"Shipping charges for Blue Moon" Topic

Hi guys

I excitedly put an order in with Blue Moon tonight for 3 X Post Human Command, 3 X Orion republic heavy infantry and 2 X Robot legion, which came to $48, I was then quoted $77 USD shipping to Australia, ?, I have never paid that much for so small an order, has anyone here ordered internationally from Blue Moon? what did you pay? I cancelled the order, went over to GZG and bought a similiar amout of crusties, because I'm overseas I didn't have to pay VAT, so the shipping ended up only costing 5 pounds (about $8) more than the original oder, $8 USD or $77? theres no comparison. A real shame as I was looking forward to these figures.
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yep I don't buy anything from them because of the ludicrous shipping costs..

Dan,

FRP Games and WarWeb both stock the Blue Moon ranges… you might try them if you can't get a better quote directly from Blue Moon.

But I swear I've seen this topic come up before… something about a problem with their automated cart calculating overseas shipping per item instead of by total weight.

Chris K.

Hi Dan
I get all my BLUE MOON stuff via OLD GLORY at 40% OFF and request they use USPS which isn't to bad. The 40% off more than covers the postage costs and the figures still are very inexpensive.
Scott

My suspicion would be that they use some sort of a trackable carrier to deliver the models. Probably from bad experiences with shipping overseas, when the package goes missing and then the vendor has to reship that $50 USD worth of miniatures. It does pass a heavy cost onto the customer though which will of course annoy the customer so it is a bit of a Hobson's Choice.

It has been my experience that most cart systems will caculate for domestic orders only. You may want to try and contact them concerning this first.

USPS has Flat rate Priorty mail that ship to international locations and are tracable, you can also inquire about that.

Warlord

@trailape: How did you get an army discount in Aus? When I tried to get one last year was told absolutely ONLY US RESIDENTS.

I bought my Orion republic heavy infantry direct from Blue Moon when they first came out and I live in the UK and was also shocked at the shipping charges, but after I contacted them the price was considerably reduced, as I recall I had to pay the full amount and then Blue Moon reimburse me via Pay-Pal a few days later.

Dan,

I just answered your email regarding this before I saw your post here. As sated under shipping on our web site(s) the web site does an estimated shipping charge that does run very high, we can't do sliding scales or by weight on the web program. We adjust that total to actual cost before we run credit cards or if you email me codes and quantities we can let you know the exact cost before you order. I can also send PayPal money requests for exact amounts. We use the USPS flat rate boxes unless it is cheaper to send Priority mail. On 8 packs of the 15mm Blue Moon we are most likely looking at the small flat rate box. We work hard at getting the lowest shipping prices we can for our International customers.

Teresa

RobH,

Who told you that? We have many, many Old Glory Army members across the globe. Just off the top of my head I know we have members in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Spain, France, The Netherlands…..and more.

Teresa

I have ordered from blue moon, many times, to Scotland, and always get a refund of the postage over payments, so have stopped worrying about them.

Malcolm

That shipping cost would shock me also !!! However ,The actual cost of shipping would be around $15 USD --- This topic comes up all the time.
Regards
Russ Dunaway

@trailape

40% off? How the HECK do you do that?

its the old glory army card ,yearly membership, laminated card… cant remember how much, but what a brilliant idea
40 percent off miniatures…makes it more appealling to jump into a new army

Isn't it amazing what "problems" go away when you talk or correspond?

Though I do think that you need to change how shipping is done on the webcart (maybe a "we will confrim actual charges" message for international orders?)

I encountered this a while back using the webcart, $48 USD shipping 3 packs of figures. I was given the same answer that they would refund the excess shipping. I had an issue with that answer then as I do now. To be fair Blue Moon are not the only suppliers who do this yet at the same time I have dealt with a number of suppliers in the U.S. and they were able to calculate the shipping charges within reason on their webcarts. During tough economic times one would think that supplies would try to make it easier to purchase their products. I like the Blue Moon figures but will limit my purchases to conventions only.

That's pretty bad… and I thought their original $10 USD last year for 'flat rate shipping' in the U.S. was bad! Sure, they knocked it down to to $9 USD which is still insane when everyone else charges reasonable prices…. but $77 USD to Australia is definitely wrong…

i've recently ordered 8 packs of the 15mm ACW and sent an email querying the shipping shown on the cart prior to placing.

was told it was an estiumate only and for the quantity i was ordering shipping was a small flat rate box which cost approx $14. USD that was what i ended up being charged.

Wolfprophet -- READ the posts above --IT IS NOT $77 USD to Austraila for that size order.

Yeah the online OG postage is shocking when it is first quoted. Just send a note to Teresa when you order. Always great service and reasonable prices. The online postage estimator is a bit whacked howerver. Rob.

There is one other thing to consider about the shipping. Old Glory has a variety of products in a variety of sizes, from miniatures to resin buildings and ships.

The large items usually do cost what is quoted in the original post cost due to size and weight, and often times more than what is quoted when checking out. We don't up those quotes, but eat the difference.

It would also be nice to have a shopping cart that is able to calculate weight and give shipping cost that way, but we don't – and that is not to say were not looking into, but for now, we work with what we have and have posted the information noted above by Mrs. Miniatureships in the shipping section of the web page.

"Wolfprophet -- READ the posts above --IT IS NOT $77 USD USD to Austraila for that size order."

I DID READ THE POSTS. Think before you get snippy with me.
How hard is it to get a proper postage calculation in the first damn place? If little one man operations like The Scene can do it, why can't Blue Moon? Hmmm? HMMMM? I think it's a perfectly fair question to ask.

I did not get snippy -- sounds like you are doing what you accuse me of ????? I just told you to read the posts and not repeat that the shipping for that order is in question would not be $77. USD
Perhaps "the scence" can do it because they are a one man operation -- I don't know? OG has thousands of items that ship every week --some weigh hundreds of pounds some weigh a few ounces --some take a very small package but alot of weight --some take a very large package with very little weight such as foam and resin. Any combination of the product ordered can change the shipping price. There are 1000s of shipping cost variables and then include the myraid of possible destinations ??
Regards
Russ Dunaway

OK, I'm happy with the answer and will be ordering through Blue Moon next time, should probably have waited for a responce before posting, however I was a little shocked by the $77 USD estimate, maybe a suggestion would be a comment next to the estimate, something like, "this estimate maybe at the extream upper scale, actual postage may only be a fraction" or something like that, because it is quite off putting, I really only order from a few select companies, Khurasan, GZG, CMG, and Eureka and I have never had an over estimate in that like that.

Gunner Dunbar, as I said earlier -- it sure would shock me also and would put me off -- so no blame on you-- I have suggested to Teresa earlier today --if possible --the very thing you mention --a comment next to the estimate and not sort of hidden in the "shipping section" of our web page. I am computer challenged so Teresa will have to see if our program will allow that?
We do care about the consumer and do our best to meet their needs
Regards
Russ Dunaway

Psyckosama
Purchase an OLD GLORY ARMY CARD for about $50. USD Then get 40% off most of their stock.
I've been doing it for the last few years and it's saved me a small fortune. Oh, and service is EXCELLENT!

well I am reassured as well..perhaps I will buy my huge Ottoman army and all the nice Blue Moon pieces.. after all.

"I did not get snippy -- sounds like you are doing what you accuse me of ????? I just told you to read the posts and not repeat that the shipping for that order is in question would not be $77"

Sounds like someone's offended. :) Too bad.

Nice note though, I have some of your versions of the Skytrex WWII models. They're good, but I dislike the lead they're made from. Strong personal preference on Lead-Free Pewter.

I get my Old Glory/Blue Moon stuff from Old Glory UK. Postage is great.

The Old Glory Army Card is fantastic if you are plannign a reasonable sized order. Off the top of my head I cannot remember the break even point but it has been worth it the times I have used that service. Always found the OG crew to get me the best possible postage. Only ever invoiced for actual charges and never had to worry about overpayment refunds etc.

I got a refund on postage on one occassion,… no drama.

How hard is it to get a proper postage calculation in the first damn place?

It is exceptionally difficult to produce an accurate postage-cost system that caters for a wide variety in shapes, weights and sizes.

If one sells more regular items, then it is much, much, much easier.

D

antenocitisworkshop.com
governanceoftechnology.com

Old Glory are first class, I've spent a small fortune with them over the years and the service is always good. I'm about to put in another order as we speak.

I find the $9 USD flat rate OG charges to be perfectly reasonable, not 'insane' by any stretch. The boxes that my orders have come in have a variable postage rate depending on which 'zone' they are shipped to. On the USPS site this range is from $4.97-$9.37, up to 15 lbs. Obviously this does not include the labor/time to pack up an order(lacking any 'handling' charge)which is why I find the $9 USD to be reasonable.

Hi All
A bit of a follow up on this thread, FYI.
I recently placed an order for about 18 packs of the BLUE MOON miniatures 18mm Napoleonics, (mainly Austrians and French), and a pack of Command Decision vehicles via OLD GLORY and postage was $9.00 USD
Very reasonable.
Cheers