Air or ground shipment from UK to US???

RichSBV

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I thought I'd get some opinions here. I'm thinking of making a purchase from the UK. Air shipment is about $87. Ground shipment is about $36. That's a heck of a difference and really may make the difference between buying or not...

Is ground shipment worthwhile and safe? Anyone with experience here???

Thanks...
 

Dan Fromm

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Rich, I've had a number of heavy items sent by surface mail from the UK. Delivery times have ranged from 6 days to 30 days. Never a problem.

If you can wait and the item is a good buy, go for surface mail.

Cheers,

Dan
 

MattCarey

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RichSBV said:
Is ground shipment worthwhile and safe? Anyone with experience here???
Click to expand...

By which you mean "Surface" shipment....Too much potential for bad jokes with "ground" shipment from an island!

Matt
 

Dave Miller

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MattCarey said:
By which you mean "Surface" shipment....Too much potential for bad jokes with "ground" shipment from an island!

Matt
Click to expand...
It all goes by air these days, I think they just hold the cheap rate stuff to fill-up the quota, hence the variation in time.
 
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RichSBV

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I've heard about it all going air before. Have no idea, but do they really use shipping (as in ships) that much any more for mail?

No, no rush to get it beyond the usual childish anticipation of "I want it now"...

And no, neither is it a 'good buy'. It just happens to be something I've been looking for quite a while now and it sparked my interest. I'm getting tired of looking... But that's why the shipping is a concern. For the air rate, I'd pass it up. For the surface rate, I'm very tempted...

I was never good at making such decisions. I either just hit a 'buy-it-now' button without much thought, or I over think it all until it's too late...

And, interesting point about 'ground' shipment from an island. Never thought of it ;-)

Thanks all. I'll have to wait a little bit, then either hit the button or pass it by???
 

laz

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I recently did a trade of a bunch of 5x7 film holders with an APUGer down under. I'm in NY and I blanched at the AIR cost and sent them ground; weeks later he is still waiting while I enjoy the lens I received in trade. I would have at least asked him for a preference if I'd know it would really go at "ground speed"!
 
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RichSBV

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That may actually make me feel better... Seems I waited too long to think about it and the 'buy it now' button has disappeared... I'm just not up for an auction... Who knows, maybe I'll be in a different mood, and be here, when it comes to an end, but I doubt it... I'll just have to wait until the camera meant for me becomes available...
 

Calamity Jane

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Hi Rich!

Last year I sent a package from Winnipeg, Manitoba to England via the Post Office. "Air Express" was the only service that was traceable so I spent the big bucks for Air. THREE MONTHS later, my package arrived in England - it had gone "surface" and believe me a SHIP is the only thing I know that takes that long to cross the Atlantic! The scary part is that the package was really valuable and it never did show up in their tracking system and the P.O. just simply doesn't care
 
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RichSBV

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CJ, maybe it wasn't a slow ship, but the Poney Express that slowed your package down? Ya just gotta love government agencies! ;-)

I don't know, but after all this, plus some jerk who ruined the 'buy-it-now' option, I may just bid what the bin price was just for the heck of it? Sorry, but I really hate people who ruin bin options... And I love a good story. If I won this, it would tag a decent story onto it for a few years to come, if I won. Somewtimes that's more important than money...
 

Paul Sorensen

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I am not bidding on anything right now so it wasn't me, but I do have a habit of wrecking the buy it now option. I do it when the buy it now isn't good enough for me to choose, but good enough that there is a risk of someone using it and ruining my chance of getting a killer deal. I know, I am a jerk.
 

Dan Fromm

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Sometimes the "jerk" ends up doing the seller a favor.

I remember an Olympus copy stand, sort of Olympus' answer to the Leitz Aristophot, that some person in MI put up with quite a low BIN. I didn't want it that badly, decided that if anyone would steal it really cheap I would be the one, so bid a little over the minimum. Bye-bye, BIN. The copy stand finally sold for well over the BIN price.

Cheers,

Dan
 
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RichSBV

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Paul, sorry... I shouldn't have called the person a 'jerk' even if it isn't you ;-) Just an emotion response from me... And who knows, that person may be a member here... Sorry to that person!

Dan, Yes... I know well how people who kill the BIN option usually wind up having the final price much higher than the original BIN. That's why it bothers me so much! After all, I'm a buyer... Sure, great for the seller...

I don't mind getting a "steal" now and then. As I don't mind just paying a fair price right up front. But I really hate the whole auction routine. Ever since I stopped playing the game, I enter a bid I think is fair and just leave it go to see what happens. Oddy enough, I have managed to buy very little since doing that... Seems I keep being outbid by a dollar or so... Oh-well, nothing I really needed...
 
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