A little rant about shipping charges from DSE
 

I'm just wondering if any of you have any gripes about the shipping charges charged by DSE. My most recent example is I purchased a headlight knob to match the one on the wiper motor switch which costs $18 When I finally recieved the total from DSE they charges me $13 for shipping. I mean come on really $13 to put the knob in an small envelope and mail it?

There just pushin your buttons :_paranoid

I alway's wait to order small part's until I have something else I am wanting or need that is larger so the small part or part's are shipped almost free.DSE has alway's been very fair when shipping me something.

is it DSE or the shipping company that sets the rates...just saying.

Try living in Canada and having something shipped across the line. I'm sure that $13 shipping charge would have cost me $20. I recently had some parts shipped to me in Canada. The vendor was shipping the parts in a USPS pre-set box where the shipping was $15 (or something like that) no matter what as long as it fit in the box. Shipped to Canada was more than double the cost.

Mike,

I don't know where you are in BC, but I live close to the border and have all my parts shipped to Can-Amer Frieght in Blaine, WA -- they charge $3 per shipment and it usually works out allot cheaper than shipping it into Canada.

Wow, that maybe sounds alittle much but not much you can do to control shipping costs as the price of fuel,etc continues to rise everyday. We recieved the inner fenderwells and fender struts for Paul's chevy II from DSE and we thought shipping wasn't too bad. Joe

Thanks Raj. I'm actually set up at Ship Happens in Sumas. I think they charge $4 a package. I usually make a parts run a couple times a year for that exact reason. It's amazing how as long as it's shipped within the US, a lot of places ship for free. The odd time I need to have something shipped to me at home, I just cringe waiting to see what the shipping costs are going to be. I agree though, the trip across the line is well worth it in savings.

That is not DSE, that is UPS or FEDEX. I just shipped a hydroboost unit to a guy literally 8 miles from the shop since he could not get here during business hours. It cost me $18 to ship it 8 miles and only costs me $25 to ship it to CA, figure that one out.

Basically the shipping companies have a flat rate to handle each box no matter how far they take it. Then they figure size in, which adds to the cost since your oversized box is taking away from smaller revenue boxes, etc. Throw in the stupid cost of fuel today, and yep, it cost $18 to ship a 2 ounce part across the country. I have had a number of items shipped from DSE, and pricing is not that different than anywhere else I have items shipped from.

But, if a company really wants to use their head, the flat rate boxes with USPS are a real bargain. Small one is $5.00 or so anywhere. A headlight or wiper switch knob surely would fit in one.

That's why I waited until I was at an event they were at and asked if they had one in the truck. I didn't want to pay the S&H.

To the OP, Detroit Speed is one of the best and most fair vendors you will find in this industry. They've been nothing but great to deal with in my experience, and I've ordered a large amount of parts for my car. If there was an issue, they took care of me within a day or two and got items to me very expeditiously at their expense.

true, but alot of companies will not use postal for the lack of tracking info

Yep, I knew someone was going to post that idea... I use the flat rate boxes too, but I sure as hell would not if I was a company shipping parts all day long.

How bout the boys downunder? Hate to get their bill!:wow:

Shipping prices suck. I would have no idea what rates are. One option is go to a good guys show and walk out with the part for no shipping.

If you don't like what they charge you ship it back and ask for a refund.

You can add delivery confirmation for a very small additional charge. Still far less than the amount the OP mentioned. I use it all the time. Not quite as detailed as UPS/Fedex tracking, but it is functional.

You beat me to it. It is $.70 extra. The only problem is that it just tells if it was delivered, no signer's signature, but then again, UPS doesn't seem to get a signature real often either when delivering to a residence.

As a business owner that ships about 50-60 UPS packages a day, I can add some insight. Shipping costs have gone up with UPS adding 'fuel surcharges'. However, maybe there might be a little mark up on freight to cover costs of boxes, tape, packaging material, the warehouse guy, etc. The kicker, and I suspect it has a lot to do in this case, is the residential surcharge. It is $2.50. The actual freight charges go thru the roof if you live in BFE. For example, Columbus, Ohio to a business in Cleveland, Ohio, 1lb package, $8.00. Same package shipped from my warehouse to a residence in Athens, Ohio, $12.00. Same distance, same package.

So in closing, if you live far away from the UPS hub, it is shipping to a residence, and DSE is putting a little on the top to help with shipping supplies, that number does not seem unreasonable.

Darren

shipping is expensive you probably could have ordered a few other parts and not paid any more for the shipping.
as for the post office, last time i checked they only drop off no pick up.

so look at it this way. This is from the Vendors position
Customer orders part,pick ticket printed, order is picked, packaged, paperwork done, UPS information entered, label printed, put on box, added to daily shipping, invoice created. payment received. 5:00 UPS shows up part gone, tracking number entered, customer emailed......... DONE
all that to make 3.00 no wait not 3.00 profit 3.00 mark up. Now if you had to pay the guy to get in his car drive to the post office (and who knows how far away it is......... just sayin) 15 minutes? wait in line10 minutes?? drive back 15 minutes?? @ 15.00 an hour and 4.00 a gallon for gas. Now there is a WHOLE different procedure of paperwork that needs to be done oh and the vendor probably doesnt have an account at USPS so he heeds to take cash with him. just so you are charged 8.00 instead of 13. cuz if you "Just Mail it there is no tracking # and then you will wonder where your part is and when it doesn't show up in 7 day your on the phone 800# no doubt asking where your Knob is and they say " We Mailed it 7 days ago" as per your instructions.

let me know if this is off base???

I use USPS hereoccasionally, but mainly for small overseas orders. 90% of the time we do not have an issue. I did have one recently where a hydroboost was lost, but I insure evrything so I am covered although it may take several months to get my money back. On domestic shipments I have one vendor use USPS and I use it for stuff that will fit in a flat rate envelope, but I have found FEDEX ground to be cheaper and just as fast in many instances

I just paid $13 for a $4 part to be shipped. Not a car part either, a special fitting for my koi pond filter. The closest local place to me with it would have cost me nearly that much in gas. I almost pulled the trigger on year one door panels the other night but shipping was insane like $65 so I backed off it. Sucks but it ain't just DSE I guess is my point.

Yeah, shipping charges suck. I just bought a fiberglass rear bumper from year one and with the discount code it came to just over $100 but the shipping was $85 because it was oversized... I really though twice about ordering it but I needed it so had to do it.

so if you don't ship it how are you going to get it??? is it cheaper to drive to DSE and pick it up?
what option do you have? go to your local parts store and order it......... guess what your probably still going to pay freight except now there are 2 people marking it up.

When we ship our Torque arms they are 125lb in a 12 x12 x 62 box too small to ship truck freight. just about to big for UPS but on average the shipping is between 80.00 and 170.00 depending on where it's going obviously. and like someone said earlier RESIDENTIAL is always more.

it is what it is.

yep just shipped some brakes to Auz and ths shipping was ................ wait for it

630.00!!!!

^^^^^^^^^^^^ I just crapped!



Seriously though --- the shipping is what it is.... and there are ALWAYS minimums. Like Blake said -- what else are you going to do - wait forever or just get it ordered, build the car... and chuck up sales taxes and shipping to the entire experience. I call it the hunting and the gathering.
:thumbsup:

Rant on his second post.....lol

The smaller the part the more you feel "screwed" on shipping..

Most of this is the shipper since the first ounce costs the most. So it might be $10 to ship a pound and $12 to ship two pounds.. that sort of deal.

And as gas goes up so does shipping costs.. plus you need to factor in things like the packaging and the labor to ship the part.. it all adds up.

But as was said, I try to bundle orders to get a better shipping value.

$630 Canadian? So that's like 43 bucks US, right??

:rofl:

And yea, shipping to Australia is crazy expensive..

If I had all my shipping costs back I spent building this car, I'd build another one. :rolleyes: Can't believe UPS or FED EX didn't send me a Christmas card last year.:lol:

Although it won't be helpful to everyone (especially those in Australia and Canada), if you are not in a rush, ordering items smaller than subframes and Quadralinks, and plan to attend an event that DSE is attending, you can purchase your items via telephone a few days prior to the event and ask them to place your parts on their truck headed to the event. DSE will have your parts waiting for you at no charge. I have done this several times and have already started making my list for the upcoming Good Guys event in Nashville in May. Saving on shipping can usually equate to a 20% or greater discount.

The Canadian dollar is stronger than the US Green Green back. We get great deals on parts from the US but get hosed on shipping charges. I ship to Montana then drive down and bring the parts across the boader myself this saves me some serious cash.

:rofl: :rofl:
Actually Steve its like 650.00 US you guys need to pull up ur socks!!!

I've found that I can save shipping by driving to the manufacturer and picking it up directly. No shipping charges at all that way.

jp

I completely agree with everything Blake posted.

Shipping is a mofo, and prepare yourself gents, its about to get worse as these gas prices continue to rise :mad:

Ain't that the truth...!:mad:

lol yea like EVERYTHING ELSE!!

Don't worry.. it's all part of the govt's plan to "fix" the economy.. lol

Pretty soon I'll be trading dollars for pesos.. :_paranoid

I had to do the double take this morning when filling up my WRX. $3.80 for premium :_paranoid