Volte Tetraglot Senior Member Switzerland Joined 6438 days ago 4474 posts - 6726 votes Speaks: English*, Esperanto, German, Italian Studies: French, Finnish, Mandarin, Japanese
| Message 1 of 7 30 September 2008 at 4:03pm | IP Logged |
As of this evening, I've finally had a chance to try to order books from Dunwoody press. I selected two books and the audio that corresponds to one of them. However, the shipping cost appears obscene to me: 'UPS worldwide expedited', the cheapest option, is more than $110. I realize I'm in Switzerland, but this is way higher than the shipping costs I'm accustomed to from amazon.com and similar sites.
Has anyone else on this site ordered from Dunwoody press? Were the shipping costs similarly high? Does anyone have any idea why?
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josht Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 6445 days ago 635 posts - 857 votes Speaks: English*, German Studies: French, Spanish, Russian, Dutch
| Message 2 of 7 30 September 2008 at 4:49pm | IP Logged |
It has to do with the fact that they're forcing you to use UPS, which has extremely expensive international rates; they (Dunwoody Press) aren't overcharging you. I made a bogus shipping quote from the United States to Switzerland at UPS.com, and for a 1 lb. package, the cheapest option was $90.
I made an account there, and being in the United States, I can have a book shipped to me for $2.23, via USPS media mail. Furthermore, via the USPS, I can ship a 1 lb. package* to Switzerland for around $10. I'd be willing to help you get what you're after without paying $100+ in shipping, but obviously, that comes down to whether or not you trust me. :) If you'd like to talk to me about it, toss me a PM.
* There are a few other stipulations regarding the shipping cost via USPS international. Namely, the box has to meet these requirements:
Maximum length: 24 inches
Maximum length, + height, + thickness combined: 36 inches
Edit: Even Priority Mail International, which takes 6-10 days for delivery, is only $24. UPS international shipping is, relatively speaking, highway robbery.
Edited by josht on 30 September 2008 at 4:52pm
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daristani Senior Member United States Joined 7143 days ago 752 posts - 1661 votes Studies: Uzbek
| Message 3 of 7 30 September 2008 at 7:10pm | IP Logged |
I've ordered from Dunwoody Press a number of times; each time, the items came very quickly, via priority US Mail, as I recall. (I live in the States.)
I can't comment on the costs of the shipping to Switzerland or why they're so high. As you know, Dunwoody's books are generally quite expensive, but I have to say that their physical quality (good paper, and TRUE hard-as-rock hardcover bindings) is generally superb, based on the dozen or so of their books I've bought over the years.
Also, in my experience, Dunwoody ships out the books immediately upon receipt of the order. I can't seem to get their website ordering system to work, and so my recent orders have all been via e-mail. If they haven't already shipped the stuff, you might ask them in an e-mail message to use the USPS. At any rate, good luck.
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alang Diglot Senior Member Canada Joined 7220 days ago 563 posts - 757 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish
| Message 4 of 7 30 September 2008 at 11:02pm | IP Logged |
I emailed Dunwoody Press before, twice regarding UPS and to use USPS instead. No reply, so luckily I have family in the U.S. and had the products shipped there instead, because it is free shipping for domestic addresses. The big nightmare is UPS has a brokerage fee when it crosses the border. (Personally experienced this.) I have heard of some stories of the fee excessively more than the actual product. This is on top of the international shipping fee.
My recommendation is to avoid UPS, if there are other options.
Edited by alang on 30 September 2008 at 11:02pm
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Volte Tetraglot Senior Member Switzerland Joined 6438 days ago 4474 posts - 6726 votes Speaks: English*, Esperanto, German, Italian Studies: French, Finnish, Mandarin, Japanese
| Message 5 of 7 01 October 2008 at 4:20am | IP Logged |
Thanks for the replies.
The books themselves are expensive, but I accept that: they're high-quality and have a limited market. It just hurts to think of paying an equal amount in shipping. Fortunately, I have family in the States as well, and will probably visit them in December, so I guess I'll go that route.
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crafedog Diglot Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 5817 days ago 166 posts - 337 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: Korean, Tok Pisin, French
| Message 6 of 7 18 September 2011 at 6:47pm | IP Logged |
Though this is an old post, I'm glad I'm not the only one who has been utterly shocked by
the prices of shipping from Dunwoody press. They're atrocious.
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GeddyMX Newbie United States Joined 4958 days ago 6 posts - 7 votes Speaks: English*
| Message 7 of 7 26 October 2012 at 1:23am | IP Logged |
I'm not affliated with them but just wanted to vouch for the company. Last year in the 'ghan my $150 order got lost in the military postal system, I contacted them and they resent it at no extra charge. The materials for Dari and Pashto are unmatched.
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