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Member since 7/23/07
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Posted on: 8/23/10 9:27 PM ET
Ok, so Simplicity is having a $2.99 sale on New Look patterns today. I decided this was the perfect time to test the new International Checkout system.

People, it's so expensive!

I picked 8 patterns I like IRL (remember, this is just a test ) and clicked on the appropriate button on the checkout page.

My total was $23.92 for the patterns alone

It said "your order from Simplicity, blablabla" and listed the patterns in a new page headed "International Checkout". At the bottom they ask for : Payment Method, Billing Country, Shipping Destination, Shipping Method and Pre-Pay Duties and Taxes.

The results are shocking.

I picked the following answers: Mastercard, Haiti, Haiti, Standard and Yes, my total is : $23.92+36.88+35.88=$96.67

The results are the same if I ship to the Dominican Republic or Jamaica (neighboring countries)

If I pick No on Duties and Taxes, the total is $60.80

If I pick Shipping USA, No Duties apply, the total is : $40.69

This is really NOT interesting for me. I actually bought some Simplicity and New Look patterns online once or twice in the past but I had to phone in and it was tedious.

Still, I don't think I want to pay $17 for a $24 order.

Out of curiosity, I tried Australia/Australia and France/France with Paypal and it comes to $55.49 US and $53.37US respectively. The results come in USD if you choose Paypal.

So there you have it. Forewarned is Forearmed...

  
Member since 2/8/07
Posts: 599
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Posted on: 8/23/10 9:36 PM ET
We were discussing this in another thread and I totally agree: international shipping is insanely expensive. These companies obviously do not want our business.

A cheaper option is www.sewingpatterns.com who charge $6.45 for the first pattern and an extra $1.45 for each additional pattern. They quite often have $2.99 sales. A couple of months ago they even had a 99c sale.
I like that these postage prices are the same for the larger sized Jalie patterns as well, in fact the postage for those are cheaper than the actual Jalie website.
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Sew Much Fabric, Sew Little Time
  
Member since 6/23/04
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Posted on: 8/23/10 10:01 PM ET
In reply to lakaribane
Thank you so much for posting this!! You must have read my mind because I nearly did a test myself this morning to see what the postage costs would be. I have been wanting to know. I love a $2.99 sale but it's not a bargain when the postage costs are so over the top. Luckily PR just had a $2.99 sale and their postage costs are far more realistic and reasonable. Thanks for sharing.
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Belinda. Melbourne, Australia
http://sew-4-fun.blogspot.com/
  
Member since 5/22/04
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Re: Simplicitys new International Checkout system (posted on 8/24/10 9:11 PM ET)
Thank you for your post. Maybe this topic could be merged with the McCalls International Mail winge topic at the top of the board. Folk can then list the international postage from various pattern companies.
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(Near the Hawkesbury River, Sydney, NSW, Australia, Earth, Milky Way)

If you have a white cat, never wear black.

Bernina 801 Sport
Bernina Aurora 440 Quilters Edition
Bernina 800 DL
  
Member since 12/10/05
Posts: 1221
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Re: Simplicitys new International Checkout system (posted on 8/26/10 3:50 AM ET)
It seems like $36 of your total is duties and taxes - you can't really blame Simplicity for the taxes you have to pay in Haiti. I guess you could try buying the patterns without paying the taxes, and just hope that you don't get charged by Customs when the package arrives.
  
Member since 6/22/04
Posts: 4602
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Posted on: 8/26/10 9:48 AM ET
In reply to lakaribane
Quote: lakaribane
If I pick Shipping USA, No Duties apply, the total is : $40.69

That's absurd because if I bought eight New Look Patterns full price and put them in a flat rate envelope to Haiti it would be around $40. You need a pattern enabler in the States! I am too far from and too infrequently at a JoAnn or Hancocks to offer enabling, so sorry!
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Liz

thefittinglife.blogspot.com
  
Member since 7/23/07
Posts: 8464
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Posted on: 8/27/10 8:02 PM ET
In reply to Sewliz
Liz, I agree it's absurd. I still don't understand WHY the shipping alone to the US would be $17 when I've paid online before for shipping from a US-based website to a US address for no more than $10 USD or so.

Yet they charge almost twice that when the package is staying in the continental USA. And I don't think it's for tracking and insurance, either!

And, don't worry about me, I'm growing a network of enablers, it seems, LOL!

Oh, and I want to thank everyone who volunteered to buy patterns or magazines for others. "Men anpil chay pa lou" (if the hands are many, the load is lighter) as they say here. Like sewing penpals, I like that idea.
  
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