posted on September 8, 2004 08:03:27 AM
Can someone explain to me why people won't ship to Alaska or Hawaii? Their auctions say Lower 48 only. Or even FPO or APO addresses. Yes you have to fill out a paper but they aren't more expensive.
I ship international, anywhere, and I live on the East coast. I can understand people limiting themselves to US only if they want but why do they not want to ship to HI or Alaska?
posted on September 8, 2004 08:24:56 AM
Hi Helga,
I do ship to HI and AK but the shipping is higher. For most of my auctions I normally ship FedEX because it is cheaper than USPS Priority on packages exceeding 3 lbs.
Had an Alaskan buyer win an auction last night without reading my TOS. Fixed shipping on the item was $9.00 (FEDEX) to the lower 48, but to FedEx it to AK will cost him $35! Even USPS will cost him $16. My TOS states that buyers outside of the 48 should contact me for a shipping quote. He did not ask before bidding and I am still waiting to hear back from him.
I suspect he is a little PO'd about now, but I have a TOS for a reason.
As for your argument that shipping to AK is not higher, that is not always valid, especially on larger items. This is a large 8 lb package. I can ship USPS Priority from FL to CA for $9.00. But it costs $16 to ship to AK.
BTW, if this does ship, it will be going to the North Pole, AK. Wonder if Santa is going to be mad at me because I won't eat the shipping costs!
posted on September 8, 2004 08:26:15 AM
Helga: Beats me! And what's this about filling out a paper?? I ship to Alaska, Hawaii, and APO addresses all the time, no problem, no paper, no extra work. Hard to understand, but maybe someone will come in here and tell us.
posted on September 8, 2004 09:12:03 AM
I didn't realize that it was that much more through Fed Ex but is it a lot more through the regular post office?
If someone wants the item and wants to pay the postage I'm not sure why it matters, you know?
The filling out the paper form thing is for APO addresses, to say what the item is. It's like filling out an insurance slip. Doesnt' take that much more time I don't think.
posted on September 8, 2004 09:13:44 AM
If one ships via the USPS, then AK & HI are NO problemo!
HOWEVER, if one ships via UPS or FEDEX GROUND only, then ye canna get there from here!
& YES, there is NO extra paperwork for AK & HI!
HOWEVER, for APO/FPO, there IS the approipriate CUSTOMS FORMS, and, since the USPS will NOT do DC to those addresses, they ain't a gonna be covered by PayPal's SPP
posted on September 8, 2004 09:19:34 AM
FedEx Ground is available to Hawaii. The price on an item I shipped recently was not much more than Priority and the delivery time was one day longer. They may be a better option on some of the heavier items (from Calif, anyway) but I haven't really checked it out all the way.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on September 8, 2004 09:26:08 AM
I can ship out of Alaska UPS and FED-EX Ground and it's usually close to the same price as USPS. I almost always use USPS for shipping though.
I'm pretty limited to what I can sell though because I try to keep it light - under 3- 4lbs. Over 4lbs and shipping costs start getting a bit over the top.
When I was at my Dad's in Texas for 3 weeks this past winter I sold some things for him and was astonished at the savings in shipping costs. Big difference on heavier items.
posted on September 8, 2004 09:35:26 AM
I use USPS for shipping my stuff out (most of it is under 4 pounds) and have started putting in that I DO ship to AK and HI. I have had a couple of people thank me for putting that in because it is quite common for people not to ship there. I use the shipping calculator from ebay so they know how much it is going to be even before they bid. The only time I get nervous is in the winter. I make sure and tell the buyer in AK that it could take forever for it to get there. I had one package take over a month last December. It kept getting bumped for higher priority mail, according to my postmaster. Oh well, the buyer was very understanding, they just had Christmas in January.
Kevin (Not enough coffee yet!)
posted on September 8, 2004 09:43:15 AM
Just heard from the guy in AK. I guess Santa is still coming this year. Buyer asked me to ship the package to his mother in MN instead.
That saves him $10 in postage and even more in having to turn around and ship to his Mom.
Those prayers for peaceful conflict resolution are still working!
[ edited by ltray on Sep 8, 2004 09:44 AM ]
posted on September 8, 2004 12:45:44 PM
They put the disclaimer, so they can add extra shipping costs to those locations, which is sometimes justified. Not that they are always refusing to mail to those locations.
posted on September 8, 2004 02:12:33 PM
Sometimes I run ads with SET postage rates. Fixed if you will. Then some guy in Alaska OR Hawaii bids and throws everything out o' whack. Sooooo,,,,,instead of just saying lower 48 only,,,,,,,spell it out,,,NO AK or HI. Once I screwed up and said Continental U.S. ONLY.......Well Alaska in on the SAME continent he says! O.k. so I messed up. I got smarter.
Cause one day I woke up to the idea of FIXED shipping. From Cal. to Bangor, Maine and all stops in between. (all that entering the measuring and weighing and zip codes and and and)Same rate. Now SOMETIMES we fixed rate people get LUCKY and the guy lives RIGHT down the street.
Then,,of course that guy es,,,,,But, but, but, I am ONLY down the street!.We could come and pick it up! NO YOU CAN'T!..I don't care. $19.99 s/h.....period!
Well we won't be bidding on ANYMORE of your STUFF!!!!(like they were going to buy something else from me, nothing else is EVER going to be of interest to them that I sell a unique one time shot thing...)
Please visit www.pomonaswapmeet.comThe BIGGEST HOT ROD, Beer and Babes, Car Show swapmeet on the WEST Coast. Don't be L7, that's a Square. hahahaha
posted on September 8, 2004 09:07:05 PM
I ship to HI and AK via USPS, no problems except for the items too large for USPS. Then I state specifically that this cannot ship out of the continental USA. The good thing is, I don't have many items too large for USPS.
posted on September 10, 2004 02:47:22 AM
Good morning!
I was born in AK. I lived in Hawaii for 8 years. People who live in these states realize shipping costs will be higher for them. This will not come as a surprise.
posted on September 10, 2004 09:04:15 AM
I shipped a package to North Pole AK once by Fedex Home Delivery (Fedex Ground) It only took 3 days to get there from WI.
Fedex Ground delivers anywhere in the USA, not just the lower 48 states like UPS ground.
(including Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico (but require customs paperwork to PR)
I never shipped anything by Fedex to HI though because it is a lot higher than priority mail.
