8mm Forum: What is it with this highly inflated shipping form the UK?

This is topic What is it with this highly inflated shipping form the UK? in forum General Yak at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on August 21, 2019, 11:35 AM:

OK, I know that I have frequently "grumped" about the highly inflated shipping from the U.K.

But i do not think that I have had it actually explained as to why it is so way over the top. For instance, my often stated 200ft cartoon, that will have an 18 pound charge for shipping, when we all know that it will only cost approximately 7 or so pounds for a 600ft reel.

I just get the feeling that SOMEONE is making a heck of a lot of money on the backs of not only the buyers, but also the sellers as well.

I think a lot of this comes forth from these automatic shipping calculating programs and, as a general rule, sellers just going along with it, as they think that the automatic calculator programs give you an honest assessment as to what is to be charged.

Please note: I don't think that it is the sellers that are coming up with these rediculous shipping charges as, hey, they would be screwing themselves out of sales with the abnormally high shipping.

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on August 21, 2019, 12:37 PM:

A Castle Film catalogue the postage said £12 so its both ways.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on August 21, 2019, 02:50 PM:

I've just done a test using Royal Mail International Standard to World Zone 1 (USA) using a 400ft Marketing Film in its standard blue cardboard box in a padded bag. It weighed in at 347 grams.
Referring to the price list under Small Parcels, and up to 500 grams, the price came to GBP £9.10.

Posted by Mark Todd (Member # 96) on August 21, 2019, 05:08 PM:

Last time I got an online overseas price from RM online, when I went in to the actual PO it was a little higher there oddly.

I can`t remember the service.

Certainly Parcel Force through them is usually about twice the price compared to online, that is potty as sort of allied to them !!!

But listing now can be a going on and I`ve often found ebay have changed things in the listing themselves, post and offers wise etc.

Best Mark.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on August 22, 2019, 12:45 AM:

A lot of countries have inflated postal charges inc the the US. Often i have seen a film i would like to bid on (super 8) and often the shipping charge is four times what it would cost. Others are sensible. When i ship overseas, if my postage charge is a lot less than what i charged i refund the differences.

Posted by Paul Barker (Member # 4318) on August 22, 2019, 01:25 AM:

i use global shipping were possible. example not using global 16mm feature from usa £95. shipping £98.plus post office handling charge plus import duties. using global feature £95 postage £24 plus import fees £23.no further charges. yes all expensive but definately cheaper with global. choice on 16mm from usa is excellent. the importance of the film to you makes your mind up in what you are prepared to pay.

Posted by Terry Sills (Member # 3309) on August 22, 2019, 01:54 AM:

No one mentions that eBay/PayPal take a cut of the final sale price and includes the postage costs. So any honest seller quoting actual postage is losing out considerably. Disgraceful sharp practice by eBay in my opinion.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on August 22, 2019, 03:29 AM:

As Osi had not mentioned eBay or PayPal, I assumed he was referring to a direct sale from a British Forum member to himself. This is why I quoted the price above.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on August 22, 2019, 11:33 AM:

Terry is right about a cut, though, from what I understand, it is a slight cut, but still greedy, just the same.

Maurice, no, I was referring to ebay sales and not direct sales. Usually, if you are dealing with a friend, they'll tends to be flexible.

The only way to really find out what it will cost is to take the package actually down to the post, as, you can give measurements and such and still, the postage in person will be different and most often more expensive, which can be incredibly frustrating ...

But I do just like what our friend on here does (Tom), if the amount asked for in shipping, turns out to be more than what is required, i always paypal it back. Customers most definitely appreciate that, as there are a lot of sellers, ebay or otherwise, who will say, "10.00 dollars for shipping", and then, when you get the package, they're sent it by media mail and the package clearly says "3.50".

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on August 25, 2019, 04:26 PM:

While ebay does get collectors good cash for there films and other items, the whole ebay thing can be a con. £1 Max selling is a trading standards con as it doesnt mention the obvious that paypal still take there cut which on an expensive item could ve a few quid. I do laugh at some of the postage charges some people demand.

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on August 26, 2019, 02:50 AM:

I thought Ebay had sold paypal, I know it was talked about some time ago. If so that would put their charges separate and not involve trading standards in the way you suggested.

Posted by Mark Mander (Member # 340) on August 26, 2019, 04:05 AM:

I just sent a film to Spain and that cost the buyer £42.40,ridiculous amount but due to high prices films are getting then it's insuring them for the value of the item that puts the price up,Mark

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on August 27, 2019, 12:00 PM:

I do feel sorry for those collectors in Italy ...

If you're within Italy, it's not that bad, but if you want to buy a film from Italy, the shipping is far worse than from the U.K.

Another high shipping country is South Africa. When i bought those super 8 optical features from a fellow many years ago, the shipping was really high, but he said that i was really lucky to be having something sent to South Africa, instead of shipping to South Africa as many packages coming into South Afica tend to get, shall we say, "confiscated" [Frown]

[ August 28, 2019, 11:13 AM: Message edited by: Osi Osgood ]

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