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Post by benziger on Nov 27, 2020 22:48:31 GMT
I think this has been a topic here before: The shipping costs. I ordered books for 50$ and the postage is 22$ - the slowest way, without tracking. Even worse: At the last moment I added a tiny little booklet for 1.64, and Lulu immediately increased my postage by 1.22.
In my opinion, this is completely excessive and intransparent. If I go to the post office without being a corporate customer, I pay $7 (until 2kg) - not three times as much. I almost have the impression that either Lulu has an expensive shipping partner or is earning a lot of money from the shipping costs.
What is your experience?
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Nov 27, 2020 23:07:59 GMT
I think this has been a topic here before: The shipping costs. I ordered books for 50$ and the postage is 22$ - the slowest way, without tracking. Even worse: At the last moment I added a tiny little booklet for 1.64, and Lulu immediately increased my postage by 1.22. In my opinion, this is completely excessive and intransparent. If I go to the post office without being a corporate customer, I pay $7 (until 2kg) - not three times as much. I almost have the impression that either Lulu has an expensive shipping partner or is earning a lot of money from the shipping costs. What is your experience? Lulu Press pretty much adds a surcharge or convenience fee to any service provided. One example would be back when the company offered its Trifecta Package of reviews from the three main US companies that do reviews. If an author got those reviews on their own it could save them up to $2,700 or so.
Postage is the same general deal. Since Lulu Press is paying the printer to print your books as well as giving the printer part of the shipping cost money to ship your books, a surcharge or convenience fee gets tacked onto the shipping cost.
Those surcharges or convenience fees are part of how the company makes a profit. Is it excessive? Since the printer gets a commercial rate for shipping your books I'd say the price is a bit steep.
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Post by BlueAndGold on Nov 28, 2020 2:40:58 GMT
Lulu's shipping fee runs 32% - 38% of my Lulu bill, on average, buying in small lots.
In other words, if I want to buy a $1 book, I must pay $1.68, on average.
With that said, however, no shipping fee is ever less than $3.99, so in reality, if I were to buy a $1 book it would actually cost me $4.99, plus a little tax.
I might add, when I buy in larger lots, the shipping fee is significantly lower. Closer to 20%.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2020 4:52:34 GMT
I think this has been a topic here before: The shipping costs. I ordered books for 50$ and the postage is 22$ - the slowest way, without tracking. Even worse: At the last moment I added a tiny little booklet for 1.64, and Lulu immediately increased my postage by 1.22. In my opinion, this is completely excessive and intransparent. If I go to the post office without being a corporate customer, I pay $7 (until 2kg) - not three times as much. I almost have the impression that either Lulu has an expensive shipping partner or is earning a lot of money from the shipping costs. What is your experience? Lulu's shipping cost, in my experience, is lower than that of Ingram Spark. |
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Post by potet on Nov 28, 2020 11:10:23 GMT
I think this has been a topic here before: The shipping costs. What is your experience? Nothing particular in my case. For books printed in France and sent to an address in France, the postage is the standard French Colissimo rate for the parcel. In this case, 4 books ordered yesterday, 5.84€, which is quite reasonable.  |
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Post by potet on Nov 28, 2020 11:16:18 GMT
I think this has been a topic here before: The shipping costs. What is your experience? In the case of the English version of my Tagalog grammar (6x9", 776p, soft bound) printed in the USA and send to California: 6.32€.  |
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Post by Ken on Nov 28, 2020 11:18:11 GMT
I seem to recall that there was some fluctuation dependent upon Country the books were published in and destination address.
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Post by potet on Nov 28, 2020 11:21:29 GMT
I think this has been a topic here before: The shipping costs. What is your experience? The same Tagalog grammar sent to an informant in the Philippines, printed either in the USA or in Australia: 6.15€  |
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Post by potet on Nov 28, 2020 11:25:59 GMT
I think this has been a topic here before: The shipping costs. What is your experience? The same Tagalog grammar sent to a Canadian in Winnipeg, probably printed in Canada: 6.32€  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2020 16:38:13 GMT
The same Tagalog grammar sent to Canadian in Winnipeg, probably printed in Canada: 6.32€ View AttachmentFrom France? |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2020 16:42:42 GMT
The same Tagalog grammar sent to Canadian in Winnipeg, probably printed in Canada: 6.32€ View AttachmentFrom France? If it's going to Canada from Canada should be less. About $6 Canadian. Taking into account Winnipeg is further than Montreal from their Toronto plant, it should be about $8. |
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Post by potet on Nov 28, 2020 22:33:38 GMT
The same Tagalog grammar sent to a Canadian in Winnipeg, probably printed in Canada: 6.32€ View AttachmentFrom France? What a strange question! I am in France, so I placed the order for this Canadian friend from my computer in France. As you know, Lulu publishes POD books, and the printing company selected is always the closest possible to the addressee. The shipping cost mentioned is either from the Canadian printer or the US printer to Winnipeg. |
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Post by potet on Nov 28, 2020 22:42:42 GMT
If it's going to Canada from Canada should be less. About $6 Canadian. Taking into account Winnipeg is further than Montreal from their Toronto plant, it should be about $8. According to an online converter, 6.32€ = 9.83 Canadian $. You say it should be 8 Canadian $. You don't know the weight of the book, how did you reckon that postage? |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2020 4:10:44 GMT
If it's going to Canada from Canada should be less. About $6 Canadian. Taking into account Winnipeg is further than Montreal from their Toronto plant, it should be about $8. According to an online converter, 6.32€ = 9.83 Canadian $. You say it should be 8 Canadian $. You don't know the weight of the book, how did you reckon that postage? I've sent enormous books overseas and recall the price being moderate (through Lulu). Perhaps there's a cost according to weight calculator online if you want to check if you're being overcharged. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2020 10:00:20 GMT
I think this has been a topic here before: The shipping costs. I ordered books for 50$ and the postage is 22$ - the slowest way, without tracking. Even worse: At the last moment I added a tiny little booklet for 1.64, and Lulu immediately increased my postage by 1.22. In my opinion, this is completely excessive and intransparent. If I go to the post office without being a corporate customer, I pay $7 (until 2kg) - not three times as much. I almost have the impression that either Lulu has an expensive shipping partner or is earning a lot of money from the shipping costs. What is your experience? I agree Benziger. I bought a book for my son living in the USA (I live in England) and I was appalled at the postage. |
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