Hi Felix,
A bare Moteino R4 price is $10.95 while the shipment to Belgium is $12.95.
Now is the total cost is higher than $50, there is a good chance that I will have to pay extra taxes and custom fees. So ordering more that 3 Moteinos is an issue.
Most of the goods coming from China are free of shipment, however the delivery time may exceed 40 days, (which should not be a problem, with a little bit of anticipation).
So I wonder is there is no way to reduce the shipping cost using slower carrier (or eventually find a dealer in China :))
Robert
Really? You want slower? :)
Well there is no slower.
BTW Chinese sellers are defrauding your country by falsely declaring $1 value for anything you buy. That ensures the end customer is happy and will buy again, and would likely buy a cheap clone made of counterfeit/rejected parts for that reason. As opposed to any decent business that abides with the law and declares the value of the goods sold so that your country can collect the VATs and import taxes, which by the way serve a purpose (regardless if they are 6% like in the US or 26% like in the EU).
Felix
If I agree about the Chinese commercial fraude, I still have issue with shipment cost. Looking pcbs.io (www.pcbs.io) which is shipping PCBs from the state; I read (and experiment) free shipping from USPS (first class).
sic
< Turnaround: 7-10 days on average
(time from ordering until it is shipped to you)
Ships From: Florida, USA via USPS
Shipping Options: First-Class: Free
Priority: $5 (USA Only)
Express: $22 USA/$39 Canada/$58 International
>
Robert
Offering free shipping on $5 product means running at a loss :)
USPS does not offer free shipping :)
That means the cost is amortized in the product or has to be written off as a loss. I can't do either. Shipping is a separate cost and it involves quite a bit more than just the postage cost. I prefer to be more transparent and have that cost separated. I offer a flat rate regardless how many items are ordered, and above certain thresholds it becomes free.
Twice every year USPS revises their prices, almost every time postage goes up or they adjust the weight thresholds.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/storyline/wp/2014/09/12/the-postal-service-is-losing-millions-a-year-to-help-you-buy-cheap-stuff-from-china/?utm_term=.d32c4087a031
Another example of our respective countries helping Chinese retailers undercut our treasured local businesses. I far prefer to spend a few extra dollars to do business with someone I like and respect who builds a community that I value as opposed to saving a few dollars to do business with a faceless entity abroad. This loyalty for me personally begins to evaporate at the $50 mark or so depending on the item. Most of the shopping I do is with cottage industries like LowPowerLabs who are continually pushing the envelope.
Thanks ChemE, someone does see the light ... that made my day :D