• Log in with Facebook Log in with Twitter Log In with Google      Sign In    
  • Create Account
  LongeCity
              Advocacy & Research for Unlimited Lifespans

Photo

Shipping Cost Iherb - RelentlessImprovement


  • Please log in to reply
11 replies to this topic

#1 drmz

  • Guest
  • 574 posts
  • 10
  • Location:netherlands

Posted 17 January 2008 - 06:37 AM


What is the reason behind the very high shipping costs @ relentlessimpvroment ? I was looking at the shipping cost @iherb this morning and i saw the difference is enormous.


IHERB shipping cost to Europe (calculated at checkout so this is the fixed price) For 1.5 KG !!

DHL - International: $15.66
Usually Takes 2-5 days, with tracking number
Pls. don't use P.O. (Postal) Box address


UPS - International: $25.13
Usually Takes 2-5 days, with tracking number
Please do not use P.O. (Postal) Box address

USPS - First Class International: $10.00


The shipping to Europe @ RelentlessImprovement for MUCH LESS then 1.5 KG :(USPS Express Mail International™ ($52.50))


Shipping $52.50



This is a difference of 42.50 ? Are they making profits on their shipping costs ?

#2 zoolander

  • Guest
  • 4,724 posts
  • 55
  • Location:Melbourne, Australia

Posted 17 January 2008 - 06:48 AM

A lot of supplement companies have discounted products but higher shipping fees. They make some of their money back (from discounted items) by adding it to the shipping. The will call this processing on their side. Have a look at vitacost as well. They have reasonably cheap products but their international shipping costs are high.

Be wary of this technique.

I would ask Pete from Relentless why his shipping costs are higher than iHerb for the same weight to the same country

sponsored ad

  • Advert
Adverts help to support LongeCity's non-profit work. To go ad-free join as Member.

#3 niner

  • Guest
  • 16,276 posts
  • 2,000
  • Location:Philadelphia

Posted 17 January 2008 - 06:54 AM

Pete's is for Express Mail, which is a lot faster (and more expensive) than First Class. Pete might want to explore some other shipping options, cuz they might be better values.

#4 sdxl

  • Guest
  • 391 posts
  • 47
  • Location:Earth

Posted 17 January 2008 - 07:12 AM

First of all, they use lbs. not kg. USPS First Class International is not the same as USPS Express Mail International. See usps.gov. First Class doesn't give you a trackable number and might take longer. But I'm ok with it.

#5 drmz

  • Topic Starter
  • Guest
  • 574 posts
  • 10
  • Location:netherlands

Posted 17 January 2008 - 12:48 PM

Pete's is for Express Mail, which is a lot faster (and more expensive) than First Class. Pete might want to explore some other shipping options, cuz they might be better values.



After inquiry at USPS > Express Mail is about $10 more expensive then First Class international for the same weight so this doesn't explain the price difference. Difference in days is about 2 days.It's faster, but not much faster.

#6 mike250

  • Guest
  • 981 posts
  • 9

Posted 17 January 2008 - 01:14 PM

why don't more online supplement stores use DHL for international orders instead of UPS/USPS? Iherb is the only one I've seen so far that offers shipping via DHL.

Edited by mike250, 17 January 2008 - 01:15 PM.


#7 sdxl

  • Guest
  • 391 posts
  • 47
  • Location:Earth

Posted 17 January 2008 - 01:59 PM

After inquiry at USPS > Express Mail is about $10 more expensive then First Class international for the same weight so this doesn't explain the price difference. Difference in days is about 2 days.It's faster, but not much faster.

Some things might require that extra speedy delivery. What I hate is that most online retailers don't give you shipping options and you have to use what they use. I don't mind waiting a little longer.

#8 drmz

  • Topic Starter
  • Guest
  • 574 posts
  • 10
  • Location:netherlands

Posted 17 January 2008 - 02:02 PM

After inquiry at USPS > Express Mail is about $10 more expensive then First Class international for the same weight so this doesn't explain the price difference. Difference in days is about 2 days.It's faster, but not much faster.

Some things might require that extra speedy delivery. What I hate is that most online retailers don't give you shipping options and you have to use what they use. I don't mind waiting a little longer.



the extra speedy delivery should cost +- $ 22.50 not $ 52.50 . I agree that i don't care to wait another day. I'm not going to order at relentless before i know more about this price difference.
Maybe there is another good reason ?

#9 Shepard

  • Member, Director, Moderator
  • 6,360 posts
  • 932
  • Location:Auburn, AL

Posted 17 January 2008 - 04:20 PM

Ask Pete:

http://www.relentles...ment.com/forum/

#10 psychenaut

  • Life Member
  • 153 posts
  • 2
  • Location:Reno NV

Posted 17 January 2008 - 07:21 PM

I just enabled USPS "First Class Mail International" in the RI website as a third international shipping option. USPS does impose a 4 lb (lb not kg) ship weight limit (so figure approx 3.3 lbs limit of actual product weight), 24 inch length and combined length/height/depth of 36 inches on "First Class". It does NOT offer any tracking.

For those seeking a lower cost shipping cost option, you now have this to consider.

Previously, our shipping options offered both USPS Priority or USPS Express. International customers are offered their choice on our checkout page. Express is the only option with detailed tracking information.

Actual shipping charges vary greatly by country and package weight and are generated dynamically (real-time) with our shopping cart talking to USPS servers.
Shipping times and customs clearance vary widely by shipment carrier and method. Comparing DHL to USPS Express is not an apples to apples comparison. FedEx actually is USPS's air carrier both domestic and international. The postal services handle each end.

If you don't care about tracking and are ok with potentially several weeks for delivery, and absolute lowest cost is your primary consideration, then First Class Mail International is your choice.
If you want at least minimum tracking then you want Priority.
If you want point to point tracking and fastest customs clearance then Express is your choice.

My emails run 10:1 in favor of customers wanting to know where their package is vs. ship cost, so I have always considered Express as the best choice. But I understand that others want a bare bones alternative. Now you have it :-)

Every business has their own philosophy as to which shipper to use, pricing, mark-ups or subsidies. International orders generate extra workload and costs due to the customs paperwork that we have to generate and non-standard packaging. Every carrier choice has its pros and cons depending upon destination country, services desired, and customs clearance issues. For Relentless Improvement, USPS at the shipping prices we quote, are the current best compromise.

Please refer to our Simple Shipping Policy for other details. I hope the information above is helpful, if anyone has other questions, please email me directly as I don't check the threads on a regular basis.

Cheers,
Pete

#11 drmz

  • Topic Starter
  • Guest
  • 574 posts
  • 10
  • Location:netherlands

Posted 17 January 2008 - 07:31 PM

removed post, overlooked something...scuzie ;)

>>

Thanks for the fast and professional response.

I overlooked the fact that International First Class only accept orders under $80 . Above a certain $ the price seems to go up very fast. Ah i see you get the option to use USPS - First Class International anyways. (order is > $80) Confusing it is :(

Humz i have edited this post now several times. But it is still not right. I have placed an order at IHERB, used USPS First Class (international) as the delivery option which cost me $16 WITH TRACKING NUMBER.
I go to relentless and take let's say 4x piracetam and 4 times ortho core, which is of the same weight as the IHERB order and i pay $36 without a tracking number ? Also the price changed on the relentless shipping calculator ( -$5 )
So now i have the same shipping method, the same quantity, from the same country to the same country (look up in google maps what the distance between relentless and iherb is) and i still have a price difference of $20 and the statement that there is no tracking number with first class USPS

Edited by drmz, 18 January 2008 - 07:20 AM.


sponsored ad

  • Advert
Adverts help to support LongeCity's non-profit work. To go ad-free join as Member.

#12 drmz

  • Topic Starter
  • Guest
  • 574 posts
  • 10
  • Location:netherlands

Posted 23 January 2008 - 04:46 PM

Got my IHERB package today, 6 days, including a weekend. That's not faster then USPS Express, which takes about 5-6 days, sometimes longer when things are on hold because of the customs.
No tax/customs for this package.

package price was $115 / shipping cost was $16 + tracking number.


1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users