Why Do You Charge So Much for Shipping?
For every shipment of rough gems we send to Sri Lanka for cutting, it costs us a MINIMUM of $125 for shipping and handling. Usually the cost is higher, but most people balk at paying too much for shipping. We understand this, and therefore we absorb the costs over $125 as part of our operating overhead.
Your cost to ship your rough stones to us is not included in this charge. You are free to select any domestic carrier, from parcel post to FedEx Overnight, to send your rough to us.
Once we have received your stones, we have some processing to do to get them ready to go to the cutter. This includes counting and weighing the stones, briefly inspecting them for quality, and comparing the result to your cutting instructions. Sometimes we will contact you to clarify your instructions or to point out possible problems with your order. We then create a shipping invoice for customs purposes, pack the stones safely for shipment, fill out the necessary customs forms, and send the package. This actually costs us between 4 and 12 hours of our time, plus some supplies, but we do not charge for this part of the service.
For each package to Sri Lanka, the US Postal Service will typically charge about $30 for postage and insurance. Packages over 2 pounds will cost more. This is the least expensive service available to ship gemstones to Sri Lanka while remaining in compliance with government and carrier regulations. This real cost is included in our shipping and handling charge.
Transit time to Sri Lanka is typically about 2 weeks. Once the package arrives, Sri Lanka Customs officials will open the package, examine the contents, and assess an import duty fee of at least $45. This fee is usually higher, depending on the value of the rough, and can not be avoided.
While the gems are being cut, the Sri Lanka government requires that meticulous records be kept to prove that the gems returned to the customer are the same stones that were admitted through Customs. The cost of keeping and maintaining these records is above and beyond the cost of cutting your gems, and cannot be absorbed completely. A nominal charge of about $20, or sometimes more depending on the size of your order, is included in our shipping and handling charges.
Once the order is finished, the stones are packed safely for transit to the United States and shipped by Registered Mail Service. The actual cost is another $30 or more, depending on the weight of the package. This real cost is included in our shipping and handling charge.
After another transit time of about 2 weeks, the finished gems arrive at Gems Evermore in the United States. We spot check your gems for quality and prepare your final invoice. When we receive your payment, we ship your gems to you by USPS Priority Mail. We do not charge you for domestic shipping from our southern California location to you.
In short, the shipping and handling costs that we have to pass on are:
$30 Postage to Sri Lanka
$45 Sri Lanka Customs fees
$20 Record Keeping for Sri Lanka government regulations
$30 Postage to United States
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$125 MINIMUM Total Cost of Shipping, Handling and Customs Clearance
The good news is that, if you send several hundred carats to be cut, this charge can amortize to mere pennies per finished gem. Also, this cost applies only to each parcel that WE send to Sri Lanka, regardless of how many customer orders are included in each parcel. We can and will divide this cost between 2 or more customers who send us their orders at the same time, thus saving money for everyone.
Your cost to ship your rough stones to us is not included in this charge. You are free to select any domestic carrier, from parcel post to FedEx Overnight, to send your rough to us.
Once we have received your stones, we have some processing to do to get them ready to go to the cutter. This includes counting and weighing the stones, briefly inspecting them for quality, and comparing the result to your cutting instructions. Sometimes we will contact you to clarify your instructions or to point out possible problems with your order. We then create a shipping invoice for customs purposes, pack the stones safely for shipment, fill out the necessary customs forms, and send the package. This actually costs us between 4 and 12 hours of our time, plus some supplies, but we do not charge for this part of the service.
For each package to Sri Lanka, the US Postal Service will typically charge about $30 for postage and insurance. Packages over 2 pounds will cost more. This is the least expensive service available to ship gemstones to Sri Lanka while remaining in compliance with government and carrier regulations. This real cost is included in our shipping and handling charge.
Transit time to Sri Lanka is typically about 2 weeks. Once the package arrives, Sri Lanka Customs officials will open the package, examine the contents, and assess an import duty fee of at least $45. This fee is usually higher, depending on the value of the rough, and can not be avoided.
While the gems are being cut, the Sri Lanka government requires that meticulous records be kept to prove that the gems returned to the customer are the same stones that were admitted through Customs. The cost of keeping and maintaining these records is above and beyond the cost of cutting your gems, and cannot be absorbed completely. A nominal charge of about $20, or sometimes more depending on the size of your order, is included in our shipping and handling charges.
Once the order is finished, the stones are packed safely for transit to the United States and shipped by Registered Mail Service. The actual cost is another $30 or more, depending on the weight of the package. This real cost is included in our shipping and handling charge.
After another transit time of about 2 weeks, the finished gems arrive at Gems Evermore in the United States. We spot check your gems for quality and prepare your final invoice. When we receive your payment, we ship your gems to you by USPS Priority Mail. We do not charge you for domestic shipping from our southern California location to you.
In short, the shipping and handling costs that we have to pass on are:
$30 Postage to Sri Lanka
$45 Sri Lanka Customs fees
$20 Record Keeping for Sri Lanka government regulations
$30 Postage to United States
-----
$125 MINIMUM Total Cost of Shipping, Handling and Customs Clearance
The good news is that, if you send several hundred carats to be cut, this charge can amortize to mere pennies per finished gem. Also, this cost applies only to each parcel that WE send to Sri Lanka, regardless of how many customer orders are included in each parcel. We can and will divide this cost between 2 or more customers who send us their orders at the same time, thus saving money for everyone.
Check our policies for details. Site last updated 04/17/2008
Copyright (c) 2008 by McQueen Technologies, Inc.