[theodore]

The higher shipping prices from an eBay auction in the UK to the US is already beyond my financial means. Shipping something the size of, lets say, a 1/32nd scale Corgi Spit from England to Florida would have cost me $85, not to mention the price of the auction!! Fortunately, I have a diecast dealer here in town who is about 15 miles away and my piece of crap VW Jetta still gets about 25MPG in the city so I all have to pay is gas and Florida sales tax!! Any other purchases are via the 'free shipping' route with a large purchase from a diecast website, but I agree with Gort; this will soon become an anachronism!!

[Cardinal]

Trust me folks, you'll adapt if shipping costs go through the roof.

Consider the fact that for us collectors 'downunder', who source most of our diecast from the US & UK, shipping costs have always made up a substantial portion of our diecast expenditure - I would estimate that approximately 30%-35% of our 'diecast spend' is on postage alone .

(Often postage amounts to approx. 50% of the price of the model, especially the 'heavies' .)

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by STARMAN 352ND

I think he meant Bush didn't you?
JP

Yup, and I think good ol' Parsig knew that

Who needs national parks anyways?

[Gort]

Originally Posted by Cardinal

Trust me folks, you'll adapt if shipping costs go through the roof.

Consider the fact that for us collectors 'downunder', who source most of our diecast from the US & UK, shipping costs have always made up a substantial portion of our diecast expenditure - I would estimate that approximately 30%-35% of our 'diecast spend' is on postage alone .

(Often postage amounts to approx. 50% of the price of the model, especially the 'heavies' .)

You’re probably right, Cardo. We’ll adapt (we’ll have to!), but sooner or later the ugly ogre of rising gas prices will swallow collectors one at a time.

Kind of makes you wonder if The Flying Mule and others will revise their shipping-price policies. I can’t imagine how they can keep shipping for free—even on orders totaling over $100—in the face of spiraling gas prices. Somewhere along the line UPS will boost their fees, cutting right into vendors' bottom lines. Something’s gotta give.

[hworth18]

I am fortunate that Onmark is not too far away, so I usually buy from them, but there are occasions that I have to get it elsewhere.. Luckily, that doesn't happen too often.

[skidmarksdiecast]

It doesn't look as though shipping costs are a big deal. I ran a "free shipping, no minimum purchase" special, in the "Shameless Promotion" section, from 4/25 - 4/30, on all items in stock, and no one took advantage of it.

[Gort]

Originally Posted by hworth18

I am fortunate that Onmark is not too far away, so I usually buy from them, but there are occasions that I have to get it elsewhere.. Luckily, that doesn't happen too often.

You’re lucky, Harry. You probably save a bundle.

Nowadays before I order, I combine models until I reach that magic $100 minimum. I pay a few bucks more at MSRP, but free shipping usually more than makes up the difference.

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by hworth18

I am fortunate that Onmark is not too far away, so I usually buy from them, but there are occasions that I have to get it elsewhere.. Luckily, that doesn't happen too often.

I dunno, if I had a place like that "down the street" I could be in real trouble.... (Mrs. Pappy coming to get me...)

[jim]

Originally Posted by PappyB

I dunno, if I had a place like that "down the street" I could be in real trouble.... (Mrs. Pappy coming to get me...)

Hmm, I can see a good side to this Pappy, you could choose your time and day of purchase.
When the good lady is out shopping you can smuggle your stuff in and maintain an air of innocence..

[HotTrap429]

Originally Posted by Gort

I pray you’re right about this coming “correction,” parsig (don’t we all-!). Heaven knows oil companies are ripping us off to the tune of billions. Any kind of relief would be a relief.

But I don’t see it happening. Not anytime soon, anyway. The dollar’s down—waaaaaaay down—and according to goodly folks in the know, that has a bunch to do with spiking oil prices. And from what I read, the dollar’s going to stay put for quite a while.

Anyway, rising shipping prices would definitely hurt diecast collecting. I agree eBay abounds with deals, and anybody with a buck and a love for diecast should snarf them up. But the higher gas goes, the less those bargains will mean.

First, shipping carriers will raise their fees to survive. The higher gas prices rise, shipping fees must surely follow. At some point shipping will become so ridiculous and unaffordable, even basement-bargain prices on models will become meaningless. Something will give, and that something will be collector spending.

Second, as gas spirals out of control, collectors will be forced to spend on basic consumer commodities like gas and food—not diecast. It’s a double whammy.

Of course, no matter how bad things get, some of us will continue to purchase models, and bless ‘em for it: In the end they might be diecast’s only saving grace.

Anyway, to answer my own question about how much more shipping increases I’ll stand for, the answer is: not a whole lot. Shipping is becoming a sizeable expense. Which is why I combine my model purchases into one big order from vendors who ship for free over $100. My days of piecemealing purchases and getting kicked in the proverbial pants from shipping are over.

WOW Gort! Reading your post, it seemed as if I had written it word-for-word myself. I am no longer an active collector of diecast airplanes. I label an active collector as someone who buys at least one plane a month. I now have to save every penny in order to buy a new model and at current costs, I can get a new 1/72 plane every 4 to 5 months. Add in the shipping costs and that time frame expands to 6 to 8 months. Ebay deals help, but sadly I can no longer support all those die cast stores and on-line shops that I did in the past - even with free shipping.