While I am generally happy with Tonys Trains service and products, their shipping and handling charges are a gross rip off. I ordered three sound decoders from Tonys for a total of $155.85. Based on the sale amount, they charged me $12.23 shipping. The three decoders arrived US Mail, in a tiny box about 3 by 4 inches, with postage of $4.26 on the package. So they pocketed an extra $7.97 profit on the shipping charges. Considering all the truth in advertising laws, they should have listed on my invoice, Cost of products $155.85
Yes, Corey, that is how I have always taken it. And that is why I see the advice of those who use ebay to pay particular attention to the shipping charges…it varies widely.
It depends on the shipper. If they used UPS, FedEx, etc, it might be more for 2 day ground etc. Additionally, the farther to ship, the greater the cost.
Shipping costs will be going up due to fuel prices.
Well, I have slowed down on Tony’s because of the slight differences of the actual charges versus charged shipping.
Hey it cannot be too bad right?
Wrong.
That Digitrax widget I ordered from tony’s is availible for 4% less at my hobby shop and no shipping. So I made a mistake and paid too much. That is my bad and I will be more careful.
Sooo… Im much more careful with what I order from Tony’s.
They are first rate and the service is outstanding sooo. not too much whining. Ive learned to live with it.
One thing I will say, the mail is FAST out of Tony’s It’s almost like they have a dedicated Mail train straight to the Vermont Line.
When I eventually order my three Q1a upgrade chips from Tony’s you can bet that I’ll request that they ship them to me in a small padded envelope, first class mail. Two bucks, tops. But, the reality is that they too will overpackage and, subsequently, overcharge me.
Better yet, I’ll mail them my payment with a S.A.S.E. enclosed and a signed letter stating that I insist that they put the chips in it and drop it in a mailbox. They won’t be able to justify a shipping charge then [;)].
Or you could always have someone local to Tony’s pick it up and ship it to you for a buck or two.
FYI: You can get all the “postage supplies” you need (boxes, stickers… no tape/bubble wrap) for free on the USPS site. Most other shippers offer similar programs.
In all honesty, it doesn’t take them that much to bring the orders from the small shop to the post office.
Here’s why I believe “Handling” charges are rediculous:
When you buy an item, the shop makes a profit. Out of that profit, comes payroll, insurance, rent/taxes/mortgage/whatever for the retail space, electric bill, etc. All the stuff that keeps the business running. The “Shipping” fees pay for the actual postage of sending the item, and the employee (or business owner) usually sends the stuff out while they are being paid during their work day. I don’t know of any business that sends an employee out “after hours” or off the clock, on a regular basis, to do “work” related stuff.
Where does the handling charge come into play? To buy the box? The tape? The packing supplies? Padded envelopes are free from the post office. Order 500 of them and remove the padding. Free bubble wrap! The tape? 3$ for a decently large roll. You might only use 25 or 50 cents per package if you have to wrap the whole thing.
Taking into consideration their “Handling” fees (which really is just extra profit), is it any cheaper to buy from Tony’s then your local LHS in some cases?
Ted-You can try that, but I bet they still charge you a “handling” fee on top of the shipping. It’s probably company policy. I love it when companies tack on a fuel sur-charge.
The chips are $29.95 each. I’m suggesting mailing them a money order for $89.95 along with a letter/damage claim waiver, although, I’m confident a QSI sound chip would withstand the abuse of being handled by letter sorting equipment and the postal employees who maliciously mishandle every single letter you’ve ever received. Accompanied, of course, by a s.a.s.e… What are they going to do, send me back my money because I managed to circumvent shipping charges or simply accept the money and drop ‘em in the friggin’ envelope? I think the choice is obvious.
BTW loathar, the weather here is ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. Well…that is if you like 80’s for a high and 50’s for a low with clear blue skies.
Make that a LARGE envelope Ted, those chips are going to arrive one at a time in thier own anti static bag, documentation, more tech sheets and a blizzard of packing.
With those chips you might just wanna eat the overage to ensure the chips get to you safely.
Im getting many christmas letters mashed in the postage machinery and obviously ripped out and manually resorted somewhere.
Now I did buy one QSI chip and the box along with the papers I recieved was top quality. I just have to check with my hobby shop first for digitrax products in the future.
To be scrimping over the few $$ that has been explained about their handling and packaging costs is ridiculous. Yes, it may end up as company policy, in which they might have to “waste” postage to send your money back. If you demand they package the product in your container and they do it, do you think they will warrant any damage during shipping.
Come on, bite the bullet on this, they are not ripping you off. That or just pay more and order from your LHS.
Just yesterday we heard complaints about Atlas wasting postage…What is going to make everyone happy?
I have been to Tony’s on several occasions, and I have noticed that UPS and other carriers make deliveries AND pick-ups right at Tony’s business, so there is no running out to the post office. Many businesses operate this way.
Another part of shipping that you may not have noticed is called a “shipping receipt”. Tony would pay for that, and it ensured proof that he shipped the goods in case you don’t receive them. It cost extra to ship with a receipt.
You have to ask yourself, it is worth it to you to go to your LHS ( gas cost money too, and if you live 10 miles away, that is about $3.00 worth of gas assuming that your vehicle gets 20 miles per gallon ). And if he has to order the decoders, etc. for you, that may take week or more, then you have to drive back to pick them up, now there goes another $3.00, so you are now spending $6.00 vs…shipping and handling from Tony’s .
i think you’re complaining for not a lot, it takes time and materials to parcel stuff up and get it posted, hence the handling part of the invoice bundled with the postage. you may think 7 bucks is a bit of a liberty, and it may be, but you still shouldn’t expect someone to find a box, pack it, wrap it and post it not forgetting the time factor all for nothing.
It does astonish me how some people cannot resist a gripe about ANYTHING.
You live in the most “advanced” country in the world, you would probably admit. You have a hobby that, whilst fascinating to you (and to me), is a huge indulgence compared to the majority of the persons who presently occupy the planet - try having the same gripe, existing on a dung hill in South America or Delhi. You live (as I do) in what is a capitalist democracy, where issues of choice, and supply and demand are requisite to all that we do.
STOP MOANING!
Be happy that you have the “right” to do what you do.