USPS shipping on bows and arrow boxes hit with $15 surcharge on Monday

[Ray Lyon]

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So even if you're getting a dozen raw wood arrow shafts for $40, you'll have an additional $20-25 in shipping costs.

[McDave]

I normally order my shafts full length, and cut them down myself to whatever length shaft I need to make a 29" arrow.  With the new surcharge, it would make sense to pay the seller an extra $5 to cut them to length, if he can find a box that is exactly 30" to ship them in.  Of course, with many vendors offering free shipping, we'll probably just see this surcharge as an increase in the price of shafts.

[kennym]

Kinda rough on my customers as most lams are 36" in length.  Getting tougher to have a small business.

[BAK]

Any added cost to doing business is a kick in the teeth.  With the economy in the shape it's in why would they pull this now?

[McDave]

The USPS is supposed to offer affordable postal services to the general public.  It also has a mandate to operate within the limits of the money it collects.  The two don't add up, unfortunately, and haven't added up for some time.  The fees charged by UPS and FedEx have already been adjusted to reflect increased operating costs, which I suppose is mainly increased fuel costs.  Obviously, few people are going to be willing to pay $100 in shipping costs to get something that cost $100 or less to buy, but that seems to be what it's coming to.

[Al Dean]

Not to be negative, but you might wait until Monday to see if this is actually a fact.

[Alexander Traditional]

I've slowed way down as I am stocked up on almost everything,but I might would check out UPS.

[GCook]

I'd suggest you order enough shafts to last a while when you do.  I too order full length and cut but normally wait for a sale to get several dozen at a time.

[gnome]

... thank you Loius Dejoy...
... you get what you vote for...

[kennym]

Not to be negative, but you might wait until Monday to see if this is actually a fact.

I asked my postmaster and she has same sheet as pictured ...

[gnome]

Not to be negative, but you might wait until Monday to see if this is actually a fact.

I asked my postmaster and she has same sheet as pictured ...

... I admit, my first thought was, "it's an april fools joke", but no.... it's on the USPS web site....   

[Wudstix]

Have 5 dozen shafts being given to me, if I come pick them up.  3 hours drive one way, but I can always combine with something else I want in the general area.  Would work out to @$24 per dozen.

[Mike Bolin]

I recently shipped a takedown recurve to Arizona. Price including insurance ($1000) via USPS was quoted at $45.75. I checked with UPS and shipped the bow with insurance for $25.85. I was surprised at the price difference, and I even asked the gentleman as UPS if he was certain that he'd charged me the right amount.

[trick00]

I will NEVER NEVER NEVER use USPS to ship a bow again, they "lost" one that I shipped during the last St Judes auction and then would not honor the $350 insurance that I had taken out because I had no receipt from when I got it to prove value. It was a bow that I had won during St Judes 2 yrs ago. Appealed twice, denied twice.

[Paul/KS]

Any added cost to doing business is a kick in the teeth.  With the economy in the shape it's in why would they pull this now?

Because they can...

[Flem]

It sucks for sure, USPS has to factor fuel costs like everybody else. But, it's a documented fact that the Post Master General want to cut services and raise prices to the tune of $58 billion over a 10yr period. Guess who picks up the slack?

[kennym]

It sucks for sure, USPS has to factor fuel costs like everybody else. But, it's a documented fact that the Post Master General want to cut services and raise prices to the tune of $58 billion over a 10yr period. Guess who picks up the slack?

That will help UPS out...

[Mike Mecredy]

I shipped off 4 bows yesterday, and asked the postal clerks about it and they said haven't heard anything about those additional charges.  But if for some reason it happens, I'll just have to change the way I do things. 

[kennym]

First label printed, 38x7x1 weighing 1 lb 4 oz sending to TX  USPS  $26.75  ---  UPS  $13.36

So I'm assuming the $15  surcharge is for real folks....

I ship a lot of laminations, so this is a bite in the a$$ for myself and my customers.

I can now charge the $15 extra or buy boxes to ship with UPS (postal boxes were free )

It will have to be passed on to consumer either way...

I just checked the package weight without the extra length and it was $11.75  so it's for sure a surcharge.

[Bowguy67]

Guys if it's an extra 15 bucks, just don't order one dozen. Order 3-4 if need be to offset costs. Even if you pair w a neighbor to do so. I bet 3 dozen is same price as 1 dozen to ship