We
get a lot of inquiries on shipping out of the USA. It
used to be easy to figure it out. It no longer is. The
post office is economical and most of the time gets
the box there; but if there is a problem it can take a
month to find out and 6 months to get paid; if we do.
UPS is usually more expensive; but if something IS
lost we do get paid most of the time.
We
had countless shipments priced out in advance only to
find we were wrong; even been told incorrect prices by
UPS employees when we've tried to double check our
work. Now this has evolved into a lengthy process. We
can spend a GREAT deal of time trying to figure it out
only to have the customer change their
mind.
One
thing we are sorely lacking in is time. I have set up
a chart below as a GUIDE and you may go try to figure
it out with UPS yourself if you want. I will only say
that most of our Canadian orders cost at our end
$30-$60. What they do on your end is THEIR business.
Now with the new-to-2015 charging for size all of the
carriers use the previous "most orders are $45-$60" is
now "most orders are $45-$80"
So
here is the info; at least as of June 10th, 2018.
(subject to change at anytime without
notice)
to
CANADA
Because
so many of the parts we sell are now flat
IRREPLACEABLE; we do not use the postal system due to
previous loss problems. Safest way is "UPS" (United
Parcel Service); but that can result in high border
costs in addition to the shipping due to the fact that
Canada (like the US) makes private companies jump
through nonsense hoops to protect their postal system
from collapse. Check with UPS on the various border
costs.
Depending
on the item and the order there may be a charge for
the shipping container, and may be an increased
packing charge. These charges may or may not be listed
separately. On some orders for instance, we expend a
great deal of time custom making a box to save you the
extreme cost of freight (size matters too). We have
adopted this policy rather than tack costs on to every
hard to pack part, which isn't necessary on many
shipments and would tend to drive the overall total
price up.
Zones
are distance from Seattle
Zone
3 approx 200 miles
Zone
5 approx 700-1100 miles
Zone
7 approx 1300-3500 miles
This
chart is something we don't just arbitrarily use; if
the cost works out less; IT WILL BE LESS! It is hard
making ANY kind of a chart; there are just so many
variables.
This
is just for ground shipments. We do not use UPS Air
Services or Saturday delivery. It isn't worth having
the negative energy thrown back at ME when it doesn't
work.
Figured
to include packing or handling costs. If additional
charges are in play for packing we can advise you by
email. The current UPS fuel surcharge which is I think
about 6% (10% on air boxes) is also included. This
varies monthly. Typical shipments have a $16 packing
and processing charge to Canada; included in the
chart. Probably a dollar or two for the box itself;
sometimes more. We have found this works better for
people than raising all the prices to get rid of it.
The cost of processing and packing an order varies by
the shipment. Bigger boxes cost more.
If
we can find a way to lower what your order ends up we
will do it. It is what it is; and there is nothing we
can do about it but wonder why someone would order one
tiny thing at a time; multiple times; when the basic
cost for someone to walk it to your door doesn't
really go up that much on a bigger order.
Add
$3.20 if your postal code is on UPS' list of
"extended areas."
Add
$6 for signature card (some orders)
Add
$4 insurance if order is $100-$300 then 1.00 per $100
or part of $100 after $300
Add
$10
if the item is not in a box. (even if we put it in an
unbreakable plastic tube...)
Add
$15
if the address is not EXACTLY correct by UPS or Canada
Post's mind.
ALL
CARRIERS NOW ALSO CHARGES FOR THE
SIZE...
They
all charge "dimensional weight" on ALL ground packages
now. You take the 3 dimensions, multiply together and
divide by 139 to get the "weight" UPS will charge for
that size of box REGARDLESS of it's true weight.
UPS
has become extremely complicated with the ever
increasing number and severity of extra and many times
hidden fees that continues to make every shipper's
life a nightmare. We can only ESTIMATE charges. You
are welcome to set a maximum on any order you place,
if we cannot ship it for that price we will email you
and let you know we are cancelling the order. When we
started in 1976 the entire UPS shipping rates and
variances were on an easy to use 11x17 wall chart. Now
each year we get a new 180 page book, filled with tiny
print they hope you will not read with NO simple
"Highlights of Changes" page. Actually we don't even
get that anymore; now it is all online so it can be
changed daily with NO NOTICE to us not even the
important items like when they started charging to
return undeliverable or damaged boxes.
Be
sure to give your EXACT address. An inaccurate address
will usually result in the box being returned, or
delayed with a $15 charge added. This is generated
totally by UPS. If you give us "3304 Adams" when you
are actually at "3304 Adams St." or "3304 Adams Lane"
or you leave out a "W" , "SE" etc, or forget an
apartment number or suite number. If the address you
give is not totally correct UPS they will charge
this.
ALWAYS
EMAIL your address even if you give it by phone;then
everybody knows what is what. Emailing your order
gives you an exact record of what you ordered and the
address given.
If
a box is returned due to an address problem or no one
home UPS now charge to return the box to us as
well.
You
are also welcome to go to UPS.COM and try to figure
the basic costs and we can tell you what we would add
to this if you want. Basically the $16 pack/process
charge; $2-4 for a box; and if paid for with a charge
card add 4.5% as we can't pay UPS what they want if
your charge company is only going to give us 95% of
that so you can think you are saving 2% in phony "cash
back" schemes.
YOU
ARE RESPONSIBLE
if UPS or any carrier hits us with a charge after the
fact. If you do not agree with this
DO
NOT ORDER.
Shipping
Alternatives (Post Office)
The
post office is getting better in both the USA and
Canada; with some changes they could be great; but
they recently told us they don't even BEGIN looking
for 3 weeks when we tried to check on a lost air
shipment. Is that what you want to hear from us when
your parts are not there??? I think not.
Typically
having us mail something to Canada with tracking and
insurance is more expensive than the initial UPS
charges; but with seemingly no brokerage charges it
works out less. Whether or not the Post Office adds
any other charges is THEIR business; not ours.
WE
WILL NOT SHIP VIA THE POSTAL SYSTEM UNLESS THE TOTAL
IS PAID FOR WITH A US OR CANADIAN POSTAL MONEY
ORDER.
We'd
need some sort of waiver of our risk if you want it
mailed. Even using the safest way they have it still
involves a risk we don't want to take.
Something
along the lines of
I
_______________ agree to hold Rallye Enterprise Ltd;
its officers and employees harmless in the event that
auto parts that are shipped to me via the Postal
System(s) are lost, damaged, and or delayed. I agree
to absorb whatever loss their is in this transaction
regardless of who is at fault or the nature of the
loss."
ONLY
IF this is emailed to us we can mail the
item(s).
Either
way it's probably going to be $45-$55 for ONE pound on
our end whether the money is spent with UPS or spent
paying someone to stand in a line at the post office
with the people bedding down their sheep; people from
places with no vowels; and lately the people with no
spoken language; only grunts and whistling
sounds.
The
cost goes up slowly after the one pound point; and
with mailing; only the "Express" mailing has any hope
of anything close to legitimate tracking.
After
we receive the damage/loss waiver we will get a more
accurate determination on the delivery both by post
office and UPS; then will update you and the Canada
Shipments page on the website.
If
it works out to be less; it WILL be less.
We
understand that having to pay brokerage charges is
unpleasant; but we no longer will risk postal mailing
most orders of now no-longer-available parts. We do
mail shipments that are under $300 if and only if it
is paid for using a US Postal or Canadian money order;
and if we get a signed declaration that we will be
held harmless and totally without liability of ANY
kind if the box is lost, delayed or damaged for ANY
reason. We WILL "insure" the box; but that is no
guarantee OF ANYTHING. I use the quotes around
"insure" because there is no real insurance when it
comes to shipping with anyone. You MAY get paid
something equal to or less than the value of the parts
etc; or you MAY NOT. I could write a whole page on how
ALL of the carriers are sidestepping this issue.
FORTUNATELY at least with United Parcel Service pretty
rare.
UPS
pretends the insurance company they use is not owned
by them. Last time I had to tangle with them it was
and from what I saw the "separate" companies only job
was to say NO.
However
it is shipped; we are not responsible for duties,
taxes, fees, honorariums, extortions or anything else
that comes your way as a result of the transaction.
These fees seem to shift dramatically depending on
where you are and who you talk to. Some people tell me
there is not duty on old car parts; and we always add
the "code" or wording to the paperwork to "qualify";
whether or not it works is anyone's guess.
Both
postal systems could be FANTASTIC if they just changed
some methods and attitudes. I hope it happens
someday.
Shipping
to an Alternate Address
If
the order is shipped to an address inside Washington
state there is sales tax which varies from 8-10%
depending on location.
If
you want to ship to an address that is not the billing
address of your charge card; that address has to be
put in the Visa/MC/Discover merchant system as an
alternate "ship-to" address by your bank or card
provider. We cannot ship until they actually get this
done and it appears as such through Visa/MC/Discover's
online clearing system. Please don't blame us if they
don't. You have to make sure they actually do this;
some banks do it VERY slowly. If your billing address
is a PO box which is very common; having your physical
residence address may be quicker and easier than
adding a work address for instance. Only you know the
situation on which address is safer to ship possibly
IRREPLACEABLE parts to.
We
suggest only shipping to a SECURE address where
someone will be there to receive the box. Anything
else is at YOUR risk. If UPS says they delivered the
box they WILL NOT pay for it if it is lifted off of
your porch etc. We put signature cards on almost all
boxes now. You have to make sure they actually do
this; some banks do it VERY slowly. If your billing
address is a PO box which is very common; having your
physical residence address may be quicker and easier
than adding a work address for instance. Only you know
the situation on which address is safer to ship
possibly IRREPLACEABLE parts to.
If
we do ship to an alternate address; our responsiblity
for the undamaged and complete arrival of your parts
ends at THAT ADDRESS; the second UPS drops the box. We
check the stuff off here twice; weigh it and usually
photo-record it; and are not responsible for any items
that "go missing". This also applies to a mailbox
outfit or freight forwarder or apartment house even if
it is on another card as the primary address. Most of
such places are scrupulously honest; but it is a risk
we will no longer take.
We
will not send a replacement order (even if we have the
parts to do it) until the company at fault has PAID
us.
That
also brings up one last bit of fun.
ANY
CROSS BORDER
SHIPMENT:
In actuality I will take NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
COMPLETENESS OF ANY SHIPMENT or the timeliness of a
box THAT GOES ACROSS THE BORDER. These almost ALWAYS
are fine; but it IS possible the border will
"eat"something. Quite a few of our Canadian customers
have USA addresses just to buypass any customs
slowdowns.
And
again; this shipping stuff is all related to the
charge card companies fraud reduction and their
stand-on-the-merchant's-head policy if they don't care
to abide by it. If you want to send us a US Postal
Money Order we will gladly ship to a rowboat anchored
off of Iceland.
SHIPPING
IS UGLY AND I SEE NO WAY AROUND
IT.
IF
YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THE ABOVE GARBAGE AND
ADVISE US THAT YOU DO WE WILL NOT SHIP OUT OF THE
USA.
note
from Dann----the above is some of the most ridiculous,
monotonous, boring nonsense I have ever had to write.
Sometimes I wish I was still the guy with a roadster
(before "Rallye" in 1976 ) selling parts out of my
bedroom closet and helping people with their car work.
Such a nice simple life.
