What's with Micro-Trains now not shipping direct outside the U.S.A.?

[Paradise275]

Micro-ttrains has just sild in a new clause in their shipping policy that they will not ship directly to customers outside the U.S. Go to their web site click on free shipping and again free shipping to see this below!

Shipping
All shipments are via UPS. Delivery charges are calculated automatically at the time of your order. Free UPS Ground Shipping on all qualifying orders over $200 except shipments to Alaska and Hawaii. Orders over $200 to Alaska and Hawaii will receive a $10 discount of the desired shipping method. Your order will be ready to ship within 1-2 business days after placing your order. You will be able to specify UPS Ground, 3-Day Select, 2-Day Air or Next Day or Next Day Air Saver shipping on your order. No weekend or holiday delivery is available. Sorry, we do not currently ship outside the United States or to APO, FPO, or PO Boxes.

Rick

[bbussey]

They do distribute, worldwide.  It's not as if they are direct-only.  All products should be available either locally through a hobby dealer or via one who ships internationally.
 

[JoeD]

Sorry the verbiage has not been updated...we do ship world wide on line.  Sara is looking into it now.

Cheers

Joe

[Paradise275]

I tried to order a B&O dining car. It was going to cost me $101. for U.P.S. select service or regular U.P.S. is $89.
It won`t let me ship any other way. What`s wrong with U.S.P.S. like all the other suppliers offerÉ

Rick

[bbussey]

Which is why it's cheaper to buy it at retail when you are outside of the U.S.

[JoeD]

I'll check on that for you.

Joe

I tried to order a B&O dining car. It was going to cost me $101. for U.P.S. select service or regular U.P.S. is $89.
It won`t let me ship any other way. What`s wrong with U.S.P.S. like all the other suppliers offerÉ

Rick

[John]

Sorry, we do not currently ship outside the United States or to APO, FPO, or PO Boxes.[/color]

I also hate it when shippers do this .. APO and FPO are no different that any other USPS service ... and it penalizes service members ..

[Jesse6669]

I'm sure this is not a random decision;  It most likely stems from the number of un-deliverable, lost, or damaged shipments going to those locations in the past.   


APO/FPOs ..  my personal experience shipping to them with computer equipment was good, but this was over 5 years ago; They are "sortof" still domestic shipments.

[Ike the BN Freak]

I also hate it when shippers do this .. APO and FPO are no different that any other USPS service ... and it penalizes service members ..

Same here, was looking at purchasing some stuff off ebay while stationed overseas, the seller wanted to charge an additional $15 ontop of their shipping because it was going to an APO...sorry, but no...

[delamaize]

I also hate it when shippers do this .. APO and FPO are no different that any other USPS service ... and it penalizes service members ..

I hated this also, I actually started forming a "Black list" of retailers that will not ship APO/FPO, and refuse to do business with them. I also let my bitter old man out of the box, and wrote a letter to each one explaining that if they didn't want to take the extra time to ship to APO/FPO, then I didn't want to spend my money with them. I still do not do business with those on my black list, even though I am back state side.

On the other side of the coin, I try to shop at places that will ship APO/FPO, and support our military members. Tirerack.com is always my first choice for tires because of this.

[Jeff AKA St0rm]

I tried to order a B&O dining car. It was going to cost me $101. for U.P.S. select service or regular U.P.S. is $89.
It won`t let me ship any other way. What`s wrong with U.S.P.S. like all the other suppliers offerÉ

Rick

Did you try to call Panther Hobbies. I have not been there much with golf season under way but they might have one. If you can't make it to the store Alex will ship it to you.

Jeff

[Paradise275]

Thanks Jeff.
I got one but that doesn't answer the question. Why can't MTL not ship USPS like everyone else?
Shipping by UPS the ad a $50 import/handling fee to the order.

Rick

[thomasjmdavis]

I think it is important to remember that MT is primarily a manufacturer, and any retail operations they run are merely for our convenience as customer service to the consumer.  Without knowing about their business, I can't say, but it would not be unusual for a manufacturer to enter into a contract with a carrier to give them all or a fixed percentage of their business in exchange for a reduced rate, or some similar arrangement that could influence their use of one carrier over another.

It is simpler for MT if you order from a local or online retailer- to whom they are usually shipping in great enough quantities that the UPS rates would be more competitive than the USPS rates.  The retailer is more used to shipping small quantities and small weights, and more likely to take advantage of the USPS rates for small packages- where the USPS is most competitive.

[Paradise275]

Yes Thomas but the manufacturer also sells at full retail and, if the local dealer doesn't get enough then who?
The large dealers in the U.S. like BLW won't ship to Canada. Canadian dealers have to pay shipping from MTL unlike the U.S. dealers that get free shipping.

Sometimes it's the only way to get something by ordering direct.

Rick

[JoeD]

Rick, if you contact Sara at MTL she can fill you in on shipping.  I talked to her before I left on vacation and it didn't sound like there was a restriction on shipping.

Thanks Jeff.
I got one but that doesn't answer the question. Why can't MTL not ship USPS like everyone else?
Shipping by UPS the ad a $50 import/handling fee to the order.

Rick