Yes it is very true. Just last week I had checked out my online Hobby store for some HO Models and happend to check out their information page and sure enough…Shipping costs went up,like way up. When I order Models,I like to order 2 instead of one because of the shipping costs. But not this time…
I go through Firsthobby.com,alot. At that time. Shipping “was” $7.95. Now it is $8.50. A wopping .55c increase. Shipping is done through UPS. I think it is about time to start going to Omaha for my Models if these Shipping costs keep going up like they are. I thought that the Models where pricey enough[V]. Allan.
Fuel costs are a big part of shipping. With the general upward trend in gas prices outpacing inflation, all of the shipping companies need to charge more. Next time, instead of ordering 2, order 3. That way the shipping cost per model is much less, and you save in the long run.
The postal service increased their rates the first of the year on Priority Mail and the basic stamps. It seems the price of fuel is being passed along from the shipping services. But everything else has gone up to, food, wood, cars, trucks, metal products, and everything else under the sun.
We just got our 2nd natural gas bill for heating this winter, our home is 2700 square feet 2 story with 5 bedrooms, that is over 120 years old, with new windows and insulation. The bill we got at the first of the year was $475, the one we got last week was $499. The electric company’s are talking about raising their rates out of the roof. Me being self employed contractor, I have watched building materials go out the roof, from wood to shingles to siding. Have had to raise my labor rate to absorb some of the cost of fuel and material pickup.
It is going to get worse before it gets better for any of the Amercain households.
Being an over the road truck driver, and owning my own truck, I can assure you that the fuel prices are the cause opf this. Two years ago the price of diesel was less than $1.50 per gallon. At 200 gallons per fill-up that was $300. Average freight rate to the owner - operator was around $1.40 per mile. Taday it cost about $550 for the same 200 gallon fill up, and the average price to the owner - operator after fuel adjustment is about $1.60 per mile. Not a lot of money when you have $150 thousand invested in a truck, and trailer. We are finally beginning to see more fuel surcharges added to the freight rates. Unfortunately, this cost is passed on to the end user. (You and me)
Next time you have to pay for gas at the pump, and you feel the price is too high, kiss a tree-hugger, and the people who invest in futures, and speculators. They are responsible. Not the oil companies, or the government. (At least not directly!)
Omar
That whopping 55 cents was no more than a 7% increase in SHIPPING cost.
You don’t say that the items had increased in price, took longer to reach you or that the service had changed in any way.
The source of the increase is exactly what the others have stated. If a 7% increase in shipping expense has you that upset just imagine how your employer feels when your income is increased by that same amount. You pay it sporadically and have complete control over the expense (an increase that only adjusts the cost of your items by roughly a quarter each when two are considered) but your employer is going to pay it hourly from now on and have that stipend considered as part of the base rate when your next raise is implemented.
One recommendation before you run over to Omaha; tune up the Chevy to increase your gas mileage. Have you seen the price of gas lately? Sure it’s dropping a bit this last week or so but it’s going back up.
dwRavenstar
If your shipping was $9.00, you’re probably still better off paying for the shipping than driving up there. We live 68 miles from our train store. That’s about 1/4 tank in our truck, and with a 26 gallon tank, that’s about 6 1/2 gallons. At $2.00/gallon, it’s still cheaper to have them ship to us. Plus I would stock up on track, cars, structures, etc. now. Anything made out of plastic will be going up, too. And Omar, don’t fool yourself. The oil companies and our government are plenty responsible for the oil prices. They’ve been playing the divide and conquer game for decades (blame the conservationists, I’m not one, but I can appreciate some of the work they do). If not for them, big oil, chemical, etc, would have continued dumping and spilling their junk without any fear of the consequences.
I agree with all of you. You are correct. And the thing is. We will never see cheap gas anymore. It’s nothing more than “Price Gouging” Price gouging is here to stay. Oil companys want more and give less. The thing is… There is enough oil out there to last us for hundreds of years. But the oil companys would rather profit heavly from it and screw the public. The oil companys lie. nothing but lies. There was never a shortage. They just want you to think there is one. Allan.
Very sad that everything is going up in cost. Shipping examples
Priority Mail used to be $3.85 minimum (12/05)
Priority Mail now is $4.05 minimum (02/06)
Atlas track went up 10% a few weeks ago and Atlas said it was because of fuel costs and plastic costs.
Everything goes up in price as a result of increased fuel costs except Social Security payments… Natural gas prices skyrocketed, allegedly as a result of the hurricanes. Electric rates went up because natural gas is used to generate electricity. Just this week, Cox cable announced a 3% increase because of electric rates. Prices overall go up 7 or 8 percent, and your SS benefits go up maybe 2 percent; and then they deduct more for Medicare and income tax, which usually results in a reduced benefit instead of an increase…
Dont blame gas prices since they are on a decline now a days. The problem is the store they want more money. Go to USPS.com type in what type of box size and weight your want to ship and see how much it comes up. 7.99 seems a little high till recently. I go to sites and only get charged 6.00 to 7.00 for shipping for 3 ibs or so. I think your hobby shop online was price gouging on shipping and definatly is now…
When are people going to realize that the price of fuel affects the price of everything!!! Gas prices have more than doubled in the last 10 years yet most other prices have mot quite matched that rate. Almost everything we buy is shipped to the selling point via a means of transportation that needs gas or oil to run. The cost of manufacturing is affected by the price of utilites and raw materials. If oil prices double then the cost of the plastic our toys are made of has to increase as well. We painted ourselves into this corner and it’s going to be a long time till the paint dries. BTW, BNSF fan, how much more is it going to cost you to drive into Onaha this year than last? I bet it’s more than $0.55.
And no I ain’t happy about it either, but at least I didn’t get sucked into buying a gas gobbling SUV.
Directly comparing prices from the USPS or UPS sites to what a company charges brings in a couple of inaccuracies. The box and packing materials involve some costs. Also, there are places that charge a flat rate for whatever you buy. Yeah, the buyer eats it when buying just a few small things, but the seller eats it when the buyer buys alot of stuff.
Shipping goes up $.55 cents and you are willing to spend most likely $10 in gas by going to Omaha to offset the cost? Go to the vending machines one less time a week and you will have made up for the increased shipping cost. Don’t think in terms of increased cost but in terms of cash flow. Yes, you still are paying “slightly” more for shipping but you would pay a lot more in gas to go out to the hobby store to save “pennies” in shipping. (penny wise - pound foolish).
I don’t have much of a choice; no hobby shops in my area.
Personally the 5.00 worth of gas to travel to Walthers equals shipping through walthers so I will go there. I do shop online but prefer Walthers I dont work there but still I prefer them even tho its not as often as I would like now a days,
It’s just plain old greed pure and simple!.. The never ending fight to get rich-er and be able to justify it by saying that the other guy is raising his fees so they have to as well.
TL
Well, I’m sure some increases can be attibuted to that, but I doubt any of us that have owned our homes for more than say 5 or so years would be willing to sell it for what we bought it for, nor would we be willing to accept the same salary as we did 10 years ago. I don’t think that makes us greedy.
It’s the old story, Post office ups the price of a stamp 2 cents, and shippers increase their prices 20%, oil goes up 25 cents a litre/gallon and shipping companies increase their prices 35%. Just who is at fault here?
Texas A&M is adding an $99 energy fee to each student’s tuition next year…