Here is a sellers shipping rates:

First Class USPS - I ship First Class USPS at a base price of $4.50(which also includes delivery confirmation)and $.50 for each addtional comic up to 30 comics 4.50 0.50


He has two other options but they are Canada and International, so they don't apply to me. I scrolled to make sure before I asked this question to make sure I didn't miss any other available options.

I put in 25 books and came up with a total of 16.50 shipping.

Here are my options that I have come up with

(a)Just look at it like it is .50 more than the sale price of the books which are a decent buy and just accept it.

(b)Pay the 16.50 shipping charges and ask if he will send it Priority. If I am not mistaken you can ship flat rate box for around 11.00. I don't know what it costs to send a package that big first class, but surely it wouldn't be more than priority.

(c)Avoid the store and just wait for the books to become available from another source.

I hate when I get in this dilemma. This store has never posted on here but has a very good rating. I just don't see it as being big order friendly.

How many books are you shipping? Not that it matters $.50 shipping seems a little bit much. I would wait and see if the books become available somewhere else for cheaper shipping. In a couple days my books should get here and i can start adding the rest of my collection to here. Maybe i have the books you want and my shipping is a flat rate.

I was in a similar situation the other day and posted about it...
http://www.comiccollectorlive.com/forum/default.aspx?g=posts&t=10584

That aside, you might try contacting the seller if you're not able to manipulate their shipping charges like I did. $16.50 is 100% unreasonable of anyone to ask you to pay for shipping books.

I'll also add that I think First Class can only go up to 13 oz. so I don't know how they plan on shipping 30 books to you via that method. Sounds like they might not know what they are doing...

I thought Pat had said that once before as well(the 13 oz. thing). I may be better off just waiting and seeing if they come available elsewhere. Like, we talked about in that thread it may be how they make up selling the comics at a cheaper rate. I am going to ponder this some more.

After 13 OZ First Class becomes Priority by default, but not flat rate Priority. Flat Rate requires specific packaging. I'd send them an email telling them how much you want to order and explain that you think $16.50 in postage is unreasonable since Flat Rate Priority Box only costs $9.30 w/delivery confirmation if printed on line. Ask if they can offer a better price. If they won't work with you then you have to decide how badly you want those books at this time. Personally I'd probably not buy just to teach them a lesson, but that's me.

What books are you looking at if you don't mind my asking?

They are the Marvel Adventures Spider-Man and Fantastic Four. Marketed for kids. I guess that is why there is such a short supply of them. Don't know any other reason.

Not anything I have to have now so perhaps best thing is just sit around and wait.

Still it can't hurt to drop them a line. I'm curious to see if they'll work with you or not. If you do contact them let us know the result.

Will do. Let me ponder on it for a day or two. Like I said he had a very high and good rating. I will find out. May even post this thread in my email to him. As you say never hurts to ask and the worst that happens is I dont get the books.

Agreed. Please keep us posted.

I would agree with Errant and CC.

Telling the seller you are interested in these comics, but that the cost of shipping is sort of a "deal breaker," and that you don't mind paying for shipping, plus maybe a buck or so for supplies, but that an additional $6 on top of the actual shipping charge is just more than you are willing to pay. The Flat Rate priority box sounds like a great way to go - The box itself is free form USPS.

Email was sent will see how it goes from there

Sounds to me like they are doing the tried and true method of trying to gouge the buyer with shipping. Seems to be going around on CCL these days; still happening on eBay too.
Sellers offer seemingly great deals on books and then stick you on shipping. I hate those shifty deceitful bastards.
-g-

Unfortunately, there are poeple out there that make a decent profit on shipping, alone. However, it's important to note that shipping is a tricky tricky thing to get accustomed too. This is especially true if you are new at the whole thing. When I started running the Official CCL Store, it took me awhile to figure out the best shipping methods for various situations. I'm sure I'll be tweaking our shipping, again, in the future. Weights, International, Priority, Standard, Insurance, Delivery Conf... the list goes on (and on). It can get pretty confusing for the novice.

I agree, if ever the shipping charge is questionable, the best thing to do would be to drop a note to the seller before going elsewhere. Whether they are still getting accustomed to shipping, or they are long time shippers wanting to make some extra dough - there's still a learning experience there.

Thanks for posting - it's an issue well worth addressing. :)

Morgan Bostedt
Site Relations

Update,


Seller was really nice and offered to work with me. As I stated before, he has a great store, with great prices. My only problem was the shipping wasnt big order friendly.

Thanks to the guys who pushed me to contact him.


Brett

ill say this i was just shopping at one of ccl stores and my tab was over 100.00 bucks but at check out i removed all the 30+ books due to outragous s+h so might want to look for your issues elsewhere

He is going to get me a quote on shipping for 25 books and we shall see how it goes from there. I dont want someone to lose money on shipping although many of the great stores here do if you order certain dollar amount of comics. I just want a fair deal on shipping. Honestly, I just want this to be the best place to buy books. Other than conventions this has became my goto place for back issues. I think if this store would fix his shipping prices he will move on up the charts in sales. Perhaps all his previous orders have been small and hasnt had to deal with this issue. I dont know. Will see his quote on shipping and go from there.

I have never tried it internationaly, but have used Grayhound when I bought a large lot of car books before & saved about 20%. It may have taken a little longer & I had to pick it up , but it was still a smooth deal with no problems.