Ok, so I have received a multitude of questions about ordering from Papertrey Ink so I thought I'd answer them all in one place :0) I can only go by my personal experience and what I feel works best for me. This applies to the UK only.
So shipping costs are expensive from PTI it is about $34/£21 for just one item, however, there are a quite few stores in the US that charge that same amount to the UK also.
PTI work out shipping costs by weight so if you order heavier stuff like cardstock the shipping will be more expensive. I would say to try and add as much into your cart for that shipping level, if it is lighter stuff like ribbon then you can't get quite a lot in before reaching the next level of costs.
PTI give a $10 discount on orders over $100 or $20 discount on orders over $200. Personally I save up and buy a big order i.e. $200 so that I get the $20 discount. For my last order (with discount) my shipping came to $19/£12 was was pretty good I thought. I did not order any CS though so usually it is higher. I will save up and make the order for the few months new releases which usually include new CS.
Customs charges vary with the amount of postage paid. Personally I don't agree that customs charges should cover postage costs but they do. My last order got through customs without charge however this doesn't happen very often at all. My last customs charge (the Jan order) I had to pay £44 customs charge - this is a lot. I think it's usually around the £30 mark. The cheapest I think has been around £17. There is a customs calculator on the web somewhere, sorry I am not sure where now, so you can calculate it yourself. You need to remember to add on a £8 Royal Mail/Parcel Force handling fee though.
All in all, PTI products really are cheap for what they are, you wouldn't get a big reel of good quality satin ribbon for £1.89 or a pack of 24 sheets of heavy weight CS for the same price in the UK. Their stamps are my kind of style and I think they are great quality. I love their CS and that everything matches colour wise. I don't like that orders take ages to get here (usually 3-4 weeks) and I don't like paying the customs fees but that's what has to be done. I am getting product cheaper than I could in the UK and importing it here so Customs fees should be paid. I also know that the products can't be bought in the UK so that's why I buy them. I work very hard for the money that I earn so I feel I deserve to get nice things I like, if it costs a lot to get them here from the USA then so be it.
Rigtht now I don't have kids or a mortgage so I can do it. I know that in a few years time I won't be able to do it so I am making the most of time I have got!
Rigtht now I don't have kids or a mortgage so I can do it. I know that in a few years time I won't be able to do it so I am making the most of time I have got!
The best way, as some of you suggest would be to combine an order with someone. That way you are more likely to get the discount, you can split the costs of the shipping and the customs fees. I have done this before myself. There is a place on the A Passion For Papertrey blog that you can find someone to combine the order with if you don't already know someone.
Thanks for listening and I hope it has helped a few of you out.
Thanks for answering my questions. I agree I love PTI I especially like their stamps and dies, don't have very many though! Unfortunately I do have the kids and mortgage thing so I restrict my purchases to ebay but one day I'll take the plunge!
ReplyDeleteThanks for answering the queries we all had about ordering from PTI- I think you have managed to put it into perspective a little bit!
ReplyDeleteThanks for answering the queries we all had about ordering from PTI- I think you have managed to put it into perspective a little bit!
ReplyDeleteI too love PTI products, their dies are amazing the quality is second to none. I try and order wisely, buying things I know I'll use again and again. It helps if you share the costs with a friend. Unfortunately, I have yet to receive a parcel that's managed to sneak through customs !
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info Michelle, I have often wondered about these products. It sounds like it might be cheaper to club together and buy someone a ticket to the US to bring us a caseload back!
ReplyDeleteI'll go!!
Liz x
I whole heartedly agree with you Michelle. Papertrey Ink products are so unlike anything made over here. They are an asset for any crafter and well worth having.
ReplyDeleteI love PTI products as well, if you go here
ReplyDeletehttp://www.inlovewithstamping.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1299
there is a section for PTI fans, each month someone puts in what we want in one big order and we split the cost of shipping customs etc between us. Then you just have to pay the postage to your home. It does work out cheaper and you dont have to get up a silly o clock to put the order in..lol!!
Love your cards Michelle
Totally agree with you, Michelle. I know there's been ALOT of negativity towards PTI. My view is exactly the same as your's. I think their products are unique, there's nothing that comes close in the UK, and I personally am willing to pay that bit extra in order to get them. If I can, I try to get an order done when my hubbie is working in the US but otherwise I am prepared to pay the extra. There is always the option of clubbing together to buy stuff which you can do via the A Passion for Papertrey blog. x
ReplyDeletePapertrey is definitely a fantastic company, and I was lucky enough to have someone bring me some back for the US this Christmas which is my first Papertrey stash! I just wish they would start supplying someone over here so it would be easier to get stuff!
ReplyDelete