Harry Epstein Hammer Sale
- Thread starter nahudson
- Start date
Super Sport
Well-known member
It's a shame HJE charges so much for shipping. It's a deal breaker unless you're looking at placing a large order.
vintagefan
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2012
- Messages
- 613
They don't charge "so much", they charge actual cost in my experience. Most other companies with cheaper shipping just pad their prices to cover it, fooling the customer into thinking they're getting cheaper shipping, when in reality, they're paying more for the item.
The only exception to that is large uber-companies like Amazon, that have so much clout that they can negotiate rock bottom rates from the providers.
IIRC, if contacted directly, HJE will make an effort to fit small items into flat rate envelopes, etc. so as to not beat up the customer too much.
The real blame here lies on UPS. The shipping costs are too high for small orders, period, so I certainly agree with you as far as that goes.
Super Sport
Well-known member
Well if they do charge actual shipping and not marked up shipping, they should be looking for a different carrier. I ship a lot of tools and use USPS, and my rates are easily less than half what they charge.
Can you give an example of this "Half" as you state in rates?
kwoody51
Well-known member
USPS small flat rate box = $5.
UPS box of similar size =~$9
Fed ex is about the same.
Fed ex and ups can't match the rates on small light items like USPS. Which makes sense given USPS first and primary business is letters and small(er) items.
I don't know many times I've needed a small $3 part that weighs 1oz or less only to have the shipping "calculator" tell me it'll be $9+ to ship it. Sometimes smaller companies will do you a solid and just drop it in an envolope. Larger companies typically can't or don't support this and thus you are forced to pad your order to offset the "standard" UPS rates.
Rant over...
UPS box of similar size =~$9
Fed ex is about the same.
Fed ex and ups can't match the rates on small light items like USPS. Which makes sense given USPS first and primary business is letters and small(er) items.
I don't know many times I've needed a small $3 part that weighs 1oz or less only to have the shipping "calculator" tell me it'll be $9+ to ship it. Sometimes smaller companies will do you a solid and just drop it in an envolope. Larger companies typically can't or don't support this and thus you are forced to pad your order to offset the "standard" UPS rates.
Rant over...
Last edited:
That's apples and oranges. Nice if if Epstein's can put every order in a USPS flat rate box but that is not the case.
I agree, FedEx and UPS is not cost effective for small stuff under. When you start getting into stuff over 3-4 pounds, USPS starts getting very pricey. I know with the recent USPS rate increase back in January, the old "Parcel Post" became "Parcel Select" and those rates went up considerably.
Not every business is structured to handle "smalls", then shift gears and pack/shift with another carrier like USPS that is more price sensitive for those items.
I think people have been spoiled by the internet age of shopping and shipping. There was a time when many businesses would have a "$25 minimum" or so for smalls because by the time they factored in labor costs to ship your $3 1oz item, they were losing money.
Last edited:
kc-steve
Well-known member
Tell me about it Hootbro. I have a lot of extra time on my hands so the time it takes to package up a small tool is a lot, but it's nothing since I'm not doing much anyway. If USPS ever stops delivery, and they might, then a whole bunch of people will be going out of business, including most eBay sellers.
Steve
Steve
Last edited:
I agree, today I bought 4 small drill bits. They charged $5 to ship. They could've fit into a regular envelope for $0.45 or whatever stamps are these days.
You want metal drill bits in a letter envelope? What was your shipped cost?
Jori and the gang are way too awesome to complain about. That's just my opinion. Without them, the internet would be sadder. I'll just contact him tomorrow and ask for some info on their approach to shipping.
kc-steve
Well-known member
Bull, I'm down there frequently and I recall a conversation with Jori and Steve concerning a 1/4" drive socket someone wanted to buy off my website, and they agreed with me that first class mail was only about $1.70 for such an item in a non-standard envelope.
Frankly though, I wouldn't send 4 drill bits in a standard envelope because they likely won't be in the envelope when it arrives. Going through those machines could cause a letter jam.
I would try using a reinforced non-standard envelope of some kind that will survive the trip with all the intended contents. Sometimes I tape items to cardboard backing. It would probably be around $2 for postage at the most though. The non-standard envelopes can be high, but not $5 so there probably is some other packing involved there.
First and foremost, I think legitimate sellers want the items to arrive safe and sound.
Steve
Frankly though, I wouldn't send 4 drill bits in a standard envelope because they likely won't be in the envelope when it arrives. Going through those machines could cause a letter jam.
I would try using a reinforced non-standard envelope of some kind that will survive the trip with all the intended contents. Sometimes I tape items to cardboard backing. It would probably be around $2 for postage at the most though. The non-standard envelopes can be high, but not $5 so there probably is some other packing involved there.
First and foremost, I think legitimate sellers want the items to arrive safe and sound.
Steve
Last edited:
No one has addressed the fact that the rates companies get, that ship such items, is heavily discounted compared to what any of us get...
So if a company's rates seem "actual" to "you" then they are probably inflated because "you" will never know the discounted lower rate they actually pay.
So if a company's rates seem "actual" to "you" then they are probably inflated because "you" will never know the discounted lower rate they actually pay.
kc-steve
Well-known member
That's why I think a lot of companies call it "Shipping and Handling," because part of the costs include the time it takes as well as the materials used. Best thing to do is compare overall prices of both shipping, handling and the item price. In other words the TOTAL cost when comparing competing companies.
Steve
Steve
Last edited:
+1
Quite a bit of armchair quarterbacking by people that have no clue on shipping costs by companies actually in the business of being in business.
Home based people that ship frequently on a more "hobbyist" scale have many factors they overlook that a normal business cannot. Many of these things are their time and materials that a normal business has to pass on. Base shipping rates do not tell the whole story.
Of course there is companies that truly do over inflate their shipping charges, but of all the tool companies out there, Epstein's is one of the more square businesses to deal with.
Automatic Slim
Well-known member
Not paying tax is a huge help that I often consider to offset shipping. However, you can bet your sweet *** that congress has been salivating on taxing the net.
I have ordered from epsteins and first class group all the way, and even talked to them on the phone - customer service is second to none.
I wonder how many hammers get fit in a flat rate box?
I have ordered from epsteins and first class group all the way, and even talked to them on the phone - customer service is second to none.
I wonder how many hammers get fit in a flat rate box?
Diffident
Well-known member
Another shipping option could be Fedex Smartpost, Fedex delivers the package to a USPS hub then the rest of the delivery is handled by the USPS. Shipping costs for packages I've recieved this way have been low. I would suppose there would be lower weight limit for this type of delivery.
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Thanks for the Heads Up.
woodrail
Well-known member
Yesterday, I need some 3/16" dia. steel. Probably 25 feet. Went to the local steel yard. What I needed cost about 5 bucks. But wait..... There is a $25 minimum charge! Now if I go to Lowes, its gonna cost me the $25 JUST for the steel (another topic).
So, I buy 3 times what I need and fill in the rest with steel drops at 75 cents a pound.
$25 dollars spent. Local bussiness supported.
Today, I just ordered 5 different hammers and a nail puller. This includes a 3 pound sledge. Shipped to Ohio was $53. Again, a small business supported. Is $14 too much shipping? Nope. Just cost of doing bussiness in different ways. Just like the $25 minimum.
So, I buy 3 times what I need and fill in the rest with steel drops at 75 cents a pound.
$25 dollars spent. Local bussiness supported.
Today, I just ordered 5 different hammers and a nail puller. This includes a 3 pound sledge. Shipped to Ohio was $53. Again, a small business supported. Is $14 too much shipping? Nope. Just cost of doing bussiness in different ways. Just like the $25 minimum.
kc-steve
Well-known member
Good point Woodrail. Let me add that if I drive downtown to HJE to buy those hammers you bought it would take $4 in gasoline and an hour of my time. So in that case my time is worth $10/hr. If you get paid more than $10/hr then it is better to ship it. In economics, it's called "opportunity costs."
People gotta figure these things out, ya know?
Steve
People gotta figure these things out, ya know?
Steve
SMKS
Well-known member
Big time +1 to this.
I dislike shipping costs as much as the next guy, but HE's rates have always been fair when I've looked at them. People need to understand that shipping stuff isn't cheap and not everything will fit in a $5 flat rate envelope.
And, I've shipped many hundreds of items sold here and on ebay, so I have a little experience with shipping.
HE's prices are quite low on many items. Even including their shipping cost, they beat a lot of places on price.
Last edited:
vintagefan
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2012
- Messages
- 613
I don't believe that. I'm not saying that you're being dishonest, but I don't think you're properly tuned in on the size of the packages that they're shipping.
They do offer USPS Priority for comparable rates (around $10), but once the package size exceeds medium flat rate, the price skyrockets, and that goes for anyone who uses that service.
That is why once the package exceeds mfrb size, generally UPS ground takes over. Unfortunately, UPS ground costs around $13-14 to start, and that's for a small package within a couple states distance.
Every time I've ordered from HJE, the shipping cost has been right in line with the size of the package that I've received from them. At most, it's $1-2 over, which is coincidentally the exact cost of packing materials for your average package, even when you are recycling some of your materials from incoming shipments.
Regarding another poster's comment about discounts, I worked at a company that shipped almost the exact amount that HJE does (around 20 packages a day give or take), and while their was a discount for having an account, it was not substantial. We're talking pennies on the dollar here.
Only very large, very high volume shippers get substantial discounts.
We ship over 50 packages a day and large packages each weighing 30-40 pounds. We spend a lot of money with UPS. We do get a discount and other benefits(free labels, printer, IT help). We fill over half a UPS truck daily. Our discount is nice but not Amazon pricing. When I compare to the advertised rate we are only 10-15% less than walking into a UPS store and paying full price.
Super Sport
Well-known member
I think I do know the size of the packages they ship when I have received packages from them. I also have shipped thousands of dollars worth of hand tools, so I know what it is like shipping hammers or a set of 3/4 sockets.
I've never seen them offer USPS rates, because everything I've order from them would easily fit in a medium flat rate for under $11, but I was still charged $19. Packing materials consisted of a modified used box and some packing paper, so I can't see much markup there.
Now I'm not saying that they aren't a top notch company to deal with, it's just that their shipping isn't very competitive.
What I have heard is that UPS and Fedex may negotiate a discount with volume shippers, but that might have all sorts of conditions like daily minimum shipping amount etc.
What seems weird to me is that I can buy stuff from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, etc for less than $2 including shipping. Same for some US shippers, like I just recently bought two 9v batteries from a US shipper for a total of $3.50 including shipping.
What seems weird to me is that I can buy stuff from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, etc for less than $2 including shipping. Same for some US shippers, like I just recently bought two 9v batteries from a US shipper for a total of $3.50 including shipping.
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
I've ordered from Zoro Tools a few times and they charge 5 bucks for UPS shipping, even though my items arrived in 2 packages (tools and aerosol spray)
dirtydogintex
Well-known member
Even though our Fedex air rates are ~50% of 'retail',
and have been for decades,
Fedex ground won't budge due to low shipping volume....
and have been for decades,
Fedex ground won't budge due to low shipping volume....
Vinko
Well-known member
Yep. Also, re: above UPS can be a lot more efficient for a business (better tracking), and if the volume is up there, I'm not always sure that USPS accommodates businesses as well as UPS.
+1 on the armchair QB'ing by the way.
If it does fit in a large priority mail box, and it weighs 70 lbs, that's a heck of a deal across country. Even, I believe up to Alaska or over to Hawaii from the mainland. I'm guessing this is gub'mint subsidy of postal rates in cases like this. But in general, as someone noted above, a lot of little sellers really benefit from USPS
Last edited:
jackfork
Well-known member
Not a big fan of Vaughn hammers but the price is right, and their Superbar is really good. So a few hammers and a few bars of different kinds and some other stuff that I have been wanting and shipping isn't really a issue.
Boost Creep
Well-known member
finally got around to seeing what hammer sizes i don't have yet and got an order in. 4 new ball peins on the way
not really sure what i need a 2oz for but i didn't have one so i had to order it
not really sure what i need a 2oz for but i didn't have one so i had to order it
Postal rates are "harmonized" rates. In other words, postal rate costs are spread out with some paying a little extra to make rates to extreme locations like Alaska and Hawaii, not to cost prohibitive.