I tried to order some small detail parts from Walthers via my German LHS last night and failed to find the usual choice but was forced into international shipping from Walthers to my home address
My LHS (AAT) told me this morning that Walthers has discontinued without any reason the shipping via LHS. That is a big problem for us outside the USA.
I am facing either unreasonable high shipping cost for parts of $10 value or collect my small item needs over some month to get an order of at least $100. In any case gets shipping more slow and I have an extra trip to the local customs office.
I wouldn't rule out the probability that " government ", ours, or yours, or both :o , had something to do with that change in procedure.
As a possible alternative, can your LHS place the order ?, so you could pick it up at the LHS ? Could that remove the need for a "minimum order" ?
Looks like my LHS (about 300 miles north) is willing to help with an arrangement like that. But they would need many customers doing that way without the formal support of Walthers to process small orders within reasonable short time. The old method permitted to order very small details for e.g. $3 and be sure they will go with the next much larger batch to my LHS. We will see...
The reason behind that is a legal issue opened by some "smart" customers. I ordered online from Walthers and saw their price in US$. I got the bill from the LHS in € that included the Walthers sales price for my LHS, the exchange rate, the shipping cost, the import tax (19%), the handling cost of the LHS and the LHS profit. None of those additional costs have been described or agreed on. That is a very weak legal position for the LHS and possibly for Walthers too. Walters did therefor discontinue that fine service worldwide. There are always legal nitpickers endangering gentleman agreements!
faraway Wrote:I tried to order some small detail parts from Walthers via my German LHS last night and failed to find the usual choice but was forced into international shipping from Walthers to my home address
My LHS (AAT) told me this morning that Walthers has discontinued without any reason the shipping via LHS. That is a big problem for us outside the USA.
I am facing either unreasonable high shipping cost for parts of $10 value or collect my small item needs over some month to get an order of at least $100. In any case gets shipping more slow and I have an extra trip to the local customs office.
I suspect your LHS is tired of absorbing the international shipping costs themselves.
In the end, everything is about money.
MountainMan Wrote:....I suspect your LHS is tired of absorbing the international shipping costs themselves....
Walters has discontinued that service. It effects all USA and Canada LHS too.
faraway Wrote:MountainMan Wrote:....I suspect your LHS is tired of absorbing the international shipping costs themselves....
Walters has discontinued that service. It effects all USA and Canada LHS too.
Ouch! So,I order through a not so local hobby shop or order direct from Walthers for home delivery.With a 52 mile round trip,gas and lunch (needed to maintain sugar level) its a no brainer for me.
Well, I posted a reply, saw it show up on the forum and it's gone when I come back.
Count your blessings. I have to make a two hundred mile round trip to go to the Caboose Hobby shop.
I never realized, that when I started scratchbuilding parts that my LHS didn't have
in stock, I was inadvertently "sidestepping" a lot of all that "Red Tape" ........ and at the same time, Living life on one more learning curve. I am also beginning to appreciate that I have several Hobby Shops within a reasonable drive from home.
One of the products I use a lot of is the scale wood blocks ( pulleys ) for my ship and boat models. I have found just the right source of just the right wood, to scratch-build those, when they are not available .
:o It's only taken a couple of dozen years to get to where I can do that now.
hock: - - - - - It's been worth the effort.
