shipping charges

[Curtis]

Why is it that taxidermy supply companies are the only ones that have to calculate shipping charges. I have always hated not knowing what shipping would be until a later time. Van Dykes just hit me with a shipping charge that was as much as the base i ordered. If i had known that i would of passed. It just seems odd to me that i can buy items all day long and have shipping calculated at checkout....except taxidermy.

[okhunter08]

X2. But it has a lot to do with the size of box and weight of your order, But I would think they would have the experience and have shipped enough to build a template of the shipping charges for all of there items.

[michael p.]

Why is it that taxidermy supply companies are the only ones that have to calculate shipping charges. I have always hated not knowing what shipping would be until a later time. Van Dykes just hit me with a shipping charge that was as much as the base i ordered. If i had known that i would of passed. It just seems odd to me that i can buy items all day long and have shipping calculated at checkout....except taxidermy.

Really, it's 'odd'... so a supply company knows what size order and sized boxes will be used before you order?  When you order from most other businesses they are not trying to cut up am elk form, bobcat, kudu and 25 pounds of critter clay and make it fit into one box, most companies you order from are shipping a pre packaged, pre weighed item which will come from a wholesaler.

You're funny, you're sitting here blaming the supply company for the cost of shipping but yet it never dawned on you that could have simply said 'please call me with a shipping total before you run my card and they would have'.

I guess it's just easier to blame the supply companies.

[Rudy Eppley]

Usually a shipping template takes a lot of work, and it can't have variables, which for instance out of 10 boxes with forms I cut down 9 of them to be completely snug, saved a couple bucks shipping but had no clue on what each box would be until it was on the scale.   

I think because of the nature of the products it just makes things more difficult, it could work better if you had a bunch of boxes for each type of form to make them fit perfectly, but then you have more money in boxes then you would in inventory.  Plus it would take one 25lb box of clay to mess it all up where you couldn't fit the forms in anymore.

Also with ups sometimes they charge extra fuel surcharges sometimes they just do the usual 2.50. Plus I do a download a day, it I'm not downloading ups rates today I guarantee it will be fedex's.  It would be incredibly hard to keep up with that.

Keep an eye next time your on Amazon, what it seems to me they do is just round to the nearest guess, and if there wrong they take some into there profit margin. But trust me that never happens, companies like amazon ship so many packages, there 1lb box to ship anywhere probably costs 5.00 where my 1 lb is 8.00 if your commercial and if you live beside ups. So when they pre determine shipping will be 8.95, there not really telling you everything.  They just are making money off of shipping like most other companies do, we don't our cost is your cost, so we can't pre determin.

But you can ask and we will call back like mp said, all the supply houses will do that for you. Or they should at least, I know we do.

[Curtis]

Where in my post did i say i was blaming the supply company. I actually never thought about calling and asking what the shipping would be, kinda feel stupid cause that will solve my problem.

[Cole]

Where in my post did i say i was blaming the supply company. I actually never thought about calling and asking what the shipping would be, kinda feel stupid cause that will solve my problem.

So, they are supposed to know shipping rates on every item in the catalog? What if someone wants clay and hide paste? This thread is dumb. There are literally tens of thousands of companies that figure freight after the order is packaged for shipping. That is standard practice.

[Old Fart]

With all the DIFFERENT things that can make up a taxidermy order, I can see where it's difficult to give a shipping cost until it's all packed and the box weight is determined.......However, I've noticed lately that "a taxidermy supply company" that we all use, has been leaving a lot of empty space in the box of my orders lately. Has anyone else noticed that?

[3bears]

I have been leaving a note to pack boxes tight since I read a post by Michael p suggesting it and it seems to be working for me. 3bears

[Curtis]

Where in my post did i say i was blaming the supply company. I actually never thought about calling and asking what the shipping would be, kinda feel stupid cause that will solve my problem.

So, they are supposed to know shipping rates on every item in the catalog? What if someone wants clay and hide paste? This thread is dumb. There are literally tens of thousands of companies that figure freight after the order is packaged for shipping. That is standard practice.

If this thread is dumb what does that make you for taking the time to post in it? What if someone wants clay and hide paste? I would think those two items would be easy to calculate shipping on?  I love how people are so defensive, argumentative and holier than thou on this site.

[franchi612]

the catalogs usually have a chart that gives a general idea of shipping charges based on weight. But stuff like forms can fall under oversize and will be more. You can also tell them to ship cheapest way, which is parcel post, but there is no tracking available with that option. I'd rather pay a couple dollars more and be able to track my packages. Another good way to estimate is 10-15% of your order total. I have no problems paying shipping. They can either charge for s&h or raise the prices on products, either way people will always complain!

[CrabCrazy]

just add it to the cost of your mount...shipping will increase in price every year....just the way it is now

[michael p.]

So, they are supposed to know shipping rates on every item in the catalog? What if someone wants clay and hide paste? This thread is dumb. There are literally tens of thousands of companies that figure freight after the order is packaged for shipping. That is standard practice. I love how people are so defensive, argumentative and holier than thou on this site.

Oh gawd, another one of 'those people'.  Look, this site is no different than any other, and at the end of the day it is up to YOU to CYA!

Order a bunch of stuff from JC Whitney and tell them to give you shipping right then and there....THEY DON'T! BUT you Imply it's only Taxidermy.

At the end of the day it's up to you to never assume..... ESPECIALLY ON A BASE!

Let's make it easier on you though, how much did the base cost, how big was it, what did it cost to ship, how much did you think it would cost?

[Cole]

Where in my post did i say i was blaming the supply company. I actually never thought about calling and asking what the shipping would be, kinda feel stupid cause that will solve my problem.

So, they are supposed to know shipping rates on every item in the catalog? What if someone wants clay and hide paste? This thread is dumb. There are literally tens of thousands of companies that figure freight after the order is packaged for shipping. That is standard practice.

If this thread is dumb what does that make you for taking the time to post in it? What if someone wants clay and hide paste? I would think those two items would be easy to calculate shipping on?  I love how people are so defensive, argumentative and holier than thou on this site.

Yep, this thread is dumb. Perhaps that makes me dumb, I don't know.

Why is it that taxidermy supply companies are the only ones that have to calculate shipping charges. This is a dumb statement, since obviously they are not the only companies that do this. I have always hated not knowing what shipping would be until a later time. VanDykes can have that info for you in less than a day, so complaining about it is dumb. Van Dykes just hit me with a shipping charge that was as much as the base i ordered. Ordering one item, and expecting that to be cost efficient when it comes to shipping is dumb. If i had known that i would of passed. It just seems odd to me that i can buy items all day long and have shipping calculated at checkout....except taxidermy. Comparing a raw materials supplier with random internet retail businesses is dumb. These are the reasons I found this thread to be dumb.

[Curtis]

Man, i still cant believe that shipping cost as much as the base did.

[R.J. Meyer II]

Curtis..............next time order a more expensive base and then you won't be able to beleive that the base was more than the shipping.................................................. if that would make you feel better