The Cost of Shipping:

How Much? and Why

Our Policy on Shipping

We are all consumers when paying for shipping.   Regardless of buyer or seller status.  I would like to give you our policy on how shipping is charged on the products we sell. But please keep this in mind as well, If the shipper states that the package is to be delivered in a set time frame, like 6-10 days, and we ship promptly, and the shipper loses the parcel or weather causes a delay, that is not our fault.

USPS and UPS update their shipping fees at the beginning of each year. We have no control over what these shippers charge. When an item is listed we must give a dimension and a weight for that item.  The pre-packaged weight is used for customs information as well as the final package weight of the item.

We must add additional weight to the pre-shipped product to account for the packaging and item, box, bubble wrap, etc.  The shipping calculator then gives you a cost for shipping that item to your address.  We try to be as accurate as possible with the weights. Overpayment's are not intentional and if the customer has overpaid on the shipping charges we give a refund by Paypal if it exceeds what is reasonable less $1.00 for handling..    Combined shipping will automatically calculate for the weight of 2 items and if we don't have a destination to calculate before you pay it may cost more.  This is when most overpayments of shipping charges occur and we refund that portion back to the buyer, less $1.00 for handling, at the time of shipping.

Shipping is calculated in pounds.  Using USPS Priority Mail you have faster service than UPS Ground, but the cost may be more.  Even though we enter both pound and ounce weight, you, and I, are charged up to the next pound.  Example, 1LB 1 Ounce will be calculated at the rate for 2LBS.  The only time there may be an exact weight is on Customs forms.  UPS only allows for pound units listed.  So again, if the item is 4.2 LBS.  you will see 5LBS.  Dimension can also increase the parcel rate and both USPS and UPS use dimensional calculations.

When postage is purchased online from USPS some rates are discounted  from what we all pay at the Post Office.  The consumer who purchases a computer, pays for their internet service etc. is given a better price because when they present their parcels to Post the work is complete and it involves a drop-off, thus saving time for the clerk and the customer.  Large companies also may have discounted rates because of the volume of shipping.  We sometimes save on shipping through Internet postage discounts, but we are not large enough for significant discounts.

We choose to offer both USPS Priority shipping and UPS Ground.  You make your choice at checkout.  Our goal is to give a good product for the money and to treat our customers with care.