from another source

Once again i needed some stuff today and keeping in mind that 200$ is the limit i started making a list. Nothing heavy and nothing expensive or electronic. Just PC pads and some low end waxes that i wanted to try. Total order ~ 190$. I received a shiping quote for that order : 240$ ONLY THE SHIPPING !!!!

So ? What's wrong with this ? You guys just don't want to ship internationaly ? Are you trying to protect your resellers from europe ? (Resellers that have almost double prices ? ) Why can't autogeek just send like 99% of websites by USPS. What is so important about some foam pads and 20$ waxes that they need to be sent by FEDEX ?

budman3 · 05-23-08, 11:39

Were your shipping quotes right when placed the order, which were estimates? Or after your order was weighed and calculated and then the actual quote was sent to you?

Baracuda · 05-23-08, 11:45

It does not work that way

First you make the order and checkout and they reserve the cash from your paypal account. After that they send the shipping quote. If you cancel, your cash will be on hold for ~2days and you won't be able to use it.

Matt@Autogeek · 05-23-08, 12:54

Sorry, but we can't give ship rate quotes unless an order is placed first. If we gave ship rate quotes to everyone who asked, we'd be doing it all day.

With that being said, I explained to you several times that we will only ship Porter Cables for INSURANCE purposes. We are not making money on shipping to you, and USPS isn't going to be much less. You live in Romania which is not exactly a hop skip and a jump away. If you go on any shipping company's website to see what the shipping cost would be for a package that heavy, you'll see that we're actually getting you a pretty good deal.

I don't know what more to tell you other than it's our policy to ship buffers / other expensive objects via FedEx for insurance purposes, to protect both parties.

Holden_C04 · 05-23-08, 03:19

Perhaps you could institute a shipping calculator? That would save a bit of time.

Baracuda · 05-23-08, 03:58

Yes, you explained to me that the porter cable needs to go by fedex. I understood that part and i told you that i will make another order WITHOUT it. AND THEN you told me that even if i do that it will still be shipped by FEDEX because it was OVER 200$ in value.

Do you call buffer pads and 20$ waxes expensive stuff ? How about the order that i did today and it was only 190$ and you asked 240$ to ship it !!! 240$ ONLY shipment for some stupid pads and some other cheap stuff ? There was nothing in that package above 30$, no electronics, no heavy stuff

Why not state on the website "WE SHIP BY FEDEX, if you want a 20$ wax it will cost you another 80$ to ship it"

Please explain to me what was so important in the order (Picture attached) that it needed to be sent/insured by fedex ?

USPS charges ~240$ on a 60 pound package from US to Romania, so please don't compare USPS with FEDEX.

bwalker25 · 05-23-08, 04:43

the high prices might have something to do with customs charges.....

jason@autogeek · 05-23-08, 04:49

From what I can there was some miscommunication, on this order in question yes it can go via usps and you will have a quote in the morning. As far as the first order with the pc, it is best if its shipped via fed ex. If anything goes wrong with the order specially an order of such a large amount fed ex or ups is much reliable to file a claim since its a door to door service.
I will have our international sales rep. email you in the morning to go over each of the orders.

superstring · 05-23-08, 05:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwalker25

the high prices might have something to do with customs charges.....

Customs fees (brokerage) are usually charged at the receiving end, so the final charge could be significantly more than the (initial) shipping charge.

That's why I never use UPS or FedEx, if I can possibly avoid it!

I live in Canada, so it's a slightly different situation, but I've always found Autogeek good people to deal with. I hear your frustration,Baracuda, but I hope you get it sorted.

jason@autogeek · 05-23-08, 05:21

[quote=superstring;1127847]Customs fees (brokerage) are usually charged at the receiving end, so the final charge could be significantly more than the (initial) shipping charge.

That's why I never use UPS or FedEx, if I can possibly avoid it!
[quote]

This is true specially when shipping to Canada. This is why all Canada orders are shipped via USPS unless the customers desires a different carrier. The only thing that its not so great its when things go wrong, a few weeks back I had a forum member orders a few supplies and was shipped via usps and it was held at customs for nearly 2 weeks and then it was lost.

Baracuda · 05-23-08, 05:53

Thank you for clearing that up Jason. But as i said before...i understood that since i PM'ed Matt and he told me that the PC can only be sent by FEDEX (I understand that is better for both parties and i have no problem with that) The part that i don't understand is why is there a need to send... let's say a 15$ galon of shampoo via fedex ? Where is the logic in that ?

Isn't it easier to post some simple rules for international shipping ? Say...all electronics and stuff that costs more than 99$/per item will be sent via FEDEX. Cheap stuff like gloves, entry waxes, pads, etc that are under 99$ will be sent via USPS.

Or do i have to post here each time i make an order so that i can pay normal USPS prices ?

It's just an example, but you get the ideea.

It's a shame that it has to come to this kind of discussions just to get a normal USPS shipping quote

CUSTOMS and other taxes are my problem. I was ONLY speaking about shipping

White_07_G6_GT · 05-23-08, 05:58

International shipping of any sort is extremely expensive because it has to be sent via air the most expensive way possible. You also run into a size issue not necessarily a weight issue. Sure you might only want some pads and a bottle of wax but but the pads and the bottle take up a large amount of space and that's what your paying for. I ship products all over the world everything I mean everything has gone up 50-80% in the past three years. 40ft Ocean containers or Fedex, UPS, DHL international it doesn't matter your paying fuel surcharge after fuel surcharge. last year I need to get some samples to one of my manufactures in France it worked out less expensive for me to buy a ticket fly to Paris meet the rep give him the sample and then fly home the next day rather than sending it UPS, FedEx or DHL.

Honestly the only thing I would suggest to you is to try buying product in Europe at least that way your not forced to ship via air. It's not the guys at autogeek's fault I wouldn't blame them.

Oh and USPS takes two weeks to get to Canada... I could only imagine how long it might take to get to you.