What's up with international shipping on Kickstarter?!?

[Dice4Hire]

As a KS backer in faraway Japan, this is a big problem for me. I did my last DF order shipped to Japan ,and then looked at what I could have gotten if I lived in the USA, and it was a very depressing difference.

At least Japan does not sock me with many import fees, the second killer for KS, especially the Euro folks.

That said, people internationally should not blame the creators or KS so much, aim at the US congress, who runs the USPS. I'll stop there, no politics.

 

[GX.Sigma]

That said, people internationally should not blame the creators or KS so much, aim at the US congress, who runs the USPS. I'll stop there, no politics.

Why do these companies use the USPS? Even within the US, it's not exactly regarded as a model of efficiency (cost or otherwise).

 

[Morrus]

Why do these companies use the USPS? Even within the US, it's not exactly regarded as a model of efficiency (cost or otherwise).

It's not one specific shipping company. It's all shipping out of the US. It's the same problem whoever you use. Honest, we all thought of looking at other shipping options on account of doing this for a living and not all being compete idiots!

 

[doctorhook]

I really appreciate all the informed responses from everybody. I've got an economics background, so I really enjoy hearing the inside story on these sorts of things; it's just a shame that the prognosis isn't better. The real question now is what can I do to get the products I want at a reasonable price? Also, what can I do to help improve the situation?

It's bad, really bad. And we're feeling it.
I almost elected to disallow any shipments outside the US for the Tact-Tiles Kickstarter.
And given the number of accusations I've received that we are ripping people off on shipping, I almost wish I had.

I hope you didn't take my post as a shot at you or your Kickstarter! The Tact-Tiles thing may have inspired this post, and I'm certainly frustrated about the shipping rates, but I tried to be clear that I don't blame you (or any other KS creator). I'm still seriously considering dropping some money on those tiles of yours, shipping be damned, but damn.... I guess I'm holding out to see if things improve somehow.

 

[doctorhook]

It's not one specific shipping company. It's all shipping out of the US. It's the same problem whoever you use. Honest, we all thought of looking at other shipping options on account of doing this for a living and not all being compete idiots!

Is it the actual shipping cost, or is it fees/taxes/duties/levies/tariffs/whathaveyou?

 

[Morrus]

Is it the actual shipping cost, or is it fees/taxes/duties/levies/tariffs/whathaveyou?

The fact that it's peculiar to exporting across one particular country's borders indicates the latter. But I don't want to get into politics here.

 

[Crothian]

Is it the actual shipping cost, or is it fees/taxes/duties/levies/tariffs/whathaveyou?

Shipping costs. I shipped some books up to Toronto a couple months ago and I was shocked that it was almost $50 for a few books.

 

[MarkB]

This is true, but the same is true of everything else - printing costs, labour costs for anything the proposer isn't doing themselves (and living costs for them if they do!), manufacturing costs for any parts, etc etc. It's incumbent on those proposing a project to do their research and properly estimate how much it will really cost them to deliver.

I would hazard a guess that, even several months in advance, you can go to a printing company, ask them for a quotation for printing a set volume of a specified product, and be able to reasonably rely upon them sticking to that quoted price once you're at the manufacturing stage - especially if you gather a few competing quotes.

That's simply not an option when it comes to shipping charges.

 

[Morrus]

I would hazard a guess that, even several months in advance, you can go to a printing company, ask them for a quotation for printing a set volume of a specified product, and be able to reasonably rely upon them sticking to that quoted price once you're at the manufacturing stage - especially if you gather a few competing quotes.

That's simply not an option when it comes to shipping charges.

Yeah. You can negotiate with a printer. You can't negotiate with the postal services.

 

[delericho]

I would hazard a guess that, even several months in advance, you can go to a printing company, ask them for a quotation for printing a set volume of a specified product, and be able to reasonably rely upon them sticking to that quoted price once you're at the manufacturing stage - especially if you gather a few competing quotes.

That's simply not an option when it comes to shipping charges.

Yes. Morrus set me right on that one some pages up-thread.

Fortunately, I don't claim to be infallible.