It's a very frustrating thing as a card collector, when you have to balance the prices of things, like the cost of the box plus the shipping! For example, I see a box on an American website, at a pretty good price, but with the shipping and money exchange it grows to a high rate! So I go to a Canadian website, with the same box, but it's at a ridiculous price but I get cheaper shipping! It's almost like choosing this apple over that apple! Sure they're both apples, but the price is what really the sticker shock, almost makes me want to quit collecting altogether! I just love it sometimes when the box arrives, then I have to pay extra duty besides, which is more money out of my already emptying wallet!

As a UK based collector I agree completely. My last box was American Horror Story #1 in 2016 for a bargain £35, free shipping (UK seller).

Before that 2011 which was my last box from the USA. It was Topp's American Pie 2011 series where I purchased 2 boxes online from a US seller, which had hefty shipping plus import duties and taxes.

I got 2 tiny boxes which I had to pay £30 duties tax on top of the £30 shipping and the £120 I spend on the boxes. When I opened the boxes they were nice cards but even the hits were not worth the enormous price tag.I don't even have or collect that set anymore so I 'weep' at the money I put down the drain.

Unfortunately the general cost of shipping on both sides of the atlantic means that it's not worth it with the 'return' you get in a box break even if the cards value means you 'break even' on the price of the box not including shipping or taxes.

I'm back into collecting after a break since 2011 (exception was the 2016 box on a whim), but I don't buy boxes really anymore. If I do it has to be a UK seller. Or European but it looks to be seen what will become of shipping prices once the UK leaves the EU.

All international is Horrendous I am in New Zealand and N Z post have depots in USA and UK wich gives me cheaper shipping but It is still quiet expensive $8 us per parcel with exchange rate costs me $12.50 NZ but they do combine parcels up to 5 for $25 NZ $62.50 so vast saving as I always try to get more than one card per parcel based on cost per card it mostly works out also there is a large UK auction site wich has most modern plus older sets on it wich has recently started free international shipping and if buying by auction the shipping is charged to NZ for a full box at $9 US with this site the free shipping option for single cards is quiet often cheaper than the cost of auction lots shipping costs we have no taxes here but if your purchase is over $400 NZ have to pay 13% GST Yes shipping is really killing our hobby
and we can have thousands of hobbyists complaining about it but in reality with countries postal agencys it is like water off a ducks back and they are not going to do anything to alleviate it and to cap it all off N Z Post are increasing their rates on July 1 by 5%
Piko

I definitely wish there was an easier/better/cheaper/more reliable way to ship. . .

Just received an envelope from America to the UK containing 13 cards, well protected against any damage.

Cost $ 3.26

I've just seen a $1 promo that wanted $46 postage to the UK. It's not always the post office that makes it pricey.

quote:

Originally posted by wolfie:
Just received an envelope from America to the UK containing 13 cards, well protected against any damage.

Cost $ 3.26

I've just seen a $1 promo that wanted $46 postage to the UK. It's not always the post office that makes it pricey.

True some sellers really take the biscuit.

I know some sellers offer the option of a YouTube box break which can be seen by the customer and it saves on shipping to send a smaller deck of cards than a heavily padded box.

But of course for many it spoils the fun of opening the box and packs yourself. I think Breygent Marketing were clever trying to save on packaging for their products. But given the price of their boxes it didn't seem to cancel out the heafty cost of shipping.

I saw a Bates Motel box at a UK convention and it was £80 GBP

There has to be a solution eventually.

Good Evening

I find that when buying cards from North America it does depend on the seller and how you have purchased the item i.e. privately or eBay. Ebay makes it more difficult for reasonable postal charges to be used whereas privately bought items are more flexible for the postal charges although it might require a personal visit to the Post Office.

If and when I buy small lots of cards from eBay with extortionate shipping to the UK I am lucky enough to be able to utilise an American address that a fellow collector allows me to use. He then sends on the card at the standard international letter rate. I then recompense them. This system works quite well for which I am very grateful.

As I mentioned in another posting a $20 item consisting of about 20 cards or so attracted a $10 shipping charge whereas a $20 packet with one card in it attracted a $49.99 shipping charge. This was on the Topps.com website for both items.

regards

John

I've started to shop around online and now mainly use alternatives to Royal Mail for shipping abroad. As an example, I sent a Monopoly board game to Australia. Yes, I had to print out my own postage label and pay online based on size and weight. Royal Mail wanted £47. The private company charged £14. It was delivered within 6 days.

quote:

Originally posted by Graham:
I've started to shop around online and now mainly use alternatives to Royal Mail for shipping abroad. As an example, I sent a Monopoly board game to Australia. Yes, I had to print out my own postage label and pay online based on size and weight. Royal Mail wanted £47. The private company charged £14. It was delivered within 6 days.

Huge difference. Suppose they can do that now they've become a private business.

Some of the best, are those that will sell you something at a low price, then come up with a real high shipping cost to recoup the price of the "cheap" item! One that was highway robbery that I recall, was one on ebay that had the item for under $5.00, then had a shipping cost of $75.00! Unless it's really a bargain, I pretty much wait until it I can get it at a lower price, or get stuck because they only have a few left and I'm stuck buying it!

yeah I've noticed recently that the affordable (UK collectors) boxes are either from stores (rarity where I am) or old product that aren't so popular for bargain bin prices with free shipping. But it's more for the sake of it and fun of a box than the actual product. Not worth much if you wanted more than base cards and basic chase sets. personal preference i suppose.