Kelleher Shipping Rates

For those who in the past bought something of heft from Kelleher, what did you think of the added shipping? Reasonable, or did they pull the "we could have sent this fourth class, but we decided on expressing it to you for five times the cost" move?

My biggest shipment was several banker box sized boxes, a larger one, a bigger but thinner one and a triangle "tube" for rolled paper. Each box was sent certified with signature required in addition to postage by weight. I was offered FedEx but declined as it was easier to time mesh with the USPS. No complain at all about the shipping costs.

Additionally the actual cost of the lot(s) can influence the perception of the shipping costs.

They do have a dedicated shipping department. So call and ask you should get a ballpark answer. I was told that FedEx was quicker and less expensive, but I insisted on the USPS.

Small items are charged an exorbitant fee in my opinion - something like $35 compared to say $5 for a like item on ebay. Could be insurance? Well packed, but expensive.

It always pays to read the T&Cs every time even if you bid with a House frequently. In DFK's case they specify a minimum of $20 for shipping.

PS: I also noticed that their T&C language for authenticity had some changes one of which was certificates now being "valid" for seven years and therefore any item with one of those certificates not returnable.

The few times I bought something small from them the shipping was very high.

I have no experience with large heavy lots. Scott Trepel posted on another board recently that Siegel Auctions loses money on almost every FedEx shipment. In my experience DFK's shipping for small lot purchases is more expensive that Siegel, but I don't know if that just means that they are covering their true costs (including packing materials, and possibly labor), or if they are treating shipping as a profit center.

I won a one stamp lot in one of their auctions a few weeks ago.

They charged me $6 for shipping.

Considering what it was, I am quite happy with a $6 shipping charge!

I would love to win one of the multi box lots, but I am a few years away from playing in that sandbox :-)

Their shipping to Canada is reasonable for large lots. Not buying from them at present due to a badly misdescribed lot that had to be returned, but that's nothing to do with shipping.

Here is also where they should recapture part of their insurance costs for material shipped.

Not to defend any firm in particular, there are overhead costs for shipping which far exceed the actual postage or fee to get the item from point A to point B. Packaging materials, labor, insurance are not free.