Something About RockAuto You May Not Already Know! (Page 4/9)
Patrick NOV 13, 06:39 PM

quote
Originally posted by JessaRockAuto:

Include(d) in the shipping price for the example you posted above are the broker fees that are charged as a result of shipping to Canada.



Jessa, I think you need to double-check your information. Unless you can show me otherwise in RockAuto's fine print, I suspect the $25 shipping charge for that tiny seal does NOT include "brokerage" fees. It's been my experience that brokerage fees are usually collected at the customer's end when delivered.

Having said that, I understand that some vendors do use a relatively new type of shipping plan that some private carriers now offer which does combine brokerage fees with shipping charges. However, I don't recall seeing that mentioned at RockAuto's site. If I'm mistaken, please provide a link for me.

I avoided mentioning brokerage fees previously so as to simplify what we're discussing, but now that it's been brought up... yeah, what an insult to have ridiculously high brokerage fees (charged by the private carriers) in addition to the excessive shipping charges for items sent across the border.

This also brings up another important question. Why isn't USPS offered as an option by RockAuto to ship items to Canada? The postal service does NOT gouge customers for brokerage fees like the private carriers do. In my example posted above of the $1.36 seal, USPS was the cheapest option offered to ship the item to Blaine Washington, yet USPS was not offered as an option to ship this same item across the border. This makes absolutely no sense to me.


quote
Originally posted by Khw:

Shipping out of country was always more expensive than in country because of the additional paperwork... it takes more work to ship out of country than in country.



For someone doing this paperwork for the very first time, sure, it might take a few extra minutes. But for someone working in a shipping department who's shipping all day long and who's done this a hundred times... I honestly don't think it's an issue.
E.Furgal NOV 13, 06:50 PM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

You probably didn't mean to do it, but that comment rather ticks me off. Who the heck said ANYTHING about "discounted/subsidized shipping" to Canada? I expect to pay what it costs to ship an order, just like you would.

I'm being told by Jessa from RockAuto that they don't profit from shipping.

So you're trying to tell me it actually costs $25 to ship a $1.36 seal the size of a silver dollar across the border???

Somebody is profiting from that shipping charge, no doubt about it.



you clearly have no idea.. I worked shipping before this advance job.. and you're barking up the wrong tree.. you need to look at boarder customs and brokers..

we shipped dry ink to canada that was 4oz in weight.. it was 39.00 shipping.. and it was only going an hour over the boarder.
on our coast.. and we have an ups account and ship 30 tons a week through ups.. but that was the cost for over the boarder.. why?? thats a good question..
my question to you would be why you not getting the seal from a local parts store.. any parts store that carries national seals would be able to get it..
clearly even with the shipping rockauto was cheaper than local venders.. even with bad parts counter help. you can go in with a part# and say please order these..
why did you order seals online instead of from a local part store..?


Khw NOV 13, 06:54 PM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

For someone doing this paperwork for the very first time, sure, it might take a few extra minutes. But for someone working in a shipping department who's shipping all day long and who's done this a hundred times... I honestly don't think it's an issue.



The paperwork doesn't do itself. Sure a person gets more efficent at it, but if I have 2 additional forms to fill out plus 5ish pages of export paperwork to generate, that all takes more time than one shipping label and a packing list. An extra few minutes doesn't cover it, more like 20 minutes to a hour depending on how many items and the total value, but again I wasn't shipping a $2 item. The shipments I sent where anywhere from a few hundred to a couple hundred thousand in value. I know it's not exactly the same, but different forms and different paperwork was needed for export shipping and I doubt that changes much as far as value goes once you exceed the threshold amount that requires that paperwork. I agree with you that a $2 item shouldn't cost $25 to ship to you when it could easily fit in a padded envelope. I however am not aware of what kind of records a buisness is supposed to keep on such a low cost item that is exported having not delt with something of such low value in that situation. I just know there's more to the "paperwork" then just a shipping label.
E.Furgal NOV 13, 07:16 PM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

For someone doing this paperwork for the very first time, sure, it might take a few extra minutes. But for someone working in a shipping department who's shipping all day long and who's done this a hundred times... I honestly don't think it's an issue.



to ship to canada through usps it took 3 forms.. after the normal shipping lable.. the postal clerk does this all the time , it took 10 minutes for that one shipment.. someone has to pay for that time, and all the extra time as it makes it's merry way..
Patrick NOV 13, 07:34 PM

Good discussion, guys. I have more to say (as usual), but I've also got a yoga class to go to first.

Yeah yeah, I know... those flakey Canadians.
Jackdaniels NOV 13, 08:00 PM
I didn't know that you could join this website just to plug your company. Cool, I make illegal moonshine and will sell it for $5.00 per mason jar.....and I ship to Canada. Act now and I'll throw in a 4 foot cannibis plant with each order.
RCR NOV 14, 07:12 AM

quote
Originally posted by x-thumpr-x:

I've used RockAuto for awhile now and though shipping can accumulate quickly based n what you are buying, I still find it cheaper (even after shipping) then buying the same part from the local parts dealer around the corner. The only issue I got is 90% of the time is that 1 or 2 items I need are at another location then the rest of the parts. I normally just take them off the list and find them locally then because with the extra 2nd shipping charge doesn't, it's about the same price then as the locals suppliers are asking for.



Ditto...Just ordered parts Monday. I ended up taking an item off because it was coming from a different location.

And JessaRockAuto, You could at least throw us a discount code. I had to do a web search and found one on a different forum...

Bob
JessaRockAuto NOV 14, 08:27 AM

quote


And JessaRockAuto, You could at least throw us a discount code. I had to do a web search and found one on a different forum...

Bob



A current discount code for the forum can be found here: http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/090070.html

Thanks,

www.RockAuto.com
carbon NOV 14, 08:35 AM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

You probably didn't mean to do it, but that comment rather ticks me off. Who the heck said ANYTHING about "discounted/subsidized shipping" to Canada? I expect to pay what it costs to ship an order, just like you would.

I'm being told by Jessa from RockAuto that they don't profit from shipping.

So you're trying to tell me it actually costs $25 to ship a $1.36 seal the size of a silver dollar across the border???

Somebody is profiting from that shipping charge, no doubt about it.



Somebody said that Amazon could ship for cheap so why couldn't Rock Auto... my point was that Rock Auto probably doesn't do enough across the border work to negotiate with FedEx/UPS for discounted international shipping, etc... no offense intended. I think Fierosound hit the nail on the head.

The comment about jumping was when Jessa offered to take the discussion customer service and she was accused of bailing... That is all. Also some of the posts that I had based my response on have been edited. :shrug:

Wasn't NAFTA supposed to fix all this?


quote
Originally posted by Tony Kania:

Quoted, because THIS is how you should handle your customers.

Only an observation, but perhaps Rock Auto will gain a few more customers because of this. Me included.



Agreed.

[This message has been edited by carbon (edited 11-14-2012).]

E.Furgal NOV 14, 08:45 AM
no matter what you thing about them coming here and posting a shamless plug..
at least you know you'll get help when you need it..
as you can p.m. here and get help over and above the normal channels..
that is cool. and only help people..
2 thumbs up..