Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

The Regular Stuff: Chat, Buy, Sell, Off Topic, etc. => General Discussion - Model & Toy Steam Engines – Stirling Cycle – Flame Lickers – Small Antique Originals => Topic started by: komet163b on August 04, 2026, 11:52:03 am

Title: Re: Shipping cost surprise.
Post by: SEUSA on August 05, 2026, 02:02:03 pm

I ship alot of steam engines. Sometimes globally.
California is by far the most expensive US state to ship anything to.
I guess higher taxation and higher fuel costs and higher taxes on businesses.
I don't even like shipping anything to CA but there are some awesome fellow collectors who reside there.
Hopefully they will ban together and vote to cut taxes and cut State spending.
But I feel your pain.

Title: Re: Shipping cost surprise.
Post by: komet163b on August 05, 2026, 10:22:21 am

Thanks, guys.  Glad to know it's not just me being cranky with some of the modern world.

Title: Re: Shipping cost surprise.
Post by: Steamloco on August 05, 2026, 10:13:14 am

I shipped a package in June that weighed under 11 lbs. Because of its size, USPS wanted $127! They said large packages are cheaper thru UPS. True, but not by much $81. It had a billable weight of 43 lbs. I'm not talking about a refrigerator size. You can carry it with one arm easy.

Title: Re: Shipping cost surprise.
Post by: Fullraceflathead on August 05, 2026, 07:09:10 am

Postage keeps going up which is understandable because of the fuel pricing but A simple letter now is almost a dollar to mail!!!

Title: Re: Shipping cost surprise.
Post by: Stoker on August 04, 2026, 08:17:34 pm

I just recently posted a very small package, about the size of a pack of cigarettes and probably didn't even weigh a whole ounce, to New Hampshire from here in Eastern Kaliphoney, essentially clear across the country. Cost me almost $11 to do it, about the cheapest way available with the USPS!!!

Title: Re: Shipping cost surprise.
Post by: Jim on August 04, 2026, 08:00:23 pm

Postage has gone through the roof getting things from the US and the UK to Oz.

Title: Re: Shipping cost surprise.
Post by: komet163b on August 04, 2026, 04:15:49 pm

Fullrace.....brings to mind a supercharged flathead V8 stock
car at Onteora Speedway, NY.  Great looking engine/coupe combo,
it was never a winner.  I think it was a labor of love.

The only photo of him in a stock car - this one at Onteora.
Chrysler Spitfire BIG 6-cylinder flathead

[attachimg=1][attach=1]

Happy days,
Wayne

Title: Re: Shipping cost surprise.
Post by: Fullraceflathead on August 04, 2026, 01:16:38 pm

It's just my opinion but that is a total rip off!!!

Title: Shipping cost surprise.
Post by: komet163b on August 04, 2026, 11:52:03 am

Good afternoon from Brooklyn.

Today I shipped an 'EBAY sale' engine to San Francisco.
The USPS, for a 17X13X13 inch box that weighs 8lb 4.3oz
(dimensional weight 21lbs?), charged for cheapest shipping,
(five days)... $78.50.

Really?  The USPS has no cheaper shipping...like by slow-boat?
What am I missing here?

Any ideas?

Wayne