Happy Wednesday Everyone!
Well actually I'm kinda down in the dumps as it were... Not that anything life altering has happened... but I guess it is a little life altering for a stitcher.
I went on my favourite online cross stitch store this morning only to nearly have heart failure when I saw the shipping costs. Puzzled, I messaged the owner. Apparently the US postal service has pretty well doubled shipping prices internationally (I live in Canada) - we're talking $8-10 instead of the $4 I used to pay. This has resulted in my utter devastation. I order things fairly regularly online due to the fact that I don't have a Local Needleshop I can raid every now and then. Before, it was fairly economical for me to order only one or two charts per order and still feel like I'm getting my moneys worth. Now that's all changed. Knowing that online shopping is my only option I think I'll now have to wait until I have a fairly substantial order built up before I can justify purchasing anything... period.
This just breaks my heart... I honestly feel jipped. Just last week I made an order of a couple charts and now it's double. And because I don't have a huge selection of charts in my stash I think this will probably mean that I will not be able to participate things like SALs with monthly charts and Exchanges.
I don't even want to think about what this might do to all those lovely online stores either!
Ugggggghhhhhh I'm feeling such a mixture of frustration and disappointment, especially knowing that there is nothing I can do about this.
What else can I say??? OH MY!
Melissa
Yes, well, that is the way it has been for me for quite a while Melissa. That is why I have to hold back as well. I cannot afford it.
ReplyDeleteYou can always adopt the "working from my stash" thing. That is what I am doing and you would be amazed how long that will sustain you actually. =)
Oh dear I know how you feeling ..I am in South Africa and sometime if I like something but because of huge shipping price I just cancelled the order so meant times :(
ReplyDeleteSending you hugs dear xx
Sorry to read about that problem. It's the same here in Germany.
ReplyDeleteHope you will find a way to handle it.
Greetings from Germany
Another Canadian feeling your pain. But...there are quite a few places in Canada that you can order from. An option for you to look into?
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel too. I just mailed a package to the UK and at first the package weighed too much and they wanted to charge $88!!!! omg, so I had to remove packing material and it was still expensive at $30. It is so very pricey. It seems crazy that the prices are what they are.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you're talking about.
ReplyDeleteI live in a part of Spain where it is a desert for even the most basic stitching supplies and
everything has to be sent for mail order.
I used to be able to order up to 7yds fabric in a Global Priority envelope for $13.95 and was stunned yesterday to see the postage charge was quoted as $24.95.
In the end I didn't order.
Margaret
I too live in Canada and feel your pain however, as I know you are stitching Santa's Village, I have my charts coming from Beach Cottage Stitchers and my last one was after the postage raise and it still only cost me $2. shipping so you might want to check them out :)
ReplyDeleteJoanne
I feel your pain. It cost me $10 to mail a package that weighed 3 ounces. I was shocked... so sad to since I know most seem to order cross stitch from online.
ReplyDeleteI feel you pain as well. While I live in the US and don't have to worry so much about shipping costs to order stash, the increased rates mean I probably won't be participating in any more international exchanges. I just can't afford to pay more for shipping than the cost of what's in the package.
ReplyDeletePost offices are a real rip off!! Might be best to place a HUGE order, then you might save money on the postage...or change online shop. I feel for you :)
ReplyDeletePost offices are a real rip off!! Might be best to place a HUGE order, then you might save money on the postage...or change online shop. I feel for you :)
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way. But, thankfully, I have a large stash to work from and a good LNS. I won't be doing many online orders, unless it is a really great sale.
ReplyDeleteI hope none of the online shops suffer too much from the lack of business.
AND NOW they announced that they will be stopping Saturday deliveries beginning in August! This budget business is baddddd! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteWOW, I too live in Canada and my jaw hit the floor at how much more the online store is charging for postage! Holy crap!
ReplyDeleteA few days ago 1 chart cost $2.49 to ship to Canada and now they want $7.49!!!!! Seriously?????
I won't be ordering online from the States anymore :( Thankfully my LNS is about a 30 minute drive away and if I need anything I will be going there all the time from now on.
Thanks for making me aware of the changes :0) Hope you figure something out.
I was floored when I read this. Like you, I'm without a LNS so order from the US I'll definitely be looking for other ordering options.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
I'm so sorry
ReplyDeleteThat really hurts to be able to afford shipping
I do hope you can find reasonable shipping ,even free shipping is now hard to find, that is so crazy
Take care
Oh Melissa, I know exactly how you feel! I'm a little addicted to hand dyed fabric, and a fat quarter now costs $8 to ship from the U.S. as opposed to $3 or $4 a couple of weeks ago. One piece of fabric!
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely going to change my purchasing habits, too, and I don't look forward to having to wait till I need enough to justify the cost of shipping before ordering. Unfortunately, my LNS is way overpriced on most things and they rarely get new patterns, so I'm still going to have to order from the US :(
it seems it's the same everywhere =(
ReplyDeleteI often have to order in UK or Italy and shipping costs are too expensive !
Even the French postal costs are awful !!
sometimes it's better to make bigger orders !
For RAK and exchanges it's unfair =(
big hugs
xxx
Oh, how disappointing! I hope you're able to find another site in Canada that you can order from soon.
ReplyDeleteKnow exactly how you feel Melissa. It's the same in the UK. Like you I don;t have a local LNS so I need to rely on buying online or stash I receive from others through RAKS, Exchanges etc. I just can;t afford the overseas costs now. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteHello Melissa
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your postage costs increasing.
I have to buy online too and fortunately our prices are still quite reasonable.
Hope you can find an alternative shop with lower P & P costs.
Aww, I'm sorry! I totally feel your pain. It not only is expensive to mail things over here, but it takes about a month for anything to arrive. Definitely sucks not being able to participate in SALs or anything. :( Sorry they've changed the prices on you!
ReplyDeletecheck out Beach Cottage Stitchers. I am on auto ship for Santa's village - shipping is free for me for her auto ships, but she also uses just regular mail for lots of my things. Just a thought
ReplyDeleteThat bite's :( I occasionally use a Canadian LNS to order from, Traditional Stitches. I've always had great service from Janice.
ReplyDeleteHi, I am in the UK and order a lot from the US. This will hit me because if I wait for a bigger purchase I will run into our Customs tax for orders over $30 - this can be $15 -$20 and an extra charge of $12 from the Post Office for 'handling'. Like others I have got right to the point of confirming an order and then cancelling because of the postage and tax costs. Irene xxx
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I just wanted to say hello! It's been awhile since I've visited :( I love the look of your blog and how the comments look too!
ReplyDeleteMmm, I just noticed that price hike last week when I mailed off two packages and couldn't believe the jump!! It's so sad because I can't buy or send things as often as I'd like now. I like to order from Needlecraft Corner because Drema's service is fabulous and quite fast too, whereas, with some of the Canadian ONS, they take months to get me my supplies. It's a tough one that's for sure. I think I'll take Vickie's advice and work from stash.
Oh, I know, the pain is spreading. And I had signed up for some clubs too so that'll the a shock the next time around.
ReplyDeleteI buy a lot from Needlecraft Corner as they usually have reduced prices for everything. That offsets the shipping costs somewhat.
I wonder when prices will creep up on the Canadian stores too due to the postage!
If you ever need a floss fairy or what have you, please let me know. I live in The States, and when I order internationally, I truly feel your pain.
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa, I'm new to your blog and just signed up to follow it. I really enjoyed reading through your posts. As for the postage rates, I totaly agree... it's insane. The closest LNS for me is an hour and a half drive from here and I only get to it maybe once ever 3 months or so.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried Knowledge and Needles (www.knowledgeandneedles.com) its located in Brighton Ontario. The owner Ann is awesome and very accommodating. She doesn't have an online shopping cart but pop her an e-mail of what you're looking for, she's good to let you know if she has it or if she can get it. Her service is great and quick!
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel, as I get most of my supplies online and get them shipped to India directly. Which is this site?
ReplyDeleteI'm suffering with the same blues. I just about died when I saw the shipping costs. I've started ordering from a couple of Canadian shops I've dealt with. I'll send you an email with the links to their shops.
ReplyDelete