GCU Forum - Another Complaint About Shipping Costs to Canada

Catherine_131549

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Re: Another Complaint About Shipping Costs to Cana
Reply #15 - Nov 5^th, 2009, 3:51am

Hi,

Just joining this debate.

I designed a card for my son's 1st birthday. I though it would be lovely to look back in years to come, however, even with my artist discount I'm still getting charged $3.50 shipping and handling for 1 card then postage on top. It just not worth it frankly, so I won't be ordering any cards from GCU anymore, they have actually priced themselves out of the market for my and probably most UK/overseas customers. Sad really Sad

Very disappointing! I'll just buy from Moonpig or buy a handhand one for less in the UK

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Rosemary_135806

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Re: Another Complaint About Shipping Costs to Cana
Reply #16 - Nov 6^th, 2009, 6:39am

Yes Lisa, I agree, there is a huge profit to be made by shipping greeting cards 'overseas' to Canada I would like to get into a business with that big of a profit. Not just to Canada obviously, I guess we would all be pleased if the company put as much work and thought into their shipping costs as they do into producing their first class quality cards. Rosemary Angry

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Linda_132742 Gold Member artist Posts: 1796	Re: Another Complaint About Shipping Costs to Cana Reply #17 - Nov 6^th, 2009, 7:31am Shipping out side of US is definitely an issue....hope GCU comes up with 'something' soon. I believe that we might be compromising a market here. L
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Cynthia_136824

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Re: Another Complaint About Shipping Costs to Cana
Reply #18 - Nov 6^th, 2009, 7:33am

Hi!

I know this is about S & H to Canada, But when looking at GCU's S & H chart...(my bad...I just finally looked at it) Grin

; Why (in the US) does it cost a dollar to order 1 OF OUR OWN CARDS? If we have it sent to someone else, it's only .44 cents?
Another thing...(while I'm griping), Roll Eyes

I TOTALLY DISAGREE with the way GCU is packaging these cards!! Angry

They should start calling this kind of thing "PACKAGED TO PROFIT" !!! Angry

because someone is making BOOKOO BUCKS off of this style, type or system of shipping & mailing! Shocked

Of ALL the laws we have...you would think there would be one like..... "ILLEGAL PROFIT OF POSTAGE" Grin

ya know? Under the consumer protection laws or something!
They could probably fit at least 10 of those cards in the envelope they are only putting ONE in! Instead....it's a dollar for ONE CARD and goes it GOES UP FROM THERE!! Angry

Add another card and it automatically goes up .60 cents! Shocked

What the heck is that????? Ok.. cry

I'll shut up now! I am really getting myself worked up here!

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Cynthia_136824 Full Member artist Posts: 139	Re: Another Complaint About Shipping Costs to Cana Reply #19 - Nov 6^th, 2009, 7:35am BUT THIS IS JUST WRONG!!!!!!
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Jeff_135713 Gold Member artist Posts: 620	Re: Another Complaint About Shipping Costs to Cana Reply #20 - Nov 6^th, 2009, 7:58am Cynthia, I have a partial answer. When you order one of your own cards you get an extra envelope. If we figure the cost of an envelope at .60 then you are getting a break of .04 on the first, the added .60 on the next card is for the next envelope. Just a thought. -Whisper-
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Pamela_135500

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Posts: 1945

Re: Another Complaint About Shipping Costs to Cana
Reply #21 - Nov 6^th, 2009, 8:20am

I second Linda's remark, wholeheartedly.

I can't imagine the amount of work involved each day in running GCU but I do think this is a very critical aspect of the business that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.

Every order from GCU ships. Therefore your shipping costs to the customer are very important in maintaining a competitive place in online greeting card sales. On larger orders and overseas your costs appear higher than some of the competition this makes you vulnerable since customers may pop over and check out the competition before they place the order.
A great card is a great card, but in these times where folks are counting pennies both here and overseas, the shipping costs related to some orders could lose those sales.

Pamela

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Jeff_135713 Gold Member artist Posts: 620	Re: Another Complaint About Shipping Costs to Cana Reply #22 - Nov 6^th, 2009, 8:26am Just think how many more cards we would sell if GCU had a printing and shipping partner in Europe. (Maybe even one in Canada) -W-
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Ernestine_131365

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Re: Another Complaint About Shipping Costs to Cana
Reply #23 - Nov 7^th, 2009, 8:25pm

In Maine one can go North, South, East or West and hit one of three provinces in Canada (maybe 4 if your swimming!) . . . New Hampshire's the only US state that borders us. 75% of the folks in my address book live there, but I haven't sold a single card to any of 'em. . . shipping's just to pricey. But these same folks do a lot of online shopping from many other US companies. Is it because our cards ship out of Utah and it's really not a "hub" of any sort?? Again, inquiring minds want to know! Wink

'e'

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Rosanne_132497

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Posts: 611

Re: Another Complaint About Shipping Costs to Cana
Reply #24 - Nov 7^th, 2009, 8:57pm

Dear all,

Thought that I would chime in from Australia! I do find the shipping costs from GCU a bit too rich for my blood at present, just like my Commonwealth cousins from Canada. However, you would think that we should be used to outrageous shipping charges from the Western Hemisphere but we are not. I regularly purchase items from the USA, including greeting card stock and even skin care products. The skin care company that I deal with charges US$10.00 for USPS postage of all products to Australia, even when I order several items. These items can be quite bulky and have to be well wrapped so that they do not break or leak. The greeting card stock people do charge more - about US$30.00 but the box of 50 sheets came in a big box and also arrived by UPS Expedited International service which was able to be tracked. Maybe Ernestine is on to something about the Utah connection since the companies that I am citing ship out of Texas and Arizona.

I think that it would be beneficial for all if the international shipping costs were re-evaluated. Until they are more reasonable, I will not be able to purchase my own cards either and it will be difficult to entice "international" buyers to purchase.

Cheers,

Rosanne

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Jeff_135713

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Posts: 620

Re: Another Complaint About Shipping Costs to Cana
Reply #25 - Nov 7^th, 2009, 9:11pm

Rosanne,

At those costs it would be cheaper to have them shipped to someone in the US who then ships them on to you.

I personally ship a lot of items around the world and real shipping costs are nowhere near what has been quoted here.

I shipped a 3-4 pound priority package to Canada for about $20 and I could have stuffed a "Flat Rate" box full for not much more. Even the boxes are free. I don't know how you can spend over $100 shipping to Canada. I have sent huge boxes to friends there for Christmas and I've never spent more than $50.

I agree, there must be a better way.

These may be costs imposed on GCU by the printing company.

-Whisper-

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Rosemary_135806

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Re: Another Complaint About Shipping Costs to Cana
Reply #26 - Nov 12^th, 2009, 1:31pm

I am so glad that we have had so many comments on this subject this time. Last time I mentioned it we did not receive very many replies at all. I began to think that I was the only person who considered these exhorbitant shipping charges as unfair. Then when I heard of my friend's experience with his shipping charge of over $100 I got annoyed all over again and tried using the 'forum' for a second time on the subject. Not only is it unfair to Canadians and the people of Mexico but I see that all overseas shipping is considered very high. I am looking forward to seeing this problem being put right. Then I will write to all my Canadian and English friends and tell them and hopefully they will buy some cards from me!! Thanks to everyone who read and commented, maybe things will get put right now. Rosemary

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Nasser_16 GCU Administrator CEO Posts: 152	Re: Another Complaint About Shipping Costs to Cana Reply #27 - Nov 12^th, 2009, 7:31pm You'll be glad to hear that the fix for the Canada shipping cost problem will go live next week Sorry for all the trouble it has caused our Canadian artists and customers. Thank you for your patience while we worked on this issue. Nasser
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Rosemary_135806

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Re: Another Complaint About Shipping Costs to Cana
Reply #28 - Nov 19^th, 2009, 11:38am

Okay, this suspence is almost killing me Grin

Half of Canada will die of a nervous breakdown if we don't hear something soon Roll Eyes

Or maybe I am looking in the wrong place embarrassed

where would this announcement be found. PLEASE..... it is Thursday already and you said we would hear this week, only one day left please don't keep us waiting much longer. I cannot wait to hear what will be done about the postage rates. I am so hoping that it will make it worthwhile for us to buy our own cards to sell and for our friends to be able to purchse their cards in bulk without taking out a loan from the bank to do it. Great to hear that something is being done, but PLEASE let us know what it is. Rosemary

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Shaun_131054

GCU Administrator
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Posts: 2482

Re: Another Complaint About Shipping Costs to Cana
Reply #29 - Nov 19^th, 2009, 6:24pm

Hi Everyone,

We've added new shipping rates for Canada and Mexico.

At the moment the rates are calculated by taking 50% of our international rates. Please note that this is a temporary change while we work on coming up with more accurate numbers. We expect to update the shipping rates again with the correct numbers within the next couple of weeks.

Please let us know if you have any questions or run into any strange behavior on the site.

Shaun

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