[78-L] Help Requested For Foreign Shipping Rates

[Malcolm - Venerable Music]

OK - I know I am replying to my own message, but I am really hoping for some 
help this time - especially from our Canadian list mates!

Again, for those who are interested, I have created some set price shipping 
rates for the upcoming Venerable Music record auctions. You can view the 
tables here - http://www.venerablemusic.com/shippingtables.htm

My main question is that Canada seems to not offer a standard Air Mail above 
4lb, 4oz? Using the Canadian Postal website, I was only able to get surface 
(or Express type) mail options. Is that correct, or am I missing something? 
Can you ship a 5 lb (2.5 kg) package from Canada to the UK via Air Mail?

If anyone sees any egregious errors in the tables, please let me know. Of 
course it will not be a perfect system, but hopefully one everyone can work 
with!

Thanks Again for any insight provided!
Malcolm

Venerable Music - http://www.venerablemusic.com/
Venerable Radio - http://www.venerablemusic.com/samphpweb/index.html
On Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/venerablemusic


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Malcolm - Venerable Music" <malcolm at venerablemusic.com>
To: <78-L at 78online.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2008 5:16 PM
Subject: [78-L] Help Requested For Foreign Shipping Rates


> Hello everyone - as many of you know, I have been working on a 
> multi-seller online auction (specific to 78s & cylinders) to rival the 
> ever-worsening eboy site.
>
>
>
> If you have not yet heard of the project, there is more information here - 
> http://www.venerablemusic.com/auction.htm
>
>
>
> In the past few weeks we have changed programmers and the project has gone 
> from moving at a snails pace to somewhat briskly. I have even been quoted 
> that the target date for having the site ready as soon as 6-weeks away 
> (but I'll believe it when I see it)!
>
>
>
> One of the stipulations of selling on the site will be agreeing to set 
> shipping rates that are a standard cost of supplies plus shipping. Since 
> everyone has different methods & ideas on the best way to ship, I was 
> hoping to get some feedback from both the selling and buying perspective.
>
>
>
> First off, does anyone routinely prefer to pay extra for Priority 
> shipping? The problem with set rates on Priority Mail is that the price 
> increases quickly depending on distance (especially from record traveling 
> coast to coast). So then, set rates either are too high for say a package 
> moving only a short distance (and the buyer is screwed) or the rates are 
> too low for a package moving across the country (and the seller is 
> screwed). Media Mail pricing is much more liberal & does not increase with 
> the same ferocity, so my gut wants to set the shipping rates to err with 
> the seller (and screw the buyer) if the buyer chooses a Priority option 
> rather than a Media Mail option? I do want to prompt this by stating that 
> my goal is to benefit the seller whenever possible as they are the ones 
> that will end up ultimately paying for the service. I believe the buyers 
> will go where ever the records are being sold, so the goal is to create a 
> better atmosphere for the sellers.
>
>
>
> This will be a global system, so where I will really need help is shipping 
> rates for UK to UK sales as well as well as -
>
> UK to US
>
> UK to Japan
>
> UK to Australia
>
> UK to Africa
>
> UK to South America
>
>
>
> The prices will be set in the following manner -
>
> 1-2 records
>
> 3-5 records
>
> 6-10 records
>
> & 10 +
>
>
>
> As an example (these are not the actual set rates that will apply - just a 
> guess). These will be rates for First Class Air Mail - as I feel it would 
> be best to use the lowest common denominator.
>
> US to UK sales
>
> 1-2 records - $17
>
> 3-5 records - $25
>
> 6-10 records - $38
>
> 10 + records - $50
>
>
>
> So, if any of our UK, Australian or Japanese members can help out with 
> what they feel a good, round, generic shipping rate would be (again, from 
> either a buyer or seller perspective) it would truly be appreciated. 
> Especially costs within ones country - UK to UK, Japan to Japan (or Asia 
> included), Australia to Australia - as I am having a hard time figuring 
> shipping prices for countries other than my own.
>
>
>
> Please, feel free to reply to me privately or via the 78-l group!
> Thanks,
>
> Malcolm (in Georgia)
>
>
> Venerable Music - http://www.venerablemusic.com
> Venerable Radio - http://www.venerablemusic.com/samphpweb/index.html
> On Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/venerablemusic
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