Rosie_0801 Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 So, I was in the middle of ordering the Geopuzzles from Timberdoodle, which is a silly name, but they have great looking puzzles. I had my little heart set on them, because I've searched high and low and been able to find nothing else even remotely useful. Then they say they are going to charge me US$175 for postage! I most certainly don't need them to arrive in the next week. I'm quite happy to pay "low fee but we're going to take forever to arrive" postal prices, but was that an option? No! I've emailed them, so cross your fingers they can managed something more reasonable, or inform me of an Australian supplier, coz I really want those puzzles :) :svengo: Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snickerdoodle Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Have you tried amazon? Isn't their shipping policy better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hathersage Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Unforunately the USPS has done away with the "low fee but we're going to take forever to arrive" postal prices, the only option from the US is in fact Airmail. bummer. Hope they can point you to an Australian supplier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted June 13, 2009 Author Share Posted June 13, 2009 They don't seem to be available through amazon. Bummer, bummer, bummer. Maybe there will be an Australian supplier. Is "svengo" even a word? I'm feeling very "svengoish" about this. Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snickerdoodle Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Do you mean this? Perhaps I'm thinking of the wrong thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmom3tn Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Can't it be shipped US Priority Mail Flat Rate International? I think that might be about $50, but it's still much better than $175. That's outrageous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted June 13, 2009 Author Share Posted June 13, 2009 If you were closer, I would kiss you! I couldn't find it in my search! :hurray::hurray::hurray::hurray: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted June 13, 2009 Author Share Posted June 13, 2009 Oh Woe! They won't ship internationally through Amazon! Grr. I'll have to wait and see if Timberdoodle get back to me with reasonable postage. :( Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snickerdoodle Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 I had a friend from Australia and she said whatever homeschooling supplies she bought she always figured it 3X due to shipping and customs. :( ANyone you know taking a vacation to the US anytime soon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keptwoman Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 I dont know what geopuzzles are, but is a strategy game shop likely to have them? There are also companies which will be your "US address" then ship them to you at cost, but darned if I can remember their names. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hathersage Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 http://www.geotoystore.com/ On the right hand side they have a list of the online stores that carry them. I noticed some won't ship outside the US, but some will... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Would a Canadian company be likely to have better shipping rates? http://www.canadianhomeeducation.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=850818001047&Tp= I presume you have checked with Australian puzzle distributors? I'm not having a lot of luck finding those at the moment, but might be easier for you. Have you tried emailing the manufacturer (http://www.geotoystore.com) and asking if they have any other non-US retailers? Here's a possibility---Toys R Us carries them in the US http://www.toysrus.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=geopuzzle&origkw=geopuzzle&f=Taxonomy/TRUS/2254197&sr=1 It looks like they have some stores in Australia---could you get it through them? I don't see a way to search their inventory through the Australian site to find out. Perhaps they could special order them for you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannah Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Oh, I can SO understand to your frustration! There are a couple of things from Timberdoodle and others we're living without because the shipping costs are so ridiculous. Lulu.com is charging $38 for shipping on a $25 book I desperately want, but I just can't justify the cost. We started with Singapore's Primary Math and as we are happy with it, I don't want to change midway through. The same with Latina Christiana. It more than doubles the costs of the books. And they're not available locally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtroad Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Have you priced having the items shipped to a friend or relative in the States..... then have them ship it to you? Sometimes business add a good bit to shipping costs & it might add up differrently trying another method. Not sure, just an idea! We used to send supplies to Haiti for a Pastor. Now, they want $250-$500 per box :001_huh:... it is heartbreaking. Haiti is closer to me than New York City. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 (edited) How about this place: http://www.discoverytogo.org/shipping.htm International Fees: Orders under $25: $15 standard shipping Orders from $25 to $60: $25 standard shipping Orders over $60: $30 standard shipping http://www.xump.com/ has them too; I added one to my cart and the price to ship to Australia was more than that store (above), around $45 for one puzzle, but certainly less than $175! Edited June 14, 2009 by stripe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted June 14, 2009 Author Share Posted June 14, 2009 Thanks for the ideas, folks. Dearest Ibbygirl has volunteered to play post mistress for me! :) Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 Thanks for the ideas, folks. Dearest Ibbygirl has volunteered to play post mistress for me! :) Rosie I'm happy to help! :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 If that store will charge you only $30 for shipping for anything over $60, I'd be careful -- shipping yourself might actually be more expensive. Price it first to get an idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 I was at a conference with Timberdoodle this weekend and asked about your situation and they said they are really frustrated too, but have no other options right now. I was hoping that seeing someone face to face may get a different option or suggestion for you...but alas...no luck. Are there any other companies in Europe that can ship to you or is that just as expensive/more expensive? Sounds like you and other hsers need to get together and group buy some items and see if you can have it sent via freight! Maybe you can get someone to fly it in for you like a 'homeschool mule' LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted June 15, 2009 Author Share Posted June 15, 2009 I was at a conference with Timberdoodle this weekend and asked about your situation and they said they are really frustrated too, but have no other options right now. I was hoping that seeing someone face to face may get a different option or suggestion for you...but alas...no luck. I emailed them, and they got back to me this morning saying there's no way known shipping would have been $175 and it was a bug in the program, and they wish they could offer surface shipping but USPS doesn't do it any more so they can't! What can we do? Start an international homeschoolers petition to the USPS? Heheh. Thanks for thinking of us "off coast" people :) Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 I doubt the USPS cares. They got rid of surface shipping about 2 years ago. They are in constant budget crisis, so I doubt they want to offer anything lower in price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikeBookBread Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 I goofed on an ebay listing a while back and ended up paying the buyer $15 to take my toy off of my hands :banghead: because I listed "first class mail" as an option. Bah -- I was too quick to list and I didn't do a thorough proofing job of the listing. I had to ship the toy priority mail as first class mail doesn't even allow you to ship an item over about 1 pound. No wonder the USPS is thinking about dropping Saturday delivery...most people are choosing UPS and FedEx for their shipping needs. Hope it works out Rosie! Those puzzles are SOOOOO cool. I have one on my Timberdoodle wish list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 I emailed them, and they got back to me this morning saying there's no way known shipping would have been $175 and it was a bug in the program, and they wish they could offer surface shipping but USPS doesn't do it any more so they can't! What can we do? Start an international homeschoolers petition to the USPS? Heheh. Thanks for thinking of us "off coast" people :) Rosie So, what shipping options are there from the US to Australia? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 Oh Woe! They won't ship internationally through Amazon! Grr. I'll have to wait and see if Timberdoodle get back to me with reasonable postage. :( Rosie Yes, things can be shipped flat rate international for about $30-50, I think it depends on the size of the box. If these puzzles fit in any of those boxes, beg Timberdoodle to get one and tell them you will inform all your Australian friends what a wonderful company they are...and that you have many well-heeled friends! :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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