Monoprice Shipping Question

[ken0042]

Has anybody ordered from Monoprice.com lately? I went to order a TV wall mount and found this:

Packages less than 4 lbs are picked up by UPS, expedited to your area, and delivered to your shipping address by Canada Post.

As we all know- UPS brings up visions of crazy brokerage fees. Has anybody ordered from them lately? Were there any brokerage fees?

The other question, is anybody else in the same position as me- not wanting to place a small order? Maybe we could put together a bigger order and pay the USPS shipping costs.

[Russic]

I recall the last time I used them my shipping cost was brutal... basically the same cost as the products I was buying. In the end I saved almost no money. Try adding some items to your cart to see if the price balloons like it did for me. Might not be worth even making a group purchase.

[ken0042]

Well right now I am looking at a $12 item. Their UPS/ Canada Post option is $8 for shipping, and the cheapest USPS is $24.

Once I put 5 in my cart, the UPS/ Canada Post option disappears, and the cheapest USPS goes to $35. Weight has also gone from 2 pounds to 8 pounds.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Has anybody ordered from Monoprice.com lately? I went to order a TV wall mount and found this:

Packages less than 4 lbs are picked up by UPS, expedited to your area, and delivered to your shipping address by Canada Post.

As we all know- UPS brings up visions of crazy brokerage fees. Has anybody ordered from them lately? Were there any brokerage fees?

The other question, is anybody else in the same position as me- not wanting to place a small order? Maybe we could put together a bigger order and pay the USPS shipping costs.

I ordered a cat6 cable and a coax cable, and it was under 4 lbs. This was a month ago and it arrived 2 weeks later to my door via Canada Post truck. No extra fees or brokerage.

I cannot guarantee anything, but that was my experience using this shipping method. I also did not find it much quicker than USPS.

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Has anybody ordered from Monoprice.com lately? I went to order a TV wall mount and found this:

Packages less than 4 lbs are picked up by UPS, expedited to your area, and delivered to your shipping address by Canada Post.

As we all know- UPS brings up visions of crazy brokerage fees. Has anybody ordered from them lately? Were there any brokerage fees?

The other question, is anybody else in the same position as me- not wanting to place a small order? Maybe we could put together a bigger order and pay the USPS shipping costs.

They use UPS Worldwide Express so there's no brokerage fees, but they do charge a fee to collect the GST which was about $10 plus the tax. Next time I'll get them to ship USPS, but I agree that their shipping costs seem to have gone up recently. I still think Monoprice is worth it in the long run.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

They use UPS Worldwide Express so there's no brokerage fees, but they do charge a fee to collect the GST which was about $10 plus the tax. Next time I'll get them to ship USPS, but I agree that their shipping costs seem to have gone up recently. I still think Monoprice is worth it in the long run.

I didn't get GST charged on this shipping method, but I find that it is hit or miss.

Monoprice is still totally worth it IMO. Check how much a 100ft Cat6 cable is at Memory Express. I paid $16 total with shipping from Monoprice. Right to my door, hand delivered. Plus it was any color I wanted, which I choose white to hide in my basement area better.

Still the best, hands down to me.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by ken0042

The other question, is anybody else in the same position as me- not wanting to place a small order? Maybe we could put together a bigger order and pay the USPS shipping costs.

I may be interested, but wouldn't be ordering for at least a month I'm guessing.

[Ashartus]

You could also check http://www.cablesalescanada.com and compare total prices including shipping; I think their base prices are higher than monoprice but you don't have to worry about international shipping.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Ashartus

You could also check http://www.cablesalescanada.com and compare total prices including shipping; I think their base prices are higher than monoprice but you don't have to worry about international shipping.

For 10 1' Cat6 Cables
Canada Sales Cables :

Subtotal
$11.50
Shipping Economical Shipping (1-5 Business Days) [CG01]
$11.99
1
$11.99
GST
$1.17
5%
$1.17


Total: $24.66 (CDN)

Monoprice

SubTotal
$6.80

S&H Cost (Canada Post - 7-14 days)
$4.76
Grand Total
$11.56

Similar shipping from monoprice is $22.99

So cheaper if you want it faster, but quite a bit cheaper if you can wait and hope you dont get dinged with a huge fee. I think I have only ever had to pay a couple bucks for GST one time out of the many times I ordered, so I am not concerned.

[fundmark19]

I have never been dinged with a huge mono price fee. Most I have paid is 20 dollars on an order of over $200

[oilyfan]

The problem I am having with Monoprice HDMI cables these days is the massive ferrite cores they put on them. I seem to remember when I could buy the cables without the cores. With super thin flat screens theses days there is almost no room to jam that monstrosity behind the screen.

Does anybody know if the cores are even necessary? I though with digital signal transmission there should be no effect from interference.

[Vulcan]

I can't find it now but when I ordered from Monoprice about a month ago, they had a page which showed graduating shipping fees from UPS. I think $40 and under had no fees. My order was about $28 with $12.54 shipping and I haven't been surprised with any additional charges.

Oh yeah, they didn't give me a tracking # this time.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by oilyfan

The problem I am having with Monoprice HDMI cables these days is the massive ferrite cores they put on them. I seem to remember when I could buy the cables without the cores. With super thin flat screens theses days there is almost no room to jam that monstrosity behind the screen.

Does anybody know if the cores are even necessary? I though with digital signal transmission there should be no effect from interference.

You can order the thinner 28AWG cables and even flat cables. Longer runs may require 24 or 22AWG cables.

You can also order this

[oilyfan]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

You can order the thinner 28AWG cables and even flat cables. Longer runs may require 24 or 22AWG cables.

You can also order this

The 28AWG still has the ferrite cores on it. The port saver is interesting, that looks like the ticket.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by oilyfan

The 28AWG still has the ferrite cores on it. The port saver is interesting, that looks like the ticket.

here's another type with options of 90 or 270 degrees or swivel

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

[ken0042]

I appreciate all the responses. For now I found a solution. I was going to buy this TV mount:
TV Wall Mount

However while looking to see how much Monoprice would save me- I stumbled across this one:
Similar mount at Best Buy

Looks like Best Buy will be about the same price as Monoprice, and I can pick it up today.

[Bill Bumface]

If you are doing an order, I'm in. I need an HDMI cable or 3 and possibly a wall mount.

[Draug]

I need two short HDMI cables, roughly 18 inches long.

Is there anywhere in Calgary that has a fair price on these? I want the instant satisfaction of hooking up my new receiver tonight and dont want to wait for shipping.

Memory Express is likely the most reasonable place I can think of, but is there somewhere better?

[fundmark19]

You can find cheap cables at winners sometimes and superstore and prob princess auto

[Rathji]

just go to memex if you need them today