Hosed by Happ on T-Molding

[rdagger]

I ordered 50' of 5/8" chrome T-molding from Happ.  I just got the package and the bill.  They charged me $18.62 for shipping

The package weighed 3 pounds and was sent UPS ground from Illinois to California.  I checked with UPS and the actual cost is $5.03.

The worst part is that their online system conveniently does not calculate the shipping cost.

[SirPeale]

That is odd.  Usually they just charge what UPS charges on shipping.  I would call them about it.  Failing that, contest the charges.  That's an obscene amount for shipping.

[krick]

Before anyone gets the wrong idea, I'm not defending Happ but while $18+ dollars is VERY high, many people don't consider, boxes, packing materials, tape, and the cost to have a person to pack and mail the item.

Those things amount to tangible costs that must be added to the actual postage costs unless they're already factored into the price of the item.

When I was selling stuff on eBay, some people would give me a hard time when my "shipping" cost didn't equal the exact "postage" cost.


As for how your package could have possibly been $18...

Was the box oversized?
They charge more if the box is really long in one or more dimensions.

Shipped "overnight" or "next day"?
Maybe you had a "shipping method" combo box on the order form highlighted and rolled your mouse wheel, accidentally selecting "next day".

Just some thoughts.

[spystyle]

When you order t-molding or marque retainers from Happ you have to call them on the telephone and specifically request USPS shipping.
(it would've cost you $4.50 shipping instead, but no insurance)

(I've done this several times)

Dig it?
Craig

[ErikRuud]

This has happened many times before.  Usually for marquee retainers.

Measure the box it came in, then check the UPS site for there limits on box sizes.

If the box is oversize, NOT overweight, UPS charges a much higher rate.  That is probably what happened.

[rdagger]

Happ told me there was an oversized charge.  However, UPS doesn't charge an oversized fee until you get to a box size of 27"x27".   The T-Molding coil is 15"x15".   I'm stuck with a high shipping cost because Happ was to lazy to find an appropriate package.  Furthermore, there was zero padding in the box and this stuff is not fragile.

[Sylentwulf]

That SUCKS

Honestly, I haven't ever bought anything from Happ, and this is a large reason why (that and because everything they carry can be found cheaper through bob or T-molding.com)

[rdagger]

That SUCKS

Honestly, I haven't ever bought anything from Happ, and this is a large reason why (that and because everything they carry can be found cheaper through bob or T-molding.com)

Unfortunately, T-molding.com only sells 5/8" chrome in 250 foot spools.  It was bad enough I had to buy 50' from Happ when I only needed 30'.

[Sylentwulf]

Ahh, the only other thing I could suggest, would be to contact your credit card company....

[Lilwolf]

Another thing not to go to happs for.

I actually don't know what to go to happs for...  

I got 4 cheap supers when they where on sale... and added a $15 bezel and it had a $40+ shipping associated with it.  REALLY sucked!

I've bought maybe $700 of arcade equipment since then... and I wont go back to happs for anything.

Too bad you can't get the 27" bezels from anywhere else...  

[rdagger]

After speaking with customer service at Happ, I was able to convince them to credit me for the shipping.  They also promised that in the future the t-molding would be shipped in smaller packages.  I have to give props to their customer services.  They acted professional, polite and expeditiously.

[Gamecab]

You know, I thought it was just me who was getting over charged on shipping from Happ.  As I read this post I can see I'm not alone.  I guess Happ had to make an extra couple of dollars by over charging the shipping rate of the item.  I have always wondered why the shipping price was never quoted on the website and I guess this is the answer.  (Not plugging here--->) It's funny how a VERY small company like GameCab can have UPS intergration build in to the website but Happ cannot.  All happ would have to supply is the boxes weight and size (Per item) to UPS and they do the rest.  I feel Hosed too....

The worst part about the over charge for shipping is that they pack everything in freaking newspaper!!! Ebay users with a rank under 5 pack in newspaper!!!!!   I'll have to remember to place a Happ order the next time I need to house break a dog...

I feel better now that I have vented.

Thanks

Charlie

[Knoxximus]

I'm really blessed to live in Vegas....there is an actual Happs outlet no more than 25-35 minutes from my crib.  Eff shipping....I'll take my azz down there and pick it up if anything!

Now if Ultimarc would hurry up and get me a Video Amp that works (grumble, grumble....)

[sirwoogie]

There are PLENTY of stories posted on BYOAC about Happ and the shipping charges. Don't be suprised if they do yank you for it, as they always have. On top of that, the stories are almost always centered around "I bought T-molding, and Happs charged me way to much."

I would order from Happs for most things as they carry most things I want. For all components on my CP and my coin-door, I paid about $25 total for everything in shipping costs. That's not a considerable amount for what I got. Yes, their containers aren't the greatest, but everything in newspaper is in fact about the entire daily newspaper! Should a vendor like this not ship with newspaper, absolutely. However, they are a distributor, they normally send out LARGE orders by truck and pallete. The one-see two-see packages is not their business. Do some shopping around, if you're not sure on total costs... call them.

Customer Service there is TOP notch. Your most surely to get a human, and usually that human will get you an answer on the phone. I had a CS rep get the line engineer on the phone to get me a straight answer on some orders I had custom for some joysticks, and they got it cleared up right there. The business isn't large enough that they don't loose their customer focus.

Again, if you don't like the practices, don't shop there. But for many of us, Happ has been a good business.

[ErikRuud]

Gamecab wrote:

You know, I thought it was just me who was getting over charged on shipping from Happ.  As I read this post I can see I'm not alone.  I guess Happ had to make an extra couple of dollars by over charging the shipping rate of the item.  I have always wondered why the shipping price was never quoted on the website and I guess this is the answer.  (Not plugging here--->) It's funny how a VERY small company like GameCab can have UPS intergration build in to the website but Happ cannot.  All happ would have to supply is the boxes weight and size (Per item) to UPS and they do the rest.  I feel Hosed too....

I have yet to see a case where Happ would have profitted from over charging.  There shipping is always based on UPS rates.

On the other hand I have to agree that they should use more common sense when packing.  That box looks like it 4 times bigger than it needed to be.

The should also be able to get the rates calculated right on their website.  Lots of other companies do it.

[Chris]

I think sirwoogie hit the nail on the head.  For many many years, Happ's business has all been about large business to business orders.  Thus, for a long time they had a minimum $25 order.  It's only recently that they've begun embracing the hobbyist market.  Businesses aren't so worried about exact shipping charges on an order of a thousand buttons, but hobbyists care about every penny.

--Chris

[mp2526]

But is UPS really that easy to integrate?  Because they require box dimensions, they are not as easy as USPS.  With USPS, I can reasonably be assured that I will get an accurate cost of shipping by just the weight of the product.  With UPS its a little more difficult.  How do I know what size box a particular combination of products will be able to fit in.  Some companies are large enough that they have past experience or have deals set up with UPS to get lower costs, but a company that does relatively little UPS business either has to over charge a bit for shipping to cover their bases or, as Happs does, not give you a shipping total until after they have boxed it up.  Gamecab has a limited number of products, so shipping is easier to calculate, it's when your products vary in size and quantity that it gets hard to do.

EDIT:  I do agree that is was a bit ridiculous to ship the t-molding in that large a box.  But I do get the feeling that Happs just doesn't do that much UPS shipping.

[u_rebelscum]

I've never been over charged for shipping by happs.  About eight or nine seperate orders.  Of course, I buy only small-ish items I know will fit in a UPS okay size (and always on sale or parts only easily available from happs).

(They shouldn't have oversize packed that T-molding, though.)

I agree with sirwoogie, too.  Used to work part time at an small phone-line/on-line video adapter place.  UPS, FedEx and Airbourne would charge $15-$20 to ship one $10 product; most businesses didn't care, and would have let us charge almost anything for shipping.  They usually didn't ask shipping costs.  Many would accuss us of trying to cheat them for recommending cheaper options!

It was the consumers and some small businesses that worried about the shipping cost, so we'd recomend shipping one product for $1.37 first class or $3.90 USPS priority (different prices for small thing for something that light).  But some would order 12 of this an 3 of that and then demand shipping costs immediately.  Small Box A is x grams, medium Box B is 3x grams, 10 of this + 2 of that fit in box A, but will 13 this + 3 that fit?  If it doesn't, the shipping weight will be the next level, hurry do it in your head.  If we quoted the higher, the buyer might not buy; if we quoted the lower and it really cost the higher, we had to absorb the difference.

Since we charged at cost, it was best if we weighed the fully packaged box to give the final shipping cost.  And like happs, even when we shipped at cost, some consumers said we over charged for shipping.

The one thing we did, unlike happs, was try to contact the buyer if we thought they won't like the shipping cost.

[Nocturnaloner]

Well, I should've found this thread before I ordered from Happ, then again, I didn't know to