Did Amazon recently change the Marketplace shipping rates?

[Daniel A]

It was a few months since I last ordered something from Amazon Marketplace sellers. I usually check Amazon UK first since their shipping rates within Europe have been much lower than any of the other branches.

When I just was checking out a few items on the US Amazon site I noted that the overseas shipping rate for CD:s seems to have been raised from $6.89 to $14.29 per item, which seems unreasonable.

And when I went to Amazon UK to check if there had been any changes over there I found that they don't even quote the rates any more. If I click on the 'International and domestic delivery rates' link below every Marketplace listing I only get a message that "Delivery rates for some items sold by Sellers may differ. Please check the delivery charges before you click the final "Place your order" button on the checkout page. ", So I have to put the item in my shopping cart and go through the checkout process just to see what the shipping charges are, which doesn't strike me as particularly user-friendly. (However, when I put a few CD:s in the basket it still appeared to be £1.82 per CD within the EU for those).

Has anyone else noted these changes?

Edited March 19, 2013 by Daniel A

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Just ordered some books from Amazon UK sellers and the UK rates havedn't changed and aren't different for sellers in the US from those in the UK.

When you go into the sellers' offer lists, in my experience you can see the postage charge (in faint print, so perhaps it's not noticeable) just under the offer price.

MG

[J.A.W.]

USPS international rates have gone up by more than 100% recently, reason why U.S. Amazon Marketplace international rates have also gone up by more than 100%. When you're in Europe and order a CD from a U.S. Amazon Marketplace seller, you will be charged $14+ shipping - provided they do ship overseas.

Edited March 19, 2013 by J.A.W.

[Daniel A]

USPS international rates have gone up by more than 100% recently, reason why U.S. Amazon Marketplace international rates have also gone up by more than 100%.

Thanks, Hans, I didn't know that.

When you go into the sellers' offer lists, in my experience you can see the postage charge (in faint print, so perhaps it's not noticeable) just under the offer price.

The domestic shipping rates for the UK are displayed. However, to get the EU rates you've had to click on the link.

It's funny, further down the page where the rates were previously quoted, it does also say "Postage rates and delivery information for items sold by Sellers at Amazon Marketplace can also be found when you click on a Seller's feedback rating in a list of Sellers offering an item for sale. From the page that appears, just click on "Delivery rates" or "Shipping rates" at the bottom right of the page." But if I do that, I only get directed back to the same page where it says that the rates may differ...

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Not very user friendly. Why not write complaining about user friendliness? I usually get a quick response from Amazon UK when I complain. Not always a solution...

MG

[Daniel A]

Not very user friendly. Why not write complaining about user friendliness?

I might do that - it can be fun to complain if you're in the right mood!

[ejp626]

I thought the international rates for books were always unreasonable, DVDs slightly less so, and CDs fairly reasonable. There was one previous round of adjustments where CDs still were within a somewhat reasonable range. Now minimum international shipping for anything, including CDs, is $14, which is totally out of line, even with the USPS increases. So I will either not shop Amazon.com anymore, or in very rare cases, ship to a family member in the U.S. But it is totally sucky and upsets me, so I spend a lot less time on Amazon.com, that's for sure. I know when I'm not wanted...

[Daniel A]

The sellers are the winners, since I take it they get the $14 as a shipping reimbursement regardless of the actual cost. It seems odd that the rate is the same regardless of media type; it's more costly to send an LP. Of course the fixed rate system is unfavourable for sellers when it comes to large multi-disc sets. Maybe that is what most people are ordering these days.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

The sellers are the winners, since I take it they get the $14 as a shipping reimbursement regardless of the actual cost. It seems odd that the rate is the same regardless of media type; it's more costly to send an LP. Of course the fixed rate system is unfavourable for sellers when it comes to large multi-disc sets. Maybe that is what most people are ordering these days.

The sellers won't be "winning" much if they get reimbursed $14.00 for a CD that cost them $12.75 to ship. That's what the cost to ship a single CD to Europe from the US went up to. Add in the cost for that padded envelope and that $14 is pretty much gone.

[ejp626]

The sellers are the winners, since I take it they get the $14 as a shipping reimbursement regardless of the actual cost. It seems odd that the rate is the same regardless of media type; it's more costly to send an LP. Of course the fixed rate system is unfavourable for sellers when it comes to large multi-disc sets. Maybe that is what most people are ordering these days.

The sellers won't be "winning" much if they get reimbursed $14.00 for a CD that cost them $12.75 to ship. That's what the cost to ship a single CD to Europe from the US went up to. Add in the cost for that padded envelope and that $14 is pretty much gone.

As far as I can tell, the rates certainly went up, but they are still less for Canada than for Europe, and it is ridiculous that Amazon lumps Canada (and Mexico) into a generic International category.

Anyway, Dusty Groove has managed to find some service that cuts the price for shipping to Canada considerably. Assuming it works out (I have a couple small orders outstanding), I will see if Jazz Loft and some other firms will look into using it.

[king ubu]

Yep, the rates went up around 100%, I think. Just ordered a disc from some amazon.com marketplace vendor and had to swallow hard before hitting the order button ...

Actuallly I think this entire one-price-fits-all shipping costs policy sucks. I've gotten packages with a 1€ stamp where I paid 6€ for shipping, while officially it's amazon's policy that shipping costs shouldn't be a hidden part of the price of whatever you buy.

But then, why do I pay 3.40€ for a CD from amazon.fr marketplace, but 6€ for same from amazon.de or amazon.it, when the actual shipping costs to Switzerland seem to be just around the same (and 3€ is reasonable)? When ordering multi-disc sets though, obviously 6€ is fine, but then amazon doesn't allow for a distinction.

[bogdan101]

I'm in Canada, and same thing here: it only makes sense to buy big box sets from Amazon.com sellers now, for single discs the shipping charge is unreasonable.

[ejp626]

I'm in Canada, and same thing here: it only makes sense to buy big box sets from Amazon.com sellers now, for single discs the shipping charge is unreasonable.

About the only good news is that Amazon.ca has finally gotten a bit closer to Amazon.com in price -- and some European sellers, esp. from the UK, now have joined up as resellers. Otherwise there are quite a few purchases I would have passed on completely due to the new shipping rates.

But it is true that Canadian shipping rates, esp. internationally, have been really high for some time, and now the U.S. is catching up (sadly).

[king ubu]

Shipping rates seem to increase all over (not only from vendors but from postal services, I mean!)

But blame the U.S., they were the first to double and triple all shipping rates, ten or so years ago (post 9-11 paranoia? btw, this morning when I watched my clock for the first time, it said 9:11 ... make what you want of that ...)

[Chuck Nessa]

It means you are a terrorist. :-)

[king ubu]

yeah well, I'm the (smug) king of a non-existant nation, so some might get that notion

[J.A.W.]

Chuck,

I suppose your overseas shipping rates will have to go up as well.

[Tim McG]

My advice?

Avoid the shipping costs altogether and buy into the Amazon Prime program.

Free shipping for all items plus the occasional two-day shipping option, free. Saved us a bundle.

Edited March 20, 2013 by GoodSpeak

[J.A.W.]

My advice?

Avoid the shipping costs altogether and buy into the Amazon Prime program.

Free shipping for all items plus the occasional two-day shipping option, free. Saved us a bundle.

That doesn't work with Marketplace sellers and I'm not sure it's open to non-U.S. residents.

[Chuck Nessa]

Chuck,

I suppose your overseas shipping rates will have to go up as well.

Seems I will never ship overseas again.

[Jim Alfredson]

Yes, US shipping rates have increased dramatically for international deliveries. It used to cost me just under $5 to mail a single disc in a bubble mailer to anywhere in Europe. Now it is upwards of $12. It's insane.

[romualdo]

That's really screwed me in Australia

I relied on Amazon (US) for picking up many OOP Jazz CDs but not anymore (refuse to pay $14 for a single CD to be shipped here)

Looks like I'll focus on Amazon UK, Germany & France

[sidewinder]

Looks like we are returning to the 'bad old days' when I only ever bought CDs from the US on visits over there. The 'Jazz Messengers' site and our endangered domestic CD outlets will get more of my trade. In any case I tend to buy most of my CDs second-hand from domestic specialists anyway.

refuse to pay $14 for a single CD to be shipped here

Quite.

Edited March 20, 2013 by sidewinder

[David Ayers]

I operate my own pricing policy. The cost of a CD is 10 UK pounds inclusive of shipping, or less. Anybody who wants more than that, I'm not buying. In-store, yes, I pay the asking price, because that is a service which costs more. I'd more-or-less stopped ordering from the US and I prefer to shop local for CD. Those rises are steep and will further damp down what used to be an enjoyable flea-market.

[Big Beat Steve]

It was a few months since I last ordered something from Amazon Marketplace sellers. I usually check Amazon UK first since their shipping rates within Europe have been much lower than any of the other branches.

When I just was checking out a few items on the US Amazon site I noted that the overseas shipping rate for CD:s seems to have been raised from $6.89 to $14.29 per item, which seems unreasonable.

BTW, since this has evolved into a thread discussing international shipping rates in general:

Daniel, it seems like the USA aren't the only country that has inflated shipping rates in recent years.

I have the impression that international shipping rates from Sweden have gone up considerably too. I've been buying through Tradera here and there since about 2005/2006 and have noticed in the past year or so that rates for sending parcels or larger letters have increased quite steeply.

Or am I wrong and have only been lucky in the past in that I might have stayed below certain weight thresholds by coincidence?

At any rate, close to 7 euros for sending one (thin) mag within seems to be pretty hefty to me and I cannot recall it has always been that way.