Mike's Arcade - Shipping Costs

[kpkube]

Why can't some of the vendors ship usps flat rate. Alot of items can fit in a flat rate box, and those you can get for free at USPS. They can also get other shipping boxes from USPS for free too. I send out DVD's and get DVD shipping boxes for free at USPS. Order online, they deliver right to you.

 

[Jedidentist]

Why can't some of the vendors ship usps flat rate. Alot of items can fit in a flat rate box, and those you can get for free at USPS. They can also get other shipping boxes from USPS for free too. I send out DVD's and get DVD shipping boxes for free at USPS. Order online, they deliver right to you.

Bob Roberts does. Small items are placed in the small $7.50 box or whatever and he charges an extra $1-2. Something bigger goes into the next size flat rate box. The tough items are the larger things like bezels and artwork. It's less expensive to go through UPS or Fedex on those.

 

[tyranix95]

Bob Roberts does. Small items are placed in the small $7.50 box or whatever and he charges an extra $1-2. ....

Yeah...but $7.50 is nuts when the part fits inside an one small envelope and can ship for a buck or two.

Heh, just try ordering a one small $00.10 cap. or a $2.00 fingerboard or a free plastic bag--with commercial shipping: The part is $7.50 shipped.

Costs like that make me buy parts in bulk. /

 

[Jedidentist]

Well, that's why you don't order from him until you get a enough stuff to place an order. If you only need one cap, there are other places to get them.

 

[WP34]

I ordered a repro Qbert bezel from Mike's Arcade last week. The cost on their website is $50 for the bezel and $41 for shipping. I mentioned in the "Items Wanted" section that I would post what the actual shipping costs were once the item was received, as others mentioned wondering about it as well.

Thanks for posting this. I need to order one of these and at least now I know what I am in for.

I just "lost" out on one on eBay that went for $162. It was listed as NOS but I believe it was actually a plexi repro.

 

[Braido]

Ray I know you both and like you both so I dont have a horse in this race.

I used the same info you gave and came up with a rate of $13.52 because you dont have a business address. If you did the rate would be what you posted. However Im not sure their little town in Utah even has Fedex. Its a very small town believe me!

Going by the USPS actualy charges of $22.02 plus an estimated $8 for a box and packing comes to $30. Some actual businesses (not collectors) charge a handling fee to cover overhead and personnel. Not sure if they figured that in. Consider it. I know may people frown on it but it happens in the pinball world all the time.

If youre a long time customer of Mikes Im sure he and Kim will work something out. Try calling them.

I do "overcharge" shipping refunds a lot. But I've never gone after anyone for undercharging if they live in the sticks or on the west coast. Which happens a lot.

I always apprecaite all of you guys shipping to me in the "Sticks" up here in Northern Canada. Darin, Rich, Anthony, Riptor etc... all have been good to me and worked with me due to high shipping costs, so have many of the regular KLOV members that don't have a "store".

 

[mhkohne]

If shipping things is a large part of your business, then you had best factor the employees into the prices somewhere, whether that's in the overhead (which you pay for from the markup on products), or as part of the shipping and handling, something has to pay that person's wages.

There's lots of ways to break up the costs and put them into the price - I don't think any one way is necessarily better than another.

 

[FrizzleFried]

Call me strange but I'd rather pay $50 for an item and have it shipped for $20 than pay $35 for an item and have it shipped for $35...

I dunno why. $70 is $70.

 

[amr]

I just came up with the craziest solution.

If you don't like the prices - don't buy from them.

 

[dezbaz]

Mike's once shipped me some molex pins, because they forgot to put it in the box with the plugs I ordered.

So they put the little bag in a little box, then they put the little box in a HUGE box (The size you would put a galaga PCB in for example)

They were paying the freight, so I am not complaining. But I thought it was strange, and concluded they must have bought a bulk amount of that size box maybe

 

[JC Arcade]

Think it would help if someone went to Mike with a list of people ready to buy the Qbert bezel if he could somehow give a break on shipping? Or from a business owner standpoint, would doing that open up another whole can of worms?

 

[darinjacobs]

Why can't some of the vendors ship usps flat rate. Alot of items can fit in a flat rate box, and those you can get for free at USPS. They can also get other shipping boxes from USPS for free too. I send out DVD's and get DVD shipping boxes for free at USPS. Order online, they deliver right to you.

Not a single flat rate box from USPS works with any of my side art, cpos, marquees, bezels. And when using a flat rate box Intl you cannot insure it. Stupid.

 

[Bellybuttons]

Also Flat Rate International is a bit expensive and can not exceed 4 lbs.
Flate rate in the USA is 70 lb weight limit.

Don't forget about 1st class mail
Very helpful when shipping 12 oz or less
Just add's some of time and creative packing

 

[delroy666]

I'm had good experiences so far when ordering from Mike's. At least they give you a shipping price upfront so there are no surprises, unlike some places who don't give you a total price including shipping until they charge your CC. (I'm looking at you, arcadeshop.) I had one order from Mike's where the shipping quote seemed way off. The online calculator was adding something like $10 to my $40 order of small parts when I added a tiny joystick e-clip to my cart. I called and they said they would refund the difference between the estimate and the actual cost when it shipped, and they did.

I always apprecaite all of you guys shipping to me in the "Sticks" up here in Northern Canada. Darin, Rich, Anthony, Riptor etc... all have been good to me and worked with me due to high shipping costs, so have many of the regular KLOV members that don't have a "store".

Yeah, it's a sometimes a nightmare trying to order stuff from north of the border. Many stores don't provide international shipping quotes online, some will only ship UPS or FedEx who charge ridiculous brokerage fees, and some just way overcharge for international shipping. I've also had very good dealings with such vendors and members here who will work with you to find a reasonable shipping option and don't mind spending the extra few minutes filling out the customs form.