"$85 to Ship a $15 battery" Preposterous

[Jnr Kuzi]

hey guys.
Is this how hobbyking operates?
I was trying to purchase a Rhino 3s 3000mah battery pack which costs 14.95USD and then when i went to check out, it said.
Total = 99.95 USD
with one shipping option only.
"note - its the only thing in my cart"
.
This is way too expensive.
how and where do you guys get your batteries from?

 

[Epitaph]

In your case it might be a good idea to look in www.banggood.com as they have free delivery to most countries although their range of batteries to choose from is very limited

 

[Jnr Kuzi]

In your case it might be a good idea to look in www.banggood.com as they have free delivery to most countries although their range of batteries to choose from is very limited

i like banggood, but i hear they have horrible shipping times.

 

[joshuabardwell]

What warehouse did you order from? If you're in the U.S. and accidentally selected a foreign warehouse, that would explain the problem.

 

[rcspaceflight]

Sadly that sounds about right. International shipping is a killer. If I get a "flat rate box" for what I'm sending you, it's going to cost me around $60 USD.

Your best bet may have to be to go with Hobby King, but make one large order of multiple batteries. The shipping is likely to be $85 whether you order one battery or five batteries. The more you order the cheaper each battery ends up being.

I know it's out of your price range, but hopefully you can save up or get some more donations.

Because it's so hard for you to get batteries, definitely invest in a low voltage alarm. There is going to be nothing worse than prematurely killing a battery that you barely have access to.

 

[joshuabardwell]

Ahh. I just noticed your location. Yeah--sorry to say that you have very few options. LiPo batteries cannot be shipped by air, so there is basically only one international shipping option for them: boat. If you have a local source, you are almost certainly better off. Or make a huge order and eat the shipping.

EDIT: See tritium's comment below.

 

[Tritium]

LiPo batteries cannot be shipped by Commercial Passenger Airlines. They can travel by UPS / FEDEX / other air cargo carriers thus the high cost.

Thurmond

 

[Epitaph]

i like banggood, but i hear they have horrible shipping times.

Unfortunately you can't have both good shipping time and cheap rate, so you'll have to choose one.

 

[Jnr Kuzi]

Donations Or Bus i guess

Sadly that sounds about right. International shipping is a killer. If I get a "flat rate box" for what I'm sending you, it's going to cost me around $60 USD.

Your best bet may have to be to go with Hobby King, but make one large order of multiple batteries. The shipping is likely to be $85 whether you order one battery or five batteries. The more you order the cheaper each battery ends up being.

I know it's out of your price range, but hopefully you can save up or get some more donations.

Because it's so hard for you to get batteries, definitely invest in a low voltage alarm. There is going to be nothing worse than prematurely killing a battery that you barely have access to.

i guess, i will have to go for donations or ask someone in south africa to buy me a few and send them over by bus.

 

[Jnr Kuzi]

LiPo batteries cannot be shipped by Commercial Passenger Airlines. They can travel by UPS / FEDEX / other air cargo carriers thus the high cost.

Thurmond

i see, so i guessl i will just have to find them locally or in my region on africa. Hopefully i will find them.

 

[Jnr Kuzi]

Ahh. I just noticed your location. Yeah--sorry to say that you have very few options. LiPo batteries cannot be shipped by air, so there is basically only one international shipping option for them: boat. If you have a local source, you are almost certainly better off. Or make a huge order and eat the shipping.

EDIT: See tritium's comment below.

thanks for the reference. Both points are helpful

 

[Jnr Kuzi]

Unfortunately you can't have both good shipping time and cheap rate, so you'll have to choose one.

I guess it is what it is. Let me look around south african stores even though the prices are ridiculously high.

 

[stay-fun]

I posted in your other thread as well. How about NiMH batteries? Yes, low power, but: easier to get and probably sufficient for a beginner!

 

[Jnr Kuzi]

I posted in your other thread as well. How about NiMH batteries? Yes, low power, but: easier to get and probably sufficient for a beginner!

hey stay-fun. Thanks for the suggestion. I have now responded.

 

[Balu]

Aren't the hobby shops / online shops in Africa too?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=rc+shop+africa

Perhaps they have better shipping rates than HK?

 

[Jnr Kuzi]

Aren't the hobby shops / online shops in Africa too?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=rc+shop+africa

Perhaps they have better shipping rates than HK?

they are hobbyshops, now prices are high and they usually isnt a wide range of variety.

 

[califrag]

This place looks like they have a few turnigy 3S and 4S lipo batteries in stock:

http://hobbytech.co.za/

They are located in South Africa (Durban), so maybe the shipping won't be as bad.

 

[Jnr Kuzi]

This place looks like they have a few turnigy 3S and 4S lipo batteries in stock:

http://hobbytech.co.za/

They are located in South Africa (Durban), so maybe the shipping won't be as bad.

hobbytech does not ship outside souithafrica. I have 2 aunts there (in durban and Jo'burg)
so maybe i will try to get the battery through them.
Thanks for the reference.