From lojbab@lojban.org Tue Aug 07 14:42:34 2007 Received: with ECARTIS (v1.0.0; list llg-board); Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:42:34 -0700 (PDT) Received: from eastrmmtao102.cox.net ([68.230.240.8]) by chain.digitalkingdom.org with esmtp (Exim 4.67) (envelope-from ) id 1IIWov-0003fJ-VF for llg-board@lojban.org; Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:42:32 -0700 Received: from eastrmimpo01.cox.net ([68.1.16.119]) by eastrmmtao102.cox.net (InterMail vM.7.08.02.01 201-2186-121-102-20070209) with ESMTP id <20070807214223.ZSZN13778.eastrmmtao102.cox.net@eastrmimpo01.cox.net> for ; Tue, 7 Aug 2007 17:42:23 -0400 Received: from [127.0.0.1] ([72.192.234.183]) by eastrmimpo01.cox.net with bizsmtp id Z9iL1X00E3y5FKc0000000; Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:42:22 -0400 Message-ID: <46B8E7B2.4060405@lojban.org> Date: Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:44:18 -0400 From: Robert LeChevalier User-Agent: Mozilla Thunderbird 1.0.7 (Windows/20050923) X-Accept-Language: en-us, en MIME-Version: 1.0 To: llg-board@lojban.org Subject: [llg-board] Immediate Action Needed on CLL Shipping References: <20070722191247.GA26253@digitalkingdom.org> In-Reply-To: <20070722191247.GA26253@digitalkingdom.org> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Spam-Score: 0.0 X-Spam-Score-Int: 0 X-Spam-Bar: / X-archive-position: 321 X-ecartis-version: Ecartis v1.0.0 Sender: llg-board-bounce@lojban.org Errors-to: llg-board-bounce@lojban.org X-original-sender: lojbab@lojban.org Precedence: bulk Reply-to: llg-board@lojban.org X-list: llg-board I just sent off 8 CLL copies (one of the largest totals for 2 months since the initial publication), but apparently have not been watching the postal regulations. The US Postal Service no longer offers "surface mail" shipping to foreign countries. The LLG web site needs to be changed ****immediately**** to remove those shipping options. I already had to send one surface mail order by air mail with us eating the cost. I am presuming this needs no motion - it is an option that we simply cannot offer any more. -------------------------- We also need to increase the shipping charges for International airmail (now called "International 1st class", which are the words I suggest using on the web site rather than "airmail") and UPS shipping due to increases in rates for those options. I am recommending, and hereby move, the following changes to our rates, effective immediately (all amounts in US dollars): a) UPS shipping in the US increase to $13 for a total cost of $52. (a $4 increase) (I would actually like to delete this option, but some people request it even at the higher cost) b) 1st class (formerly airmail) shipping to Canada likewise to $13 for a total cost of $52. (a $1 increase) c) 1st class (formerly airmail) shipping to elsewhere in the world to $23 for a total cost of $62. (a $1 increase) d) I am suggesting no change in shipping cost for US internal "media mail" shipping, for which the rate change was almost unnoticeable. ----------------- b and c are based on the actual postage costs to the indicated locations adding a dollar for shipping materials and rounding up to the next dollar (which is a form of self-insurance - we have sent a 2nd copy to the three or four people who have over the years who reported not getting the copy we shipped, at our own expense - we could probably justify adding an extra dollar for this, and I would accept a friendly amendment if someone wishes this - one of the 8 copies just sent was a resend, but in that case the book had been returned to us with a bad address, so the added cost is just US postage, which has happened maybe a half dozen times in 10 years). Shipping to Mexico has a postage cost halfway between that of Canada and the rest of the world. We could offer an intermediate rate for that country alone, but only one book has ever been ordered from Mexico, so I am not proposing this, unless Robin wants to add the extra option (I have no idea how much goes into adding these options to the website), in which case it would be $18 for a total cost of $57. I will accept that as a friendly amendment, as well, preferably from Robin. One benefit in all this is that the same postage now seems to apply to both Europe and Australia/Eastern Asia. Prior to the new rates, we were making a dollar or two on European orders and losing several dollars on the high air mail rate to Asia, but the rates now appear uniform, no matter what country or continent we send to (though I hardly checked every country). UPS shipping varies by zone. The package I shipped today to Texas cost $10.32; shipping to the west coast is a couple of dollars more, while shipping to somewhere near here might be a couple of dollars less. Most of the packages I have sent have tended to be on the high end of the range, going to the far coast, so I am suggesting a somewhat higher rate. Note that calling international shipping "1st class" rather than "air mail" means that the Postal service does NOT guarantee airmail shipping. There is a higher rate called International Priority Mail, running from $5-$10 more depending on the locale, which indicates delivery in 6-10 days, and International Express Mail running about $10 more than that, indicating delivery in 3-5 days. Frankly, given my occasional tardiness in order fulfillment, I cannot see asking people to pay more to save a week when it may take a few weeks to get the order sent. lojbab