Shipping costs, TFS and RD (Page 2/5)
David Hambleton FEB 08, 10:20 AM
Canada has lots of auto parts suppliers. The prices frequently make It seem like they could buy from American retail sources and re-sell.
Choice seems very limited as well, and you typically have to call to find out what is available and the price. Fiero unique parts are scarce.
Rock Auto for example usually has many choices and you can choose your shipping preference.

Being Canadian currently adds about 35% to the price for the exchange rate charged by credit card companies.
There's usually no duty on auto parts, but 13% Harmonized Sales Tax is frequently added on top of the American sales tax (if charged) and the 35% exchange rate.

Couriers sometimes charge fees to collect brokerage fees and sales taxes in addition to the posted shipping rates. I avoid couriers if at all possible.
USPS is my first choice for small packages; they frequently come right to my house or mailbox without any additional fees or taxes.
Some American vendors sometimes have fee continental US shipping; others have no Canadian shipping available or it's a zillion dollars.
For heavier or bulky parts that are too expensive via USPS/Canada Post, I have delivery made to a 24/7 Parcel in Niagara Falls NY 20 minutes from my house.
For $3 US per parcel, I can go over the border at my convenience (24/7) and pick the stuff up.

I've been satisfied with purchases from The Fiero Store, Rodney Dickman, Rock Auto and a few other small and national American vendors.
Unfortunately, the landed CDN $ cost is as much as double the US $ catalogue price.

Of course, it's fabulous that we can get what we need from a variety of sources and I hope that continues indefinitely.

[This message has been edited by David Hambleton (edited 02-08-2020).]

David Hambleton FEB 08, 10:29 AM

quote
Originally posted by css9450:
I can't even count how many times I've read on here about people buying common items from the Fiero Store, such as spark plugs, distributor cap, water pump, wiper blades, etc, that they could get over the counter at their local store without any shipping charges.



I got a distributor cap, rotor and wires for my '84 SE from a local CarQuest supplier last week for $76 Cdn.
My Rock Auto choices would have been $73 Cdn (including $14 Cdn delivery).
TFS kit (including plugs) or cap rotor and wires separately delivered would have been $125 Cdn (or perhaps less if I called and requested USPS delivery since the quoted delivery was $55 Cdn).

[This message has been edited by David Hambleton (edited 02-08-2020).]

Thunderstruck GT FEB 08, 10:39 AM

quote
Originally posted by David Hambleton:

Canada has lots of auto parts suppliers. The prices frequently make It seem like they could buy from American retail sources and re-sell.
Choice seems very limited as well, and you typically have to call to find out what is available and the price.
Rock Auto for example usually has many choices and you can choose your shipping preference.

Being Canadian currently adds about 35% to the price for the exchange rate charged by credit card companies.
There's usually no duty on auto parts, but 13% Harmonized Sales Tax is frequently added on top of the American sales tax (if charged) and the 35% exchange rate.

Couriers sometimes charge fees to collect brokerage fees and sales taxes in addition to the posted shipping rates. I avoid couriers if at all possible.
USPS is my first choice for small packages; they frequently come right to my house or mailbox without any additional fees or taxes.
Some American vendors sometimes have fee continental US shipping; others have no Canadian shipping available or it's a zillion dollars.
For heavier or bulky parts that are too expensive via USPS/Canada Post, I have delivery made to a 24/7 Parcel in Niagara Falls NY 20 minutes from my house.
For $3 US per parcel, I can go over the border at my convenience (24/7) and pick the stuff up.

I've been satisfied with purchases from The Fiero Store, Rodney Dickman, Rock Auto and a few other small and national American vendors.
Unfortunately, the landed CDN $ cost is as much as double the US $ catalogue price.

Of course, it's fabulous that we can get what we need from a variety of sources and I hope that continues indefinitely.



And that is why I have no problem meeting a Canadian in Lewiston, NY. I also have a couple of Canadian friends that will have their orders, like from Summit Racing, shipped to my house. They pay me a visit to pick up their parts, we talk about cars and have a few beers. All's good!

Shipping can be insane for Canadians and most buyers or sellers are in Ontario.
cvxjet FEB 08, 11:30 AM
My basic parts buying philosophy is A) Local car parts stores (O'Reilly, Napa or (Preferably) Mom & Pop operations), then the Fiero store and Rodney Dickman, and then Summit and Amazon.

I will pay a little extra to get stuff locally or thru TFS and RD.....And generally only go outside my or Fiero community if the parts are unavailable thru them.

Shipping...Geez....Of course you have to pay for shipping; AMAZON!!!! and RockAuto can go "Free shipping on $25 or more" because they are A) Giant conglomerates, and B) They are attempting to ELIMINATE the competition.......So unless you only want one source for everything you buy (Meaning no competition(Spelled >>>M*O*N*O*P*O*L*Y<<< ) then support smaller vendors.......

It seems obvious........

[This message has been edited by cvxjet (edited 02-08-2020).]

fieroguru FEB 08, 01:04 PM
The super large retailers negotiate very good shipping rates, so they can often ship at 50% to 70% less than the smaller businesses. Beyond the money paid to actually ship the package, the box, packaging material, and labor to package everything up all a legitimate costs as well.

I ship everything USPS Priority flat rate what will fit, then standard priority. This gets my products to anywhere in the US in 1-3 days, which I like (as I hate it when I buy something from CA on a Tuesday and it takes till Monday the following week to get it if they ship UPS). I also think that USPS does a better job with Priority Mail Packages, as I have never had one lost... Can't say the same for my experience with UPS and FedEx. Doing it this way I can process the order and accept payment w/o needing to pay for (or charge my customers for) shipping software or take the time to calculate the shipping based on package size and weight for every single order. I also don't need to pay for shipping boxes or take the time to come up with a box to ship the items (except the Level 4 coilovers).

I don't charge for shipping (except on ebay to help offset the fees), but it definitely is included in the price of the parts, because it a very large expense. Shipping one of my level 4 coilovers to CA is over $85. So I average out the shipping to various locations of the US, build it into the price of the part, and in the end it all averages out. Doing it this way avoids giving my customers sticker shock or being accused of overcharging for shipping.

I think everyone should cut Rodney & Fiero Store some slack... there is a lot more cost to shipping packages than just the shipping charge. When you don't specifically pay for shipping, you are still paying for shipping as it is built into the price 90% of the time.
Dennis LaGrua FEB 08, 02:01 PM
I don't mind paying actual cost of shipping but you know what I don't like? ; vendors that add extra to the actual cost of shipping. Its like they are not making enough money on the product. They also have to be greedy and make a profit on the shipping. That is dishonest and we know who these businesses are.
I just sold some parts to a guy in Florida. I overestimated the shipping and the buyer paid for it. . As soon as the package was mailed I found out the actual shipping cost and the buyer got a $6 refund to his paypal account. To stay in business you need to operate with honesty and integrity The cheats eventually go by the wayside as a product of their own greed.

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" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

FieroStore FEB 08, 04:08 PM
Thanks to montegut for starting this thread so even-handedly. Hopefully we can help clear up some common misunderstandings. First, we can all agree that nobody likes to pay for shipping. Those of us who work here are consumers too and we know how it feels to pay for shipping. We’ve also seen firsthand how “Free Shipping” promotions work. Until the USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc… work for free, you can rest assured that there is no such thing as “free shipping”. The term was invented by marketing execs to make you believe that you’re getting something for nothing. “Free shipping” simply means that the cost of shipping has been built into the retail price of the product being shipped. The problem with this model is that if you order multiple products that ship in the same box, you effectively pay for shipping multiple times because each part has the shipping charge included in its retail price. We choose to treat shipping separately in order to give our customers a better deal. Contrary to popular belief, we do this not to make shipping a profit center, but to make shipping more transparent. Our customers know the specs of the package they receive, and they can easily investigate what it would cost to ship that package.

We use the USPS and UPS for a vast majority of our shipping. Each carrier offers a number of different service levels to a variety of different zones in and out of the U.S. As a result, the database that generates our shipping rates literally has thousands of different rate options. You can safely assume that we don’t manually check each and every one. You can also assume that they are never exactly correct. They are normally very close to the actual cost of shipping, plus or minus a small percentage.

We routinely ship packages ranging from 1oz padded envelopes to large bumper covers, exhaust systems, and heavy brake packages. As a result, our shipping rates are all over the map. We spend considerable time helping our customers select the best shipping option for their needs. Here is an incomplete list of some reasons why shipping is so complicated:

  1. Shipping charges are hugely situational. They may appear high or low based on several different factors:
    a. Weight
    b. Dimensions
    c. Destination
    d. Speed of service
    e. Handling (salaries, boxes, tape, bubble wrap, foam, etc…)
    f. A whole bunch of variable surcharges (fuel, residential, rural area, extended area, oversize, additional handling, etc...)

  2. Customers needs are different. Some want their parts shipped fast and others want them shipped cheaply. Rarely can you have both.

  3. Service quality varies greatly throughout the world. In some areas, USPS is more reliable than UPS. In other areas, UPS is more reliable than USPS. UPS and USPS also don’t have the same shipping schedules.

  4. For countries outside the U.S., the USPS and UPS treat import taxes differently (duty, brokerage, etc…).

  5. Order timing varies. Depending on your needs, the best shipping method on Monday at 4pm might not be the same as the best method on Friday at 10am.

As you can see on our web site, we try to present some of these issues to our customers. Sadly, very few people read our shipping notes because it’s a lot to absorb. Here are some tips to help you get the best shipping rate:

  1. If you’re ordering something really small (ie: single washers, a decal, etc…), send us an email or give us a call and we’ll be happy to shave a couple dollars off our 1st Class Mail rate. Sometimes we can mail flat parts inside of a catalog for just a couple of dollars.

  2. Rate discrepancies are most impactful on large orders. If you see a rate on our web site that looks out of whack, send us an email or give us a call. We will be happy to audit the rate for you. You’ll either learn why the rate is what it is or you’ll be doing yourself and the next person a favor by alerting us to a problem that needs to be fixed.

  3. As a general rule (there are exceptions), USPS is the best option for small, light parts. Priority Mail or 1st Class are usually a great value, especially west of the Mississippi River. Keep in mind that 1st Class is only available for shipments under 1lb in the U.S.

  4. Canadians generally prefer the USPS because they are often more tax-friendly. The problem with the USPS is that their tracking system is not as good as UPS’s. Lost packages are rare, but UPS does a much better job with tracers and filing claims.


quote
Originally posted by nosaint:
i just paid 150 usd for shipping to canada for the fiero store....sucks



The problem with complaints like this is that they are incomplete. This complaint may or may not be valid, but without knowing who this is or what was shipped, we have no way of knowing. If the shipping rate was indeed too high, we will be happy to make it right. We have nothing to hide.

Please understand that all of us are on the same team. The Fiero market is slowly dying and we’re all in this together. What’s good for our customers is good for us and for the entire Fiero community. It is not in our best interest to push customers away (with unreasonable shipping rates) to big box stores that don’t invest one penny into developing new Fiero parts.

Just like everyone else, we’ve made plenty of mistakes over the past (nearly) 30 years. IMSA and Ogre can probably give you detailed descriptions and dates for every single one of them. What has allowed us to stay in business for this long is our transparency, continuous improvement, and staying true to our mission of keeping Fieros on the road.


nosaint FEB 08, 05:09 PM
Wasn't a complaint, just saying paying shipping sucks. Happy to be a Fiero Store customer and a RD

[This message has been edited by nosaint (edited 02-08-2020).]

fierogt28 FEB 08, 05:24 PM
I have never had a regret with TFS, service is top notch. I've purchased over 10,000$ from them since 2000.

Residing in Canada, I find their shipping is quite reasonable.
I think and assume fiero owners do no want to "invest" money in their cars because its not an investment.
So technically, because of that...shipping costs are more blamed for it because for them its a loss.
I don't, because I understand shipping isn't free.
Plus, I am so happy I am getting a correct part in new condition I can't get anywheres else. I am so grateful it is still available.
So I don't care about the price.

IMSA, its sad that every time TFS is mentioned you have to pound them to the ground. Why?
Any true fiero owner deals with TFS and will support.
You crap on them even with the new GT windows..."ohh, don't buy them, because of the corrected curve....I wouldn't pay for that, not worth it, green tint., nana, nana."
If you don't want to spend money into a fiero, get out of the hobby and produce your own parts, or buy used. Final.
And the day if you ever produce new fiero parts and sell them, please offer FREE shipping...

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fierogt28

88 GT, Loaded, 5-speed.
88 GT, 5-speed. Beechwood interior, All original.

IMSA GT FEB 08, 07:36 PM

quote
Originally posted by fierogt28:


IMSA, its sad that every time TFS is mentioned you have to pound them to the ground. Why?
Any true fiero owner deals with TFS and will support.
You crap on them even with the new GT windows..."ohh, don't buy them, because of the corrected curve....I wouldn't pay for that, not worth it, green tint., nana, nana."
If you don't want to spend money into a fiero, get out of the hobby and produce your own parts, or buy used. Final.
And the day if you ever produce new fiero parts and sell them, please offer FREE shipping...



I'll start with your last comment. I HAVE made Fiero parts before both stock and custom, sold them, and shipped for free in the U.S. As a matter of fact, if I need a plastic part that isn't available, I borrow one, make a mold, and make my own parts. If I need custom items, I work with carbon fiber, kevlar, and fiberglass so I simply make whatever I need.

I crap on the Fiero Store due to their lack of quality control on the reproduction or custom parts. People shouldn't have to rely on good customer service to rectify a part that doesn't fit correctly and they sure as hell shouldn't be inconvenienced by the wait. That part should NEVER be shipped out to begin with until it is test fitted in a vehicle then customer service doesn't even need to be involved. The buyer should not be the test guinea pig for any parts.

Now as for me not shopping with them. I simply take the time to research local options for stock mechanical parts and usually find everything I need at a parts store. After my experiences, I'm not ordering items online to find out they are opened, damaged, or missing pieces.