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Showing 1 of 11 conversations about:
pnut
51
Mar 10, 2016
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talrnu
71
Mar 10, 2016
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pnutFrom what I can tell, the Chinese government pays shipping costs and brokers deals with shipping and mailing companies so their manufacturers can afford more aggressive export business policies. If you can find the same item at the same price in China, they want to make sure you're more likely to buy it from there.
The U.S. clearly doesn't provide the same service to its businesses. There are also a lot of customs and handling fees required to ship to Canada for items of this size. To stay afloat, U.S. businesses typically need to put that burden on the customer. If you can find a business that can afford to eat those additional costs, you'll likely also find their products have higher prices in general.
The U.S. clearly doesn't provide the same service to its businesses. There are also a lot of customs and handling fees required to ship to Canada for items of this size. To stay afloat, U.S. businesses typically need to put that burden on the customer. If you can find a business that can afford to eat those additional costs, you'll likely also find their products have higher prices in general.
MenaceR32
36
Mar 10, 2016
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pnutI would have to agree with you, this is the 3rd or 4th one that I was really excited about out until I saw the shipping costs. Compared to most of the items that MD rolls out this is going to be of the larger size and weight. It's not far off from the shipping costs from others US shops I have dealt with for items of this size/weight.
Paying $150 shipping on a $2000 to $3000 Gibson or Skervesen we would not bat an eye at. When it's for a $230 guitar that is an issue for sure, but just about any axe you buy will be virtually the same size/weight and shipping costs so these cheap ones you should have shipped to a US postal box.
I use USAddress where it's something like $5-10 for an item to get shipped to their location. Depends on size and weight. The shop is 2 minutes across the border. A lot of times I cross during off hours. The pick up in the US and cross back to Canada takes 20-30 minutes. Something to consider if you really want the guitar.
I have been doing cross border pick ups for over 6 years now and never ran into an issue.
Paying $150 shipping on a $2000 to $3000 Gibson or Skervesen we would not bat an eye at. When it's for a $230 guitar that is an issue for sure, but just about any axe you buy will be virtually the same size/weight and shipping costs so these cheap ones you should have shipped to a US postal box.
I use USAddress where it's something like $5-10 for an item to get shipped to their location. Depends on size and weight. The shop is 2 minutes across the border. A lot of times I cross during off hours. The pick up in the US and cross back to Canada takes 20-30 minutes. Something to consider if you really want the guitar.
I have been doing cross border pick ups for over 6 years now and never ran into an issue.
talrnu
71
Mar 10, 2016
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pnutA U.S. manufacturer can only compete with that by increasing the prices of their products. Presumably competition has already forced shipping companies to reduce their rates as low as they can afford to make them. Plus this isn't just a $230 item, it's also heavy, and a bit fragile, and sensitive to fluctuations in temperature and humidity likely encountered in storage and long-distance transit (especially across latitudes, i.e. between U.S. and Canada) - that means it's hopefully packaged in more elaborate structures and materials, an additional expense.
In order to get a guitar with this kind of discount at shipping costs you approve of in Canada, Massdrop would need to work with a manufacturer willing to ship from warehouses it already has in Canada, or else work out some kind of special (probably expensive) deal with various governments and shipping companies like eBay has with China and USPS.
The latter is probably a stretch right now, but the company's growing on a recent investment surge so with time you never know.
As for the former, if you can gather enough interest from your fellow Canadians to make a drop seem profitable (i.e. start a poll) then you could convince someone to set up a drop with a manufacturer willing to ship from within Canada. The power is yours.
In order to get a guitar with this kind of discount at shipping costs you approve of in Canada, Massdrop would need to work with a manufacturer willing to ship from warehouses it already has in Canada, or else work out some kind of special (probably expensive) deal with various governments and shipping companies like eBay has with China and USPS.
The latter is probably a stretch right now, but the company's growing on a recent investment surge so with time you never know.
As for the former, if you can gather enough interest from your fellow Canadians to make a drop seem profitable (i.e. start a poll) then you could convince someone to set up a drop with a manufacturer willing to ship from within Canada. The power is yours.
SenorPlatano
389
Mar 17, 2016
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pnutThat's the price you pay for maple syrup and socialized healthcare.
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It makes one think however is it possible I can get my hands on a $150 dollar replica guitar from China and have FREE SHIPPING. Not trying to compare quality here, it is just mind-boggling how it is possible that they can offer Free shipping from China and shipping an item from the US has to cost this much.
I wish Massdrop could offer multiple and / or cheaper alternatives for shipping items like guitars and alike.
Sorry for the rant, but this is like the 4th guitar in a row that I would definitely buy, if it weren't for the fact the shipping costs are more than 50% of its price and is is ticking me off big time.