Shipping and handling rant

[mtsoxfan]

So I lost a table saw arbor nut (long story) and the only place I can find a replacement is from the manufacturer in Canada. It's basically a 5/8" nut.... but I'm not sure if it was modified in some way for the table saw, uniqueness kinda thing. They want $2.02 for the nut, maybe an ounce or so in weight, but $18.00 to ship it to me!!
I know I can mail a letter anywhere in the world for $.50, and that's all it would take, is a letter envelope. Yes, it's a business and they have to make money. I just can't justify $18. He said it would cost that much because they would ship it to the Tennessee building and they would ship to me. I imagine that they would include it in a typical stock shipment and not anything special.

Glad I have a portable table saw I can use until I figure out how to get that arbor nut...

[Brewbirds]

I hear your rant and join in your frustration.

The shipping companies all raised their rates when the gas prices shot up but aren't in any hurry to bring them back down again.

I bet at least 60 percent of items you can by cost less than the shipping does.

I'm rather surprised that all the retailers haven't gotten together to jump all over the shipping companies.

[mtsoxfan]

I'm sure all the free shipping deals have shipping already built into the cost. At least the bigger items that have a profit margin. For lower cost items, like my $2.02 arbor nut, while the profit percentage is high, the actually dollar amount is low. Let's not make up for it by gouging on shipping.

And I looked into their TN facility, they don't sell, just ship...

[BigPapaG]

What's the make and model of the table saw?

Someone's got to have it as a replacement part...

[BigPapaG]

By the way, a lot of companies mark up their shipping costs, thus turning logistics into a profit center for them.

25-50 % is not unusual!

All the TV offers do that as well, 'buy 2 for the price of 1, just pay separate shipping and handling'.
(which is, of course, severely marked up!)

[mtsoxfan]

It is a General International 50-175 table saw, arbor nut part #50175-081

It's funny the as seen on tv ads...most times the s&h is more than the product is worth...

[RickBeer]

Not defending, just explaining.

First, the cost to ship to Canada is high, and I'm sure the cost for them to ship it back is high. They ship to the US facility, which then reships, to keep their paperwork down, because every item they ship to the US is an import. I think it's a Canadian Saw, Eh.

Second, shipping and handling is just that. Cost of shipping, cost to package it, cost to tape and label it. Plus, some businesses put in a profit.

I had a Sears Lawn Tractor for 15 years and then bought a new one, have a Sears Snowblower also (neither made by Sears). The parts for them are absurd - a nut could be $2 or $3. And shipping is high. I found some other sources.

1) Try a local seller of similar products. I bought some stuff from a big John Deere dealer that ALSO happens to have parts that fit my stuff because they are made by someone other than Sears (many don't realize that a few companies make all the brands).

2) Try JacksSmallEngines.com or Repairclinic.com. I happen to live near Repairclinic, just found them by accident and boy was it cheaper than paying for shipping to get a new pull start rope for my snowblower and parts to properly mount my dishwasher.

[BigPapaG]

It is a General International 50-175 table saw, arbor nut part #50175-081

It's funny the as seen on tv ads...most times the s&h is more than the product is worth...

These folks distribute General International products in CT... Maybe one of them has the arbor nut you are looking for...

Coastal Tool & Supply
510 New Park Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06110
Tel: 1-877-551-8665
Tel: (860) 233-8213
Fax: (860) 233-6295
Sales@coastaltool.com

Ring's End Lumber
181 West Avenue
Darien, CT 06820
Tel: (203) 655-2525
Fax: (203) 656-7571

Tools Plus
153 Meadow Street
Waterbury, CT 06702
Tel: 1-800-222-6133
Tel: (203) 573-0570
Fax: (203) 573-9042
sales@tools-plus.com
shipping@tools-plus.com

Woodcraft (#534)
249 Spencer Street
Manchester, CT 06040
Tel: (860) 647-0303
Fax: (860) 647-0019
http://www.woodcraft.com
rew@schoolofwoodworking.com

[mtsoxfan]

Thanks BP, I already tried Woodcraft and Coastal, both of which told me manufacturer only. I will try the other two.

[Chuck N]

So I lost a table saw arbor nut (long story) and the only place I can find a replacement is from the manufacturer in Canada. It's basically a 5/8" nut.... but I'm not sure if it was modified in some way for the table saw, uniqueness kinda thing. They want $2.02 for the nut, maybe an ounce or so in weight, but $18.00 to ship it to me!!
I know I can mail a letter anywhere in the world for $.50, and that's all it would take, is a letter envelope. Yes, it's a business and they have to make money. I just can't justify $18. He said it would cost that much because they would ship it to the Tennessee building and they would ship to me. I imagine that they would include it in a typical stock shipment and not anything special.

Glad I have a portable table saw I can use until I figure out how to get that arbor nut...

You have to realize...The nut costs $2.02. Then they have to pay some one down in the warehouse to package that nut and prepare it for shipment. That's where the S&H charges come in. If you would have ordered two or even three the S&H charges would have been about the same as it would have taken about the same time for the warehouse worker to package them up.

P.S. Next time don't throw that saw dust from under the saw out until you know you still have the arbor nut.

Been there. Done that. Got the tee-shirt.

[Brewing Brother]

So I lost a table saw arbor nut (long story) and the only place I can find a replacement is from the manufacturer in Canada. It's basically a 5/8" nut.... but I'm not sure if it was modified in some way for the table saw, uniqueness kinda thing. They want $2.02 for the nut, maybe an ounce or so in weight, but $18.00 to ship it to me!!
I know I can mail a letter anywhere in the world for $.50, and that's all it would take, is a letter envelope. Yes, it's a business and they have to make money. I just can't justify $18. He said it would cost that much because they would ship it to the Tennessee building and they would ship to me. I imagine that they would include it in a typical stock shipment and not anything special.

Glad I have a portable table saw I can use until I figure out how to get that arbor nut...

Surely one of the Borg is Canadian or knows a Canuck that can buy it local and mail it to you for the cost of a international stamp (95 cents?).

[mtsoxfan]

Damn... never thought about that... Anyone living in Canada close enough to General International willing to help? Please PM me...

I know it takes someone to get the part and mail... it's business. I still think $18 is excessive, considering the time and effort it takes to retrieve and mail a nut. They already made $X from my purchase of the saw, too bad the customer support is so expensive...