Ridiculous STEW MAC Shipping Charges...

[JayFreddy]

I like Stew Mac, but their shipping charges are too high!

(link removed)

StewMac calculates shipping as a percentage of the value of your order, and the more you buy, the lower the percentage.

If the order is over $300, you can pay as low as 5% for shipping. The problem is if your order is $30, the least expensive shipping still whacks you for 30%.

This makes perfect sense if you're living in 1998...

Meanwhile, most of the other music supply vendors offer free shipping.

For example:

• MusiciansFriend... FREE shipping
  
• Music123... FREE shipping
  
• American Music Supply...FREE shipping
  
• Sweet Water... FREE shipping
  
• Amazon... FREE shipping (on items over $25)
  
• Most new items on eBay? That's right... FREE shipping!

On the plus side, the high cost of shipping made me look elsewhere, and I was able to find what I was looking for, for a lot less money (and a LOT less shipping! )

I haven't yet decided whether to try the new vendor or stick with Stew Mac.

I'm sure I'd buy a lot more stuff from Stew Mac if their shipping charges were lower. They don't have to price match all the other larger vendors, but at least bring their shipping fee schedule into the 21st century...

Nuffa' me! /rant

 

[cowboytwang]

I just went through a strange shipping rate dealing with a JBL wholesaler. I wanted to order 6 speakers, and they came to $3000 for the order. They said it would be $450 for freight shipping on the order, but they do free shipping on orders over $3500.
So I added one more cabinet to the order, to make the order $3500 and get free shipping. It was like I only paid $50 for that last speaker box.

 

[rebelwoclue]

I just went through a strange shipping rate dealing with a JBL wholesaler. I wanted to order 6 speakers, and they came to $3000 for the order. They said it would be $450 for freight shipping on the order, but they do free shipping on orders over $3500.
So I added one more cabinet to the order, to make the order $3500 and get free shipping. It was like I only paid $50 for that last speaker box.

Man, you must really like those JBLs! Wow!

 

[AllroyPA]

MusicGoRound stores are the same way, and when you complain they tell you how they're francised and they can charge what they want ... :neutral:

 

[adjason]

I agree I like a lot of stewmac stuff but that shipping is too expensive...always makes me feel like I got ripped off

 

[ItchyFingers]

I just looked at my latest Stew Mac order. Yes 30% shipping. (note that was on an expidited order that came to my door here in Canada in 2 days flat). Now that's service.
I have other parts on order from another vender that is still projected to arrive in 2 - 4 weeks. I would rather pay shipping once than have to pay shipping again to send it back like some of the junk I have receoved from other venders that were mentioned in this post.
Yes there are many items one can get cheaper and I do my homework on that note but Stewart MacDonald has never doen me wrong yet.
Regardless, they totally support the products and will work you through any problem and even walk you through a whole build (they helped me anyway).
Deal with who you like of course but Stewart MacDonald gets my vote 100%.
There are no local venders here that I know of as of yet that compares.
Are there any good Canadian guitar part venders out there with online catalogs and purchasing?

 

[Doug 54]

I have agreed about $$ shipping charges 4 yrs!

Plus, I live in OH and add the tax. Great tools, but I avoid SM mostly anymore.



.

 

[Shango66]

Living in Australia , Stew macs shipping costs are ok. Plenty of eBay sellers charge a lot more.

 

[SacDAve]

Shipping charges seem to be all over the place from one place to the next. I've stopped clicking more than once when the shipping charge was exposed. Then if you really want a shock go to one of those pack it, ship for you places. Oh well it is what it is to be honest I'm still mad from when Levi's hit $12 a pair.

 

[SamClemons]

As a seller, shipping small parts is almost always a looser for the seller. Think about, say I am selling a 2-3 dollar guitar input jack. To sell that part, and hope to make 50 cents profit maybe I have to advertise it, take the order, someone has to pull that order, get a box or padded envelope (shipping materials are expensive) someone had to order those parts, and the shipping supplies, and you have to warehouse those, so someone has to pull it, pack it, lable it (pay for the lable and machine to print it also), then you have to get it to UPS, even if they pick it up, hope it gets there in one piece and is not lost or returned.....Lot of trouble for a few pennies profit.

 

[BartS]

They've charged me 16 dollars to ship nut files. There shipping is outragous. If I can avoid them I do and order from somewhere else. The guy in there videos really knows what he's doing and that makes me even more frustrated with them. Thing is it's the only place I can find a lot of stuff.

 

[Alamo]

As a seller, shipping small parts is almost always a looser for the seller. Think about, say I am selling a 2-3 dollar guitar input jack. To sell that part, and hope to make 50 cents profit maybe I have to advertise it, take the order, someone has to pull that order, get a box or padded envelope (shipping materials are expensive) someone had to order those parts, and the shipping supplies, and you have to warehouse those, so someone has to pull it, pack it, lable it (pay for the lable and machine to print it also), then you have to get it to UPS, even if they pick it up, hope it gets there in one piece and is not lost or returned.....Lot of trouble for a few pennies profit.

Oh, please! you're making too much sense.

we want to rant in peace

 

[TheRumRunner]

My buddy Dave has an ongoing battle with Stewmac, you've got to see some of his vids.

WARNING - not for the faint of ears... I warned ya



DW

 

[TheRumRunner]

Oh my...



DW

 

[TheRumRunner]

lol

More...



Oh and...



DW

 

[TheRumRunner]

This one set him off...



DW

 

[jbmando]

Sam, you should get some padded mailers and use the postal service. My saddle screw vender does this. Use UPS when it makes sense, but mail it when it's just a small part.

 

[kennl]

MusicGoRound stores are the same way, and when you complain they tell you how they're francised and they can charge what they want ... :neutral:

Works both ways. I just bought a used EMG pickup from a MGR store online, and they charged a reasonable UPS fee. Depends on the particular store.

 

[KokoTele]

I think you're comparing the wrong apples here. StewMac is not a musical instrument retailer, they're a tool and supply vendor. The margins are not as great and there's very little in the way of incentives from the wholesalers.

Their shipping charges are in line with other tool and supply vendors. Compare them to Woodcraft, Grizzly, Luthier's Mercantile, etc. not to Musician's Friend.

Their shipping charges are also just about in line with the actual charges from the shipper. I just received $300 worth of stuff that arrived via FedEx ground for $16. After paying for the packing materials and for someone to box up the order, I'm sure they didn't make money on the shipping.

Finding the same thing cheaper elsewhere makes you a good shopper, but it doesn't make StewMac outrageous.

 

[Toto'sDad]

StewMac has everything I need, I don't look anywhere else, and I don't care what it cost to ship it because if I didn't need it I wouldn't have ordered in the first place, and I've yet to wait more than 4 days to find it in my mail box.