Why is Elite Keyboards shipping so much?

derzemel · 07 Apr 2016, 15:56

Can some one explain to me like I am retarded, why is the EK shipping so much?
I wanted to get 1 (one) 3USD keycap from them and the shipping option they gave me, from US to RO, is $16.3

FOR ONE F...G KEYCAP!!!!

Spikebolt · 07 Apr 2016, 15:59

I don't know, quotes from the US always amaze me. My local post office charges 14.50 euros to ship anything under 2kg to (almost) anywhere in the world. USPS seems to charge more than that for a single envelope.

jerue · 08 Apr 2016, 04:54

derzemel wrote: Can some one explain to me like I am retarded, why is the EK shipping so much?
I wanted to get 1 (one) 3USD keycap from them and the shipping option they gave me, from US to RO, is $16.3 FOR ONE F...G KEYCAP!!!!

Individuals could probably do a little better...that is if you're willing to forego any tracking (the customs number is half-baked).

The recent USPS price hikes don't help any, and basic INTL shipments like single keycaps and such were what really got jacked, almost double the price of what it used to be

derzemel · 08 Apr 2016, 08:56

the curios thing is the very big shipping differences is see for items sent with USPS to Europe.

For example:
The shipping for a Xwhatsit a breamspring controller, which is a larger item than a keycap, is only 6.75 USD to RO using USPS First Class Mail Intl / First Class Package Intl Service.

I wonder if it connected to the state the seller is located in

vivalarevolución · 09 Apr 2016, 22:32

Here is the USPS price list: http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm

The EK shipping rates are about standard for international shipping from the United States these days. A one-pound 8 oz. or less package is about $14. I am sure that EK is assuming that any small item is one pound, and they give you that rate of $16 to account for package materials, fees, and such.

International rates here are creeping up every few months, it seems.

webwit · 09 Apr 2016, 22:53

I once asked them why they didn't just mail one or two keycaps as a simple letter. (It was 5 years ago so a little bit cheaper)

...we decided to just limit the international shipping option for small items to a trackable flat rate service.

We charge $14.50 for it and it costs us between $13.25 to $13.75 (depending on country). Granted that international payments via PayPal cost us almost 4% once all fees are added in, we come out even on this shipping option. So please don't think we're raping people, we're just trying to eliminate "losing" these rare items in the mail or having nasty customers come back with some sad story or writing "EK stole my dollars" on some online forum.

scottc · 09 Apr 2016, 23:00

Wow, honestly, they said "please don't think we're raping people"? That's a shitty way to phrase it.

webwit · 09 Apr 2016, 23:04

Ah, don't blame them, Brian and me go back some time in mechanical keyboard land, we don't talk like seller vs customer.

fohat · 09 Apr 2016, 23:33

webwit wrote:
I once asked them why they didn't just mail one or two keycaps as a simple letter.

One part of the explanation is that the US Post Office defines "letters" as being flat, not rigid, and less than 3/4" (2cm for our anti-Imperialist friends) thick.

Otherwise, it is a "parcel" which has an entirely different set of guidelines. Until recently, a couple of plastic key caps in a bubble envelope weighing almost nothing went at the "letter" rate for only a few dollars.

I think that part of the problem is that "letters" now go through sorting machines that are like cylindrical rollers for processing, and so something that is likely to be crushed would be subject to the "parcel" rate with a much higher minimum.

webwit · 09 Apr 2016, 23:41

Nah before that they sent small stuff as a letter. It's about the tracking.

Alkhar · 10 Apr 2016, 13:20

Because shipping price are going up, an they ship with tracking as they say.
You want to pay less, well look at your regional keyboard enthusiast community and ask them if they want something from the shop, find 2-5 people and divide the shipping equally , if the shipping is tewnty five dollars well make them pay each five . No need to make complicated thing because hey he only take one caps. That is how we do it in our french community. And it goes well. Last buy it was for Unicomp and i think with 5 people it was a better deal than to make a purchase alone. Shipping price goes up in all country, and international shipping is not cheap. There is nothing we can do about, but we can find alternative to make it a better deal.

adhoc · 12 Apr 2016, 08:37

webwit wrote: I once asked them why they didn't just mail one or two keycaps as a simple letter. (It was 5 years ago so a little bit cheaper)

...we decided to just limit the international shipping option for small items to a trackable flat rate service.

We charge $14.50 for it and it costs us between $13.25 to $13.75 (depending on country). Granted that international payments via PayPal cost us almost 4% once all fees are added in, we come out even on this shipping option. So please don't think we're raping people, we're just trying to eliminate "losing" these rare items in the mail or having nasty customers come back with some sad story or writing "EK stole my dollars" on some online forum.

I'd still say there's some margin of profits included in the shipping.

vivalarevolución · 12 Apr 2016, 13:51

Consider the base cost of about $13 for any international package, fees, cost of packaging, the time to fill out a customs form, I think $16 is not too much to ask.

adhoc · 12 Apr 2016, 16:41

vivalarevolución wrote: Consider the base cost of about $13 for any international package, fees, cost of packaging, the time to fill out a customs form, I think $16 is not too much to ask.

Shipping is $58 for me. This is simply too much. I've bought plenty of stuff from other US stores or users and shipping was never nearly 60 dollars.

The problem is, that shipping costs are included in taxes and customs expense, so this shipping is basically another $50. Buying an HHKB from them, for example, costs me additional 108$ JUST because of shipping. Then there's additional taxes and import duties.

I paid that once, never again. It turned a $200 keyboard into a $400 one for me. Yeah...no thanks.

vivalarevolución · 12 Apr 2016, 17:04

Yea ouch. International shipping here has increased greatly, over the past year. Packages under 3 lbs. are about $33-$34, but they jump to $50 and above for most countries after that.

chuckdee · 12 Apr 2016, 17:24

derzemel wrote: Can some one explain to me like I am retarded, why is the EK shipping so much?
I wanted to get 1 (one) 3USD keycap from them and the shipping option they gave me, from US to RO, is $16.3 FOR ONE F...G KEYCAP!!!!

This question isn't meant in a snarky way, but I don't think anyone here is going to be able to speak to their shipping with any measure of knowledge. Why don't you ask them? If you don't complain, and don't ask, they'll never know. It might not change anything, but if they know it's affecting their bottom line, then perhaps it will.

Just a thought.

derzemel · 12 Apr 2016, 17:59

chuckdee wrote:
derzemel wrote: Can some one explain to me like I am retarded, why is the EK shipping so much?
I wanted to get 1 (one) 3USD keycap from them and the shipping option they gave me, from US to RO, is $16.3 FOR ONE F...G KEYCAP!!!!
This question isn't meant in a snarky way, but I don't think anyone here is going to be able to speak to their shipping with any measure of knowledge. Why don't you ask them? If you don't complain, and don't ask, they'll never know. It might not change anything, but if they know it's affecting their bottom line, then perhaps it will.

Just a thought.

I sent a mail to them, but I have not received any answer yet. I will post here what answer I will get.