TOTW Shipping!

Wow!
I just ordered 100 .424 balls from TOTW. It was $10.30 for the balls and OVER $11.00 FOR THE SHIPPING!!! I asked them if it was going to be delivered on a magical unicorn or something! Are they always that outrageous?
Eric

What does that weigh? Then compare UPS and FedEx tariff rates to USPS' actual rates.

Unless something has changed, they do a "standard" calculation of shipping costs at the time you order, but only charge actual shipping once they learn what that is.

You want to be outraged, you ought to see what the first # is for Alaska. Always a relief to get the final invoice and see that shipping was less.

Everybody will pour it to you if your shipping Haz Mat or heavy merchandise but some times I know some companies put thier thumb on the scale just a bit to add to their top end I know Sears does. Can't say about TOTW

If you have a Bass Pro, Sportsman's Warehouse, Sheels, Cabella's, Gander Mtn, etc, check them out for the size ball you need. If they don't carry it ask them if they will.

I get balls and lots of items for my .50 and .45 at the first three and it's usually very inexpensive. Plus it shows them that someone is buying their black powder stuff and they might think more about carrying it instead of discontinuing doing so.

Another good way to get what you want on the cheap is to do what I am starting to do. Buy the bullet molds for the calibers you want and casting your own. Just do what I am doing and read up a lot from what the vintage casters on this forum write on doing so. A wealth of knowledge on here.

I credit the writings and postings of many on here to why my flintlock Pedersoli shot first time and everytime on my first time out. I just read over and over until it was in my brain and then it made it easier to put into action when I got out on the range and started shooting.

Looks like flat rate shipping to me. Up to 70lbs if it fits the box. When I order stuff I try to save up my wish list to make the shipping cost worth it. Or ask my friends if they want or need any thing.
Ps,I don't remember the guys name that sells and ships 500rb as inexpensive as I have seen.

Is ToTW shipping unreasonable? Depends.

Gander and Cabela's often have free shipping specials for orders over XX $, plus they have a no-cost option of shipping to your local store for pickup.

And "shipping" can include labor to package for shipping, material such as the box and packing material, along with the postage/freight charged by the carrier.

Kennyc said:

Looks like flat rate shipping to me. Up to 70lbs if it fits the box. When I order stuff I try to save up my wish list to make the shipping cost worth it. Or ask my friends if they want or need any thing.
Ps,I don't remember the guys name that sells and ships 500rb as inexpensive as I have seen.

Click to expand...

Eddie May is the guys name Phone number is 1-706-695-5290. Its a whole lot cheaper in the long run to buy the equipment and cast them yourself.

I guess you haven't shipped anything lately. All carrier rates have gone up a lot. As Kennyc said, one way to mitigate the cost of shipping is to order more than one thing per order.

I just ordered 200 .454 roundballs from Eddie May. His price is $6.50/100 + $6.25 shipping. He provides good quality roundballs and his prices are fair. He is the only person I have bought roundballs from in quite some time.

Jeff

Learn to cast your own. You will enjoy it more when shooting knowing that you made what is going down range. I use a cheap lee mold and pot. When looking for lead ask friends or buy round balls and bullets on sale and cast what you want.
Pappy :thumbsup:

Learn to cast your own. You will enjoy it more when shooting knowing that you made what is going down range. I use a cheap lee mold and pot. When looking for lead ask friends or buy round balls and bullets on sale and cast what you want.
Pappy :thumbsup:

Whenever I order I always consider shipping also BEFORE I commit myself to finalize the order. Some places let you select how you want to ship and if it is not to my liking I search for other places.

I always factor in shipping into the unit price. For example if it costs $5.00 to ship a .50 cent screw the price of that screw is $5.50 , but if I buy 10 screws the per screw price with shipping is $1.00
Purchasing other items can also offset the per unit price.
:grin:

ericlarges said:

Wow!
I just ordered 100 .424 balls from TOTW. It was $10.30 for the balls and OVER $11.00 FOR THE SHIPPING!!! I asked them if it was going to be delivered on a magical unicorn or something! Are they always that outrageous?
Eric

Click to expand...

Their shipping prices have definitely gone up noticeably. I decided to re-order 100 510gr. Minie balls and the shipping was over $18, which works out to about $2.50 per pound. I know it wasn't that much when I ordered them last year. I tried adding 2 more bags (50 more rounds) to reduce the per-unit cost and the shipping jumped to almost $30. I didn't place the order.

I really wish they they would take advantage of USPS Flat Rate boxes. 4 bags (maybe even 6) of Minie balls should fit in a USPS small box and ship for around $6. Lots of reloading component vendors (Missouri Bullet comes to mind) use USPS with no major issues to ship heavy stuff for less $.

I believe this is what Eddie May does. He uses the flat rate shipping boxes.

Jeff

Yeah, flat rate boxes for lead or bulk beeswax is the only way to go... I'm surprised that TOTW doesn't offer some sort of package deal, like two packets of round ball (or whatever fits in the smallest flat rate box).

LD

Order more stuff next time and the shipping wont be so "bad".

I know...I know...
Maybe I was just extra "ticked" when I placed the order, but it's done. I haven't ordered lead through the mail in a long time...guess it's expensive.
As far as casting my own, I do. I have been casting .429 for some time for my rifle, and it's shredding the patch, which is already thin. I thought I would try the .424 to see if there is any improvement. If there is, then I will buy a mold and start casting the .424 balls. Until I know what works best, I'm holding off on the mold.
Thanks for the input guys...at least I know that I'm not the only one!
E

ericlarges said:

I haven't ordered lead through the mail in a long time...guess it's expensive.
Until I know what works best, I'm holding off on the mold.

Click to expand...

having lead shipped obviously aint cheep, looks like that is your best option for now with your trial sized RBs. FWIW, most common sized-in store RBs I see around here are $15-$19/per 100, so maybe your shipped price isn't TOO outta-line?