Blue Lug shipping increase + incidentals

[dylan green]

Hi everyone - 

I put together a relatively small sized order from BL today, some cables, levers and a couple small brass items that I couldn't get in my town. The shipping seems super high at nearly $55! Has anyone noticed if DHL has increased? 

It raises another question though. Where are you getting cables, housing, ferrules and similar? I feel like I have found some things on Riv, but not everything I need. I live in a super small town so shipping makes the most sense for me. Are we just in an age where you order some stuff here, other things there? 

Thanks everyone!

[Garth]

Those items are easily sourced at tons of places online and certainly not worth it paying that kind of silliness. I just went to Alex's cycle in Japan and added a small Nitto front rack and configued shipping to Ohio, $32 shipping. So whatever BL is charging is what they charge, as with ANY retailer in any country for anything. I shop all sort of places, some with free shipping above a certain amount, some a flat fee. At the end of the day it's just a number. Some places one can get everything, some if not most not. It's always been that way even before the internet was invented, where everything was done at a local store or via catalog mail order. There's so many online shops around, and for any that close it seems a multitude opens. 

[Johnny Alien]

I love Blue Lug but only make a purchase when its large enough to make it worthwhile. For instance the handlebars are cheaper so getting one there plus the shipping is pretty much the same as getting it from Rivendell making shipping essentially free for everything that I purchase. It works well but means I rarely make a purchase from them. When I do its a good one filled with lots of stuff.

To answer the other question (the main one) Analog is where i typically buy little bits because they always have the fanciest stuff in great colors.

[dylan green]

I should have clarified, I definitely wasn’t speaking negatively about Blue Lug. I think

The question was more about if anyone else had noticed a significant increase with their BL orders (but again, it would be a DHL thing). They are a shop I've bought from for years now. 

On Oct 12, 2024, at 5:50 AM, Garth <gart...@gmail.com> wrote:

Those items are easily sourced at tons of places online and certainly not worth it paying that kind of silliness. I just went to Alex's cycle in Japan and added a small Nitto front rack and configued shipping to Ohio, $32 shipping. So whatever BL is charging is what they charge, as with ANY retailer in any country for anything. I shop all sort of places, some with free shipping above a certain amount, some a flat fee. At the end of the day it's just a number. Some places one can get everything, some if not most not. It's always been that way even before the internet was invented, where everything was done at a local store or via catalog mail order. There's so many online shops around, and for any that close it seems a multitude opens. 

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[Ray Varella]

DHL ratified a new contract last year. They have excellent wages, healthcare and generous pensions. 

You may be seeing increased shipping rates as a result of the increased costs to the company. 

UPS also has a new contract as of last year (2023). 

Transportation costs are also influenced by fuel costs and insurance. 

Ray

[Mackenzy Albright]

What ive noticed ordering to Canada is there is no "cheap" option. It seems to be charged on a curve rate no matter the size it'll vary $50-80 for shipping which is too bad for small orders. I always split orders with friends or try to max out my purchases to make it feel worth while. Anything made in japan is significantly cheaper than purchasing domestically easily makes it worth the cost to me. (Ie nitto, blue lug originals, riv stuff made overseas) 

Last time I ordered it seems a touch more. But I find DHL has been the most consistent with least arbitrary secondary charges. 

[Patrick Moore]

McKenzie: Just curious, but can you say generally if shipping from the UK is very high or whether it is affordable? I ask because I’ve found that with many good UK bike suppliers (SKS, Bike Inn, Carradice, and most recently Rab), shipping is often not much more than that for shipping across the US.

And it can be damned fast. I recently ordered a “Vital Hoodie” sports windbreaker from Rab which turns out* to be in the UK. Well reviewed, $95 with “free” shipping.

I placed the order at about 5:30 pm MDST on a Wednesday and at about 9:30 am on the following Friday the FedEx contractor rang my door bell. 40 hours from click to door. And $95 was AFAIK full list — it was the price listed in the many reviews I read.

That beat the DHL order I placed about 10 years ago from — I forget: Carradice? SKS? — that took just about 48 hours click to drop.

* Funny: the commerce universe is no longer a geography, it’s a website and an online presence through reviews and vendors and email client contact. I had no idea when I ordered that Rab was British. It’s rather like my employer: I think they’re in Rhode Island but I am not sure; and I’ve worked for them for over 7 years. (Browning Associates, if you must know, where I write many of their resumes.)

Just checked: Providence, RI.

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[Patrick Moore]

I should have been more clear: I’m curious if UK-to-Canada shipping is a cheap and fast, at least relative to other shipping origins, as to the US.

[Jakob]

My experience with ordering there to Germany is that it always has been expensive. But also, the price is not really easily derived from what you order. Sometimes you add a thing you think is small, but shipping price makes a big jump. There's also weight AND dimension playing into it. I think the shop is somehow trying to estimate how big and heavy the package is going to be.

In your case, it could be because the cables are rolled in a larger ring that it pushes the package in a higher category. Also parts of your order could be heavier than you thing they are. Easy thing is to check with removing items that might lead to the high shipping price "to check" and understand what's leading to the high shipping costs.

(My generall recommendation besides this is to either
- Make a really big order so you don't have to care about shipping cost
- Make a really small order, and check for every item how it influences shipping price)