Packing and shipping are very costly-

so make sure you know what it is going to cost before you bid or commit to buy!!! Almost anything is $10 to MUCH MUCH more!!! It seems like they are increasing every month. If you remember when you could send a package across the country for a buck or two, you are in the wrong era. The root of the issue is that oil prices have risen from $5 a barrel to $100. This directly impacts the cost of transportation as well as the cost of materials used for protectively packing goods so that they stand a reasonable chance of arriving intact. Also, we have never in our lifetimes seen the cost of labor decrease. To date there have been 2 specific events that have had step-function impact on cost. One was the 9/11 terrorist attack--the result of which was all sorts of new rules and regulations regarding shipping as well as import/export. For example, every USPS package we send now requires we pay someone to go stand in line at the post-office and individually mail it. The other event was May of 2007 when the post office radically overhauled its services and charges (much higher for the domestic& international things we ship after eliminating the previously available lower cost services.)

We don't profit from packing and shipping, in fact, in our efforts to get our customers the best deal we can, on average, we lose money. Listed prices are based on the customer picking items up from our warehouse, without any cost for packing and shipping (and no pickup or loading charge--some sellers are charging $25 to $50 just for you to come to their warehouse to pickup the item you bought on ebay). Because we have no way to build the cost of packing and shipping into the listed price of our items, the fact that these costs are generally large relative to the listed price, and that these costs vary so radically depending on the part of the world they are destined to, we have to pass-through these costs on a case-by-case basis.

The high degree of variability over time and destination, along with the fact that virtually every item is unique, dictates that packing and shipping have to be determined on a case-by-case basis. Although we have made numerous attempts, we have never yet been able to make ebay's shipping cost calculators work right.

Packing Charge

It costs money for foam cardboard, tape (the, hopefully, sticky-on-one-side-stuff), wood, screws, strapping, clips and cushioning material, plus a lot of labor (we have had to spend days just protectively packaging and securing some of the more complex items) to double pack things to meet the shipping requirements USPS, so that your goods will, hopefully, arrive in undamaged condition. We currently ship mostly by FedEx Ground (for domestic USA shipments with shipping weight under 150 pounds and less than about 130 length + girth) which seems to be less damaging to things but we still try very hard to pack things in a manner that has a high probability of avoiding damage in shipping. Even in the case where USPS provides priority mail boxes, we still have to pay for expensive bubble-wrap, labor and someone standing in line at the post office.

Buyers who come and pick things up from us directly don't generate these costs. Since we don't know in advance if a buyer is going to come pick it up or have it shipped, and since nearly every item is different, we have no way to build the cost of packing into the price on ebay. Furthermore, on the bigger items, some people elect motor freight with no packing because they are only after the parts while others want lots of packing to try to make sure there is no damage in transit (Motor freight carriers only insure used items at 10 cents per pound.) Furthermore, some buyers have asked to have things like jackhammers sent UPS without packing (FedEx charges an extra $ special handling fee and there may still be some packing charge if the item has sharp edges/corners that must be covered to protect FedEx staff from injury).

(Additional insurance may be available on request and payment but is not quoted in our standard issue pricing. Ask in advance if insurance is an issue for you--you will not get it if you don't ask and pay for it.)

Our packing charges vary considerably, depending on the item and how much material/time it takes to get it packed. (These charges actually average much less than what the combination of materials and time cost us. We are not trying to make a profit on these but we also don't want these costs to put us out of business.) An item that is heavy and delicate (like optics) will take more packing than something that is light, small and indestructible. Packing charges for most small things run between $3 and $10. Bigger generally means more cost. Items on the larger end of what can go FedEx ground can easily cost $30 to $50 for protective packing. Really big and delicate items like large format plotters can cost $100 and up to pack. Things that need to go by truck carrier ( Less Than truck Load) usually cost $50 for a skid, strapping and wrapping with cardboard then stretch-wrap (typically required packing by LTL carriers for used goods like we ship). Sometimes, it makes sense to go via moving van via blanket wrap service but this usually costs more. (LTL regulations don't allow things with wheels to be shipped on their wheels because they could roll around and damage other goods). Oversized (more than 48 by 40 inches) items require a custom skid and generally cost $100 for the skid, strap and wrap service. The best protection for items is crating but this typically cost $100 to $300 per crate--depending on size and complexity. Items that are already in shippable packing, may not, at our election, be charged a packing fee (often things that are in packing, still need additional over-packing for adequate shipping protection). A buyer can also request packing and shipping by a third party such as Mailboxes Etc. and we will be happy to only charge the buyer the actual cost of getting it to that third party and whatever their actual charges are but beware that this may cost you 3X or more what we would charge to pack it. Buyers should always be aware that packing for any given item could exceed the listing price, particularly if it is something big/delicate or has a low minimum bid. We are doing our best to keep this charge as low as possible. However, if you have a concern about what it is likely to be, make sure you give us your shipping details and ask us to make an estimate prior to committing to purchase.

Note that we use recycled packing materials whenever possible. While this generally does not decrease the overall cost (it takes more time/labor to get recycled materials, handle them and use them) we feel it is the correct thing to do from an environmental perspective.

INTERNATIONAL shipment packing adds some additional issues. The big one is that any wood product must be heat treated and marked so as to prevent transport of any insects or disease. This costs more and generally precludes the use of recycled wood packing. If we are loading an ocean container for you, you will have to pay for the cost of chains, binders, straps, etc. that may be required to secure the load in the container (you do get to keep these items when your container arrives--one can never have too many chains and straps).

Shipping Charges

The buyer (winning bidder) is always responsible for all the costs of getting the item from our location to his/hers. This includes the cost of protective packing, shipping, and in some cases--loading/rigging--and in the case of international shipments, export & documentation fees. Ideally, we wish all buyers would arrange with someone else (relative, friend, professional service) to pick up, pack and ship items since we don't like to do it, we lose money doing it, and it is often a point of contention with customers. However, since getting a third party to do it is too costly and cumbersome for most people, we provide packing and shipping as an added-cost-service to our remote (those who can't come pick it up) customers .

As we primarily sell used/surplus items, sometimes at near give-away blowout prices, shipping costs are frequently very significant compared to the item's selling price. On the larger items, it is really easy for any mistake in calculating shipping cost to result in our having to pay out more than we get for the item. While our objective is to make a modest living while providing our customers with interesting items, if the above happens very often, we will not be able to stay in business. This is why our listings note that the customer may be required to pay additional shipping costs if additional cost are incurred that were not originally expected. This can happen if the delivery location is not a true commercial business location, the delivery area is to congested when the truck arrives, a liftgate is needed, a redelivery is needed, etc.

Since virtually every one of our items is different and we have no way of knowing in advance if the buyer will be picking the item up from our location or where in the world the buyer will want it shipped, we have no way of knowing in advance what the shipping cost will be nor can we build it into the ebay price (with a few limited exceptions for delivery of small items in the USA 48 states). Please note that the listed weights and dimensions are almost always before packaging. Packaging invariable adds at least some to the size and weight listed--in some cases, it adds a lot..

We have to know where it is going and how before we can figure out the cost! Since some of our items have ridiculously low minimum bids and the price may have no relationship to the size or the weight of the item, the shipping cost can be much more than the bid price. In one case, it cost the winning bidder $110 to get a big $10 item all the way to Eastern Canada (but he felt is was such a bargain (More than $1000 value to him for the item) that the dispaportionately high shipping cost was well worth it).

We are not able to do any form of COD (Collect on Delivery) shipping.

USA SHIPPING:

All shipping calculations are based on zip codes! Virtually all shipping charges are based on your location relative to ours in the Mountainair, New Mexico, USA area, zip code 87036, plus the weight, size, fragility and speed of shipping. Please be sure to include your zip code with all communication regarding shipping.

Express, International and Truck shipping delivery requires a delivery contact phone number. Our preferred carrier for packages of several pounds to 150 pounds and less than 130" length plus girth is FedEx Ground and they will often call you if they are experiencing delivery problems so please include a delivery contact phone number with your shipping address. We simply can't schedule shipping on truck items until we have a delivery contact phone number. We use the shipping information that comes with payment on the shipping tag so be sure that it is complete and correct, even if you have sent us other shipping information in advance.

There are 4 basic ways we ship:

1) Very small items up of only a few ounces will typically ship 1st class mail. There is modest handling/packing fee in addition to the mail cost. Please note that items shipped this way are not traceable and are not insured. Delivery time is typically 5 to 10 days.

2) Small, light items up to a couple pounds generally ship cheapest by USPS Priority Mail. You can go to www.usps.com and click on the rate calculator to get an idea of mailing cost (our zip code is 87036). USPS express mail is the preferred choice for packages going outside the lower 48 states as they are traceable. (Please keep in mind that there will also be protective packing charges in addition to the postage fee, as discussed on another page. This can be significant for fragile items.) . If you want shipping to a Post Office Box, it has to go by mail. Tracking and insurance are not part of standard PM or PP and are not included unless expressly requested and paid for. For items needing urgent delivery, we can ship USPS Express Mail or FedEx Overnight but there is a hefty rush charge that will be applied as this is not part of our normal routine (meaning it takes us away from our normal productivity). Due to Homeland Security rules, we have to pay someone to stand in line at the post-office and individually mail each package. Thus, we only do this about once a week.

3) Intermediate size packages to 150 pounds & 130 inches (length plus girth) most often ship best by FedEx Ground. You can go to www.fedex.com to estimate FedEx charges using "one time pickup" and "your packaging" choices. If the item is big or heavy, please check weight and size limitations (keep in mind that protective packing can add considerable size and weight). Also note that a light but large item will be charged based on size rather than weight. (Please keep in mind that there will also be protective packing charges as discussed on another page.) Also note that there are additional charges imposed for delivery to residential addresses. There may be additional charges for odd shaped, long or non-packed items. There are also fuel surcharge and pickup charges added. (Business address must be legitimate business in a commercial area with a real business name--Home business in a residential area does not cut it.) We can only ship using your account number for express delivery services, not UPS or FedEx ground. (Note that we do not use UPS as we have had far too much trouble with their services--particularly with regards to damaged goods.) We can't ship by these means to a P.O. Box. There must be a physical address.

4) Bulkier items such as those with shipping weight over 150 pounds or bigger than 130 inches (length plus girth) must ship by truck freight motor carrier. Often this called an LTL (Less than Truck Load) carrier. In some cases, for really large/heavy items, a flatbed 18 wheeler semi trailer is needed. We use www.freightquote.com as our LTL trucking broker (they typically provide us with half a dozen or more discounted quotes for different trucking companies with each query). Most of the time, we have gotten discounted rates through them that are better than those most people can get through a carrier directly. However, trucking rates change daily, due to fuel cost surcharges that seem to be a function of daily fluctuations in the price of oil. For the really big/heavy stuff, we use a backhaul broker. We can ship oversize loads that require double-drop trailers or oversize permits but this gets increasingly expensive the bigger the item is. We can't ship by these means to a P.O. Box. There must be a physical address & contact phone number.

The least expensive truck shipping is between businesses with a loading dock or fork lift (so be sure to let us know if you have a commercial business location name and address with a loading dock or if we can ship your big items to such an address). If a liftgate delivery truck is needed, and/or if the address is residential, there is additional cost (typically about $200) that can usually be mitigated if you go to the truck terminal to pick the item up. Normal truck delivery is to a loading dock, (or with liftgate truck) parking lot, driveway or similar outside location. If you ask for the item to be moved to a location inside a structure, there will be an additional "inside delivery" charge. The cost of terminal pickup by consignee is normally the same as delivery to a commercial business with a truck-high dock or forklift--we just have to know what we are shipping to in advance so we can address the shipment properly--any error will likely result in additional post shipping charges. Again, we can't schedule shipping until we have the full shipping information including delivery contact phone number.

We can generally load items up to at least 8000 pounds on our end without a loading charge. For items in excess of this, there may be additional cost associated with hiring a rigger to load the item. You will obviously need a corresponding means of unloading on your end.

Business address must include a legitimate business name and be located in a commercial area, not a residential area. Delivery to a residential area usually costs an extra $120. Delivery to a location without a loading dock usually adds another $100. If the trucking company needs to call before delivery, that typically adds $25.

NOTE! If you require documentation beyond that generated automatically by the ebay transaction, there will be a documentation charge, according to how much trouble we have to go to to provide it to you.

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING:

We assume buyers are in the US and can have someone come pick their item up at our warehouse--this is how we list our items. If you are a buyer outside the US who wants to purchase one of our items (including Canadians), you will have to pay additional charges (unless you can provide us with a USA address to ship the item to--and then you will have to pay export document fees if you need any paperwork not included with an ebay transaction). It is much more difficult for us to ship items outside the USA (particularly after 9/11), requiring additional work, research, risk and documentation. You will have to pay a fee for all additional costs associated with getting the item shipped outside the US. At the very minimum, there will be a $15 USD documentation fee for filling out a commercial invoice and copies or for filling out a USPS export document.Items that go by UPS or FedEx have a $20 minimum documentation fee. Items over $2500 require even more costly documentation and generally an export broker/freight forwarder. Lesser value items that are of a size/weight not readily handled by USPS, FedEx or freightquote.com will typically be done through an export broker with their associated fees.

The USPS changes made mid 2007 seem to have eliminated cheaper classes of mail so that generally leaves us only international priority or express mail. (We do not ship anything via international USPS surface mail--it takes far too long and it often never reaches the destination address.) We will only ship international via a method that provides traceability.

A full name, day-time phone number and physical address, not P.O. Box, is required for all shipments outside the US via any means other than USPS. Deliver/Customs contact phone number is required no matter what the shipping method.

International payment can only be made via Paypal, USD Postal Money Order or Bank wire transfer.

Buyers must remember that really heavy and/or large items can have a shipping cost much higher than the winning bid amount.

If you have any questions, be sure to ask us before you commit to purchase!

International orders typically take longer to ship due to the added complexity and delivery times are often much longer due to the transit time.

We do not cover any import duties, taxes, broker fees, customs charges, etc. that may be due when an item arrives in your country. You typically have to pay these fees directly or through a broker to get your item out of customs after it arrives.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

We would like to ship everything within a business day of getting clear payment but this is not always possible. We have a limiting packing/shipping capacity. If we receive a couple weeks worth of payments all at once, we will not be able to pack and ship them all instantly. Things that are harder to pack or deal with are subject to being delayed. Examples that cause delay include items without valid phone numbers, large, heavy-for-size or unusual-shaped, hard to pack items, international shipments, truck shipments (particularly those that require special skids, crating or packing), etc. If there is particular urgency for getting an item, make sure you expressly communicate the need and we will try to accommodate you. There may be additional charges if you want something done unusually fast.

Truck shipping rates are a complex subject. Trucking companies have a base rate that almost no one pays (unless they don't know better). They offer discounts to attract business from their competitors. Most anyone can usually get a 40-45% discount if they ask. Companies that do a moderate volume of business like us often get a discount of 50-70%. Companies that ship a lot of tonnage of the same thing may get a discount of more than 70%.

The base rate for truck shipping is calculated from the miles of transport, the total shipping weight, and the class of goods being shipped (how bulky it is). It is this base rate that the discounts are applied to. The classes range from about 50 to at least 250. These are supposed to be based on the weight-density of the shipping unit. Something that is very heavy for its size might be class 60 while something light and fluffy might be class 150 or higher. Class 50 would be something like solid bars of scrap metal. The most common class we ship is 85. cabinetry is typically class 125 to 250.

There is something called an NMFC number (generated by an "independent" company that charges big bucks for the information--which makes it hard for the little guy to get his/her hands on) that the trucking companies use to decide what the class an item should be. Theoretically, there is an NMFC number for everything. However, we almost never find a clear-cut match between what we are shipping and an existing NMFC number. NMFC-number-based classes seldom seem to match the actual weight-density-based class for items we ship. The point of this is that trucking companies have a nasty habit of reclassifying shipments after the fact and back-charging higher rates. If we end up with significant additional shipping charges for this reason or reasons below such as your giving us a ship-to as a commercial address with loading dock that really was not--you will be charged with these additional costs.

Trucking companies seem to be in the same class of morals as used car salesmen and lawyers. They are continually coming up with ways to hit you up with extra charges. In addition to the reclassification scam noted above, they will hit you up for $15 to $30 to tell you that they are going to delivery your item. Also noted above are the extra charges for liftgate delivery, residential delivery and inside delivery but there are also additional charges for construction-site, rural, college/university and trade-show delivery. Fuel cost surcharges are another common item. Another scam pulled by some trucking firms (or at least some of their drivers) is to demand a fee from the recipient on delivery, even though the item was sent "prepaid freight". This seems to happen most often when the company making the final delivery is different than the one that did the initial pickup. The bottom line is---don't pay the extra's unless you have exhausted all means of fighting them. For the bogus COD, hold the driver and get on the phone to "clear up" the problem right then and there. Once you pay, it is impossible get any money back.

We prefer that the customer arrange and "pre_pay" for shipping directly (you still have to pay us for packing unless this is done by a third party). This is because customers are frequently shocked at how costly shipping is and often think we are over-charging. Direct payment can be done by making arrangements with a shipper of the customer's choice directly and having the filled out BOL e-mailed or fax'd to us. (We don't do Freight Collect as it costs more and there are too many problems with the consignee location not paying). (We can direct freightquote.com to set up an account for you based on your shipping/billing information but you will need to provide them with means for payment in advance).

WE ARE NOT SELLING NEW RETAIL!!!!!

WE ARE NOT A NEW RETAIL ITEM SELLER!!!!

DON'T COMMIT TO PURCHASE UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT ALL THE SELLER'S TERMS & CONDITIONS.

Don't buy if you don't like the handling, packing and shipping cost!

Don't buy if want the item instantly.

Don't buy if you think the listed price is too high.

Don't buy if you don't have the money in-hand to pay for it!!!

Don't buy if you want a warranty or right of return.

Don't buy if you need factory support!!!

Don't buy if you don't have common sense and functional expertise regarding the item.

We are human and do make mistakes sometime--if you don't have the ability to accept this and work with us when we do--DON'T BUY.

A majority of the items we sell are, at best, used. Some of them are clearly missing something and are sold only as parts. Others look to us as complete but don't work or we don't have the means to determine if they work. We seldom have documentation, software or expertise regarding how to use or determine proper application of an item. Even when we are able to show that something powers up, we typically don't have whatever else is needed to actually test the functionality of the item.

We are not an authorized reseller of anything. Unlike a Wal-mart, Grainger's, Target or Sears, we don't have an official relationship with the manufacturer of anything we sell. Thus, we don't have the recourse of going to the factory for service or warranty on anything that does not work or breaks. What you get in trade for the risk you take is lower cost or availability of something that you don't otherwise have access to. You, the buyer, have to carefully consider if it is worth it for you to take the risk. The old adage that "there is no such thing as a free lunch" applies here. You are paying by taking risk. Hopefully, you will get something that works as well as the costly new item for a fraction of the price--but you have to gamble that problems you encounter will be non-existent or at least less costly than the price of the new official store version. If you can't afford to take the risk (however small it might seem) that all could turn out bad and you end up spending money for an item and shipping that does you no good---DON'T BUY!!

Please understand that we are just a reseller of used and surplus equipment and parts. In nearly every case, the item being sold is something we obtained expressly for the purpose of reselling, not something we bought and used ourselves. In most cases, we don't know or don't have any contact with the previous user of the item. Thus, it is simply impossible for us to answer the questions you would like to ask of the previous user. All we can do is report on observation of the item we have--within the limits of our general experience with electromechanical items.

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Understand the item's condition BEFORE you commit to purchase.

Since the items we sell range from junk parts to new, in-the-factory-box, never-used, it is critical that you the buyer make absolutely sure you understand the actual condition of the item listed--BEFORE YOU COMMIT TO PURCHASE IT. (We continue to be amazed by the number of people who ask, even after they have paid, "is it in good working condition?")

Everything we list has a "CONDITION" statement in the listing. It is generally toward the end of the images and detailed description. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD IT!!! If you don't understand it, contact us for clarification. (Make sure you clearly identify what you are asking about--we get far too many queries that don't give us a clue what the item in question is--or asking shipping cost without a hint of where in the world it would ship to.) Some times the condition statement will refer to images and detail in the listing description above--so check it out in that case.

We some times use some abbreviations that are important to understand.

• NIB means New In Box--meaning the box or packing it would have originally sold or been delivered in. Unless otherwise indicated, the "box" will have been opened for inspection and imaging.
• NOS means New Old Stock--this means it has never been used but looks like it has been sitting around a while. NOS items sometimes suffer from package deterioration (including complete loss of package), weathering and general surface appearance degradation. Some items may have an expiration date that has passed.
• LN means Like New--meaning there is not much, if any, apparent difference between the listed item and a new one.
• "Excellent" is used as a descriptor for something that appears as good as it possibly could under the circumstances. In some cases, it is used for something that looks like it could be new but we are not sure. It could be used in conjunction with "vintage" for something 50 years old that looks near prefect except for the fact that it is that old.
• "Good" is typically used as a description for something that looks use but fully functional and not abused.
• "Functional" is typically used as a description for something that is well used, and maybe somewhat abused but looks like it is still capable of performing its intended purpose.
• "Parts" is typically used to describe something that we know to (or think may not) be non-functional as a whole. It is our assumption that someone buying an item in this condition would be taking some of the parts from the item for use in repairing another such item, some other application, or that the buyer will be rebuilding the item.

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You can always make an offer on an item.

There are some points to be aware of when making and offer. We reserve the right to reject, counter or accept any offer. Acceptance of an offer or a counter offer may have conditions on it such as the speed or method of payment required. While rejection of an offer is usually simply because the offer is too low (at the present time), it could also be because we have a better offer or we have reservations with regard to the offer maker. While the amount we are willing to accept for any given item can vary day-to-day depending on our mood and cash-flow needs, we seldom feel we need to move something more than we need a reasonable price for it. Thus, the farther an offer is from the listed price, the less likely we will accept it. Since we are in the business of buying items to resell, it is really unlikely that we will accept an offer that is below what we paid for the item. We have many places in town to sell scrap metal so it is unlikely we are going to sell something for less than what we can get from one of the local scrap dealers.

• If you make an offer that we consider ridiculously low, don't expect a response.
• If you make an offer that looks sincere to us but is considerably below the minimum we would accept, we will simply decline your offer.
• If you make an offer that is somewhere in the ballpark of what we would accept, we will make a counteroffer.
• If you make an offer that equals what we are willing to accept at that time, we will respond accepting your offer.

The points above are very subjective. There is no exact formula or algorithm. There is a great deal of variability item-to-item and some variability day-to-day. On occasion, we might accept an offer of 25% of the listing price. Another item with a listing price right at our cost, we might not accept anything less than our listing price.

If there is an item you really need, you might want to be careful with offers. Someone could come along and make a better offer or buy at the listed price while you are in the offering process. We see this happen surprisingly often. There is a phenomena we have observed but don't understand. An item will have been listed for a long time with no one expressing interest. Out of the blue, we will get a query about it. Then, within hours we will get additional contacts from person's interested in buying the item. One of those interested parties typically buys the item for the listed price or a value close to it.

If you are making an offer, please be sure to make it very clear that it is an offer, what the offer is for and what the offer is. We get a surprising number of e-mails making an offer that we have no idea what item the offer is in relationship to--or offers we are not sure if they are offers or comments or questions.

Offers should be made via the eBay offer button. If for some reason this can not be done, please submit your offer via email. (see the address below or the website where the listing is located). The persons who review offers are hard to reach by phone and can't usually consider an offer "live" as they typically don't have computer access (with the information they need to make a decision) when you do reach them by phone.

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International shipping is super costly & can be slow and is risky.

DON'T COMMIT TO PURCHASE UNTIL YOU COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE COSTS AND RISKS OF THIS INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTION!!!

It has been our experience that international transactions and shipping are far more painful than domestic USA experiences--by about 1000%. This applies to Canada and Mexico, as well as the rest of the world.

We would prefer not to sell internationally, however we have spent time outside the USA (including living in Atlantic Canada) and have some idea how hard it can be to obtain some items in locations outside the USA.

It is far more difficult for us to export and ship to locations outside the USA than those inside--particularly after 9/11. Payments from locations outside the USA have typically been problematic also (Unless they are Paypal ) due to long mail delivery times and lack of any international banking in our location (we can only accept USD postal money orders --absolutely no non-USA checks or banks!!!) We only take bank credit cards through Paypal, We do take wire transfers although there is typically a modest charge for this and since our bank does not have an international number it usually takes several days for us to see the payment.

After 9/11, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is breathing down the neck of those of us who do international transactions and looking for excuses to throw us into prison so don't even think of asking us to do something illegal--like shipping something that is not allowed or shipping to a banned organization or individual or putting a lower than actual price on an invoice.

The bottom line is that the cost of getting an item to an international buyer is far more costly than getting the same item to a domestic USA customer. The median international item typically costs more for packing, export and shipping than the bid or BIN price. Some items are subject to export or import regulations. Thus it is critical that all international buyers, including Canadians, contact us before bidding or buying.

INTERNATIONAL shipment packing adds some additional issues. The big one is that any wood product must be heat treated and marked so as to prevent transport of any insects or disease. This costs more and generally precludes the use of recycled wood packing. If we are loading an ocean container for you, you will have to pay for the cost of chains, binders, straps, etc. that may be required to secure the load in the container (you do get to keep these items when your container arrives--one can never have too many chains and straps).

We have had far more problems with international items never making it to the buyer. Thus we no longer ship international via the cheaper methods that don't have tracking. Even then, it is absolutely critical that you include your contact phone numbers so that the delivery people and/or customs can contact you in case there is a problem.

The USPS rate changes made mid-2007 seem to have left international priority and express mail as the only options and the more expensive express is the only one with real tracking. The main issue we have with USPS shipping is that we have to stand in line at the post office (since 9/11) which typically takes us an hour. FedEx is our standard choice for rapid International shipping with tracking but that is always very expensive.. Larger, heavier items typically go Air Freight to a major International Airport where you have to arrange to get the item out of customs and to your location. Really big/heavy items go by ship--by container is possible too.

Some items are not available for international delivery due to export/import restrictions. It often requires extensive research to attempt to determine what is or is not allowed. Even then, the recent DHS driven rules are so ambiguous, we are subject to being imprisoned for anything if some DHS employee gets a hair up their nose. It is up to the buyer to know what items are not allowed to be imported. We will not ship items we know to be export controlled. If an International buyer wants an export controlled item, they will have to make arrangements with a properly licensed exporter themselves.

Due to the issues noted above, International buyers (including Canadians) must pay fees and shipping costs additional to those paid by USA buyers. As these fees and costs are highly variable from one country to another and with one type of shipment versus another, they can only be determined on case-by-case basis. Prospective buyers must contact us in advance to get an estimate of what these costs will be. It is essential that the country, nearest major city with an International airport/seaport and postal code be included, along with a full identification of the item of interest.

We would prefer shipping to a US location consolidator/forwarder rather than directly to an international destination. If you can find an importer/consolidator who brings containers of items from the USA to a location near you, it is almost always less expensive to have your item shipped to their USA location and then forwarded rather than having us ship it directly.

We do not cover any import duties, taxes, broker fees, customs charges, etc. that may be due when an item arrives in your country. You typically have to pay these fees directly or through a broker to get your item out of customs after it arrives in your country.

If you pretend to be a USA buyer and then turn out to be international and in need of export paperwork, commercial invoice, etc. we will not only by unhappy with you but require additional payment for the added documentation costs.

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We always combing shipping when practical to minimize cost to the buyer.

• We will hold items for a short time if the buyer is getting other items so that they may be combined.
• Combined only applies when things ship together.
• We have to be made aware that you want to combine in advance. We have had people purchase and pay for an item one day then do the same a day or two later and want to combine but the first item has already been packed and shipped since we had no idea there would be any follow-on items.
• Sometimes there is no advantage to combined shipping. This happens once in a while when individual items are at optimal size and weight for their shipping method and combining them forces the combined package into some other shipping method. One example might be the case of a pair of 80 pound items. Each can ship via FedEx ground for say $75. However, if combined, they exceed the 150 pound FedEx ground limit and the LTL truck shipping cost for the same delivery address might be $200 rather than the $150 for shipping 2 separate Fedex ground packages.
• If you want an item shipped ahead, you have to tell us that in advance as our default would be to combine.

Anything electrical has added buyer restrictions...

Items that attach to electrical power have special issues with regard to safety and damage. These items may have the potential to deliver lethal electrical shock and burns, as well as the potential to start fires. They are also subject to damage if powered up incorrectly. The damage may not be visible and there is certainly no way for us to observe or control proper hookup.

• We reserve the right to restrict delivery of these items to those we believe are qualified to obtain them.
• Electrical/electronic items are generally non-returnable due to the high probability of damage by the customer.
• Sale of 220 volt and higher single and 3-phase items is restricted to those who commit to installation by a qualified expert.

A standard household electrical item is least restricted. However, if it looks like it might present a fire or shock hazard, we will want to determine the buyer's qualifications for dealing with these potential risks before shipping the item.

Electronic items are not particularly restricted in a safety sense but they are generally non-returnable as they are so subject to hidden damage from static electricity, reverse polarity and incorrect voltages.

In the USA, 220 volt (and higher) items are not consumer connectable. They must be wired/connected by a qualified licensed electrician. The key point is that these items may derive 110 volts internally by going between a hot leg and neutral. If the wire is not done properly, current could end up flowing through a ground wire or the frame of an item could become a shock or fire hazard.

3-phase items require installation and connection by a properly trained and qualified industrial power electrician (not just a home wiring expert). 3-phase has to deal with delta and wye connections where there can be issues is balanced versus unbalanced legs and hot versus standard legs. Hooking it up wrong has the potential for destroying the item as well as making possible shock, electrocution and fire hazards.

MAKE SURE YOU ARE QUALIFIED TO DEAL WITH THE POTENTIAL ISSUES OF THE ITEM BEFORE YOU COMMIT TO PURCHASE!!!

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We can't schedule shipping without knowing for sure what the delivery details are.

We continue to be amazed by how often something sits in our shipping area because, even though it is all paid for, we don't have all the information we need to schedule the shipping.

• We simply can't schedule the shipment for a truck, international or expedited item without a delivery contact phone number. PERIOD!!!
• We can't ship to a commercial business without the name (and address) of the business.
• We can't ship at the lowest rate with out confirmation that the delivery address is a commercial business with truck-high dock or forklift or that buyer is picking up at the truck terminal.
• We can't ship with partial or conflicting address information (zip code does not match, we are given two different addresses, etc.).
• By default, we ship to the address we get with payment so be sure all the right information comes with payment.

If any of the above conditions occurs with your item, your item will sit in our warehouse while we wait for you to provide the needed information (and you wonder why you item is slow in being delivered).

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Delivery takes time...

If you need something instantly, go to the nearest physical store, don't buy from our virtual store.

We simply can't get something to you as fast as if you went to your nearest store and drive home with an item (unless you happen to be in the Mountainair area--even then, we don't have a storefront so arrangements have to be made in advance for warehouse pickup.)

We are most optimally set up for shipping via FedEx ground. The most typical scenario is that you purchase an item and we respond within a business day (no packing or shipping happens on weekends or holidays) regarding the packing and shipping cost by sending you an ebay item invoice. You make payment by Paypal on the third day (after making the initial purchase commitment). We pack and ready the item for shipment within a business day of getting clear payment. FedEx ground comes and picks up each business day afternoon. FedEx ground delivers 3 to 5 days later, depending on how far you are located from Mountainair.

If every thing works perfectly, you have gotten the packing and shipping cost in advance, you purchase and pay early in the morning of a business day, we don't have a shipping backlog, no one is out sick, FedEx does not come too early in the day, etc. an item could go out the same day you commit to purchase. In this case, you could have your item the 3rd day after committing to purchase.

There are a lot of reasons why things don't happen this fast:

• the buyer does not pay for a week or two
• the buyer sends payment by mail (figure 10 days delay if sent first class).
• the buyer pays via e-check rather than credit card as source of funds (figure a weeks delay for clearing).
• the buyer does not provide complete or correct shipping address
• the shipping address is an international destination
• its an item that ships best by mail (we only get to the post office about once a week).
• the item has special packing requirements (item is particularly fragile, large, heavy or awkward).
• something needs to be done to the item or it is waiting for a part to come in.
• our packing and shipping area is backlogged.
• we have run out of some key packing supply.
• our senior packing/shipping person is out or disabled.
• etc.

When circumstances are just right, we have been able to rush-ship a few items such that the buyer got them in less than 24 hours.

• There is a minimum $50 rush charge.
• The item is easy to pack and ship.
• There is early morning delivery service to the destination address.
• We have clear payment early enough during a business day to get the item pulled from inventory, get it packed and have someone take it to FedEx before the cutoff time for early delivery to the destination address.

Truck shipping has additional issues that affect delivery time.

• The most common delay is lack of delivery contact phone number or business name with payment.
• The bigger the item, the more resources and time it takes to pack it.
• Pre-shipment testing is a common source of delay.
• LTL carrier delivery times vary widely depending on where their terminals and routes are relative to your location (1 to 5 business days in the lower 48 states).
• Guaranteed fast delivery times by LTL can be as much as 10 times more expensive than standard.
• Backhaul delivery can be delayed a week or more waiting for a match, depending on where you are relative to trucking corridors.
• More money can typically get faster backhaul delivery, including transport over weekends.
• Weather or highway closures can derail any type of truck shipment schedule.
• Oversized loads take longer to find a match, get permits and have restrictions on running hours and routes.

International shipments are in a completely different class when it comes to shipping time.

• Figure a couple extra days for export paperwork and overhead after clear payment and before shipping even gets scheduled.
• Add at least 3 days to get to the post office, plus the time of the delivery service.
• The fastest, most expensive service takes at least a couple of days (except for Canada and Mexico).
• Typical package service takes 5 to 10 days.
• Figure 7 to 10 days for air freight to arrive at the international terminal nearest you.
• Allow 45 days for ocean freight or container to get to the port nearest you.
• We have seen simple items get hung up in customs for weeks with no explanation (one reason phone numbers & tracking are critical).
• If their are possible export or import restrictions related to the item, who knows how long it could take.
• We have seen items take 4 to 6 months to come back to us where there was a delivery failure on the far end. (Some items just disappear forever).

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Query & purchase response time...

Our responses to queries and purchases are generally limited to business days and times. We are a single shift operation. While we typically respond to e-mails within a couple hours, there are exceptions as noted below.

• Don't expect a response on a weekend, holiday or at 2 in the morning Mountain Time.
• Our primary mode of communication is e-mail.
• We typically respond to e-mails within 4 hours on business days during the period of 7 AM to 6 PM.
• Response time to phone messages is typically several days.
• If you make a purchase late Friday, you likely will not get a response or invoice before noon the following Monday.
• We do typically check e-mail some time on Saturday but don't respond unless it seems like something really urgent.
• We do not generally check e-mail on Sunday--we reserve it as our day of rest.
• Don't procrastinate with regard to asking questions. We don't generally watch our auction items so don't expect a response if you send a query in the last hours or in a non-business day period, even though our auctions often end in non-business days and times.
• If you e-mail us with an outdated, incorrect or disguised return address, don't count on hearing back from us.
• If your spam blocker rejects our e-mail address, you will not hear from us.
• If your e-mail is tagged as spam or junk, it may take several days for us to find it--if at all.
• You can count on a delayed answer if you make a query that does not identify the item of interest and/or the delivery zip code (or country and closest international port).
• On some occasions, the primary e-mail responder may be traveling or otherwise away from his computer. In this case, response can slow to once in 24 hours even on business days.

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We are human and do make mistakes..

If you don't have the patience to work things out with us when we make a mistake--PLEASE DON'T BUY ANY OF OUR STUFF!!!!

We have been known to do things like mix up shipping labels and ship the wrong items to a pair of customers or get confused between two very similar items and ship the wrong one. We do, however, own up to such mistakes and make every effort to rectify them as expediently as possible. We will do everything we can to make sure you don't incur additional direct cost due to our error. However, we can't cover impact costs such lost or down time due to delay in getting you the right thing.

If we make a blatant error such as factually stating something is an item that it is not, we will refund you the item purchase price on its return, or work out some other settlement with you.

This does not include cases where we indicate that we are not sure about the item name or its function (we typically include a "?" after the key word when we are not sure) or where we got the item with a label attached that turns out to be for something else. With our inventory of unusual, unique items, we are sometime clueless as to what some of them are. At best, we may know what the item is but have no idea what the difference is between one brand or model and another. An item can look complete to us but having no expertise, we will not realize that it is missing some critical part or that it is not functional without some other attachment.

We reserve the right to make typographical and grammatical errors. Unintentional errors are subject to change at any time. Due to severe character count limits in item listing titles, these often have intentional spelling and grammatical errors as a result of our trying to convey as much key information as possible without exceeding the character count.

Another common area of mistake is inventory errors. We may have a walk-in customer or we may break something and forget to remove it from inventory. The most common problem is that we lose track of the location of an item when we are moving items around from one warehouse to another or just rearranging them within a warehouse. We still have the item, we just can't figure out where it is hiding amongst our thousands of items, in spite of spending inordinate staff hours looking. These items always turn up--within a few weeks when we are looking for something else, or in a few years when we are moving to another warehouse. In a few cases, we may be able to substitute a similar item that meets the customers requirements but in most cases, we just have to say we are sorry that we can't find the item and cancel the transaction.

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