Shipping and Handling charges; why the differences? what's the scoop?

Shipping and Handling charges; why the differences? what's the scoop? Shipping and Handling charges; why the differences? what's the scoop?

Basically, the charges are set by Canada Post here in Canada. Charges are different for letters, bubble-mailers, small-packets, and regular parcels. Shipping charges are applied to the size of the envelop, bubble-mailer, or parcel. Then there is the weight of the envelope or parcel. On top of that the destination. Sending something out international can be a real nightmare if the destination is, for example, Africa, Asia, or whatever. We do not include insurance with our mailings because the price becomes just too high from a business point of view. Unless the customer requests such insurance, or wants the parcel delivered by a preferred carrier like FedEx or Purolator.

Here is good example in regards to our "Variable Regulator with the LM317".
Although the weight of the parcel is about 0.045Kg, it is the 'total' thickness of the bubble-mailer, which does not "fit" the template-slot of the Postoffice, and so increases the shipping cost from $1.92 (which is considered a letter) to $6.45 for small-packet.
Reason is the large 1000uF/50V capacitor. The diameter of this capacitor plus the thickness of the bubble-mailer is thicker than allowed by Canada Post to be send as a 'letter' and so it falls under the 'small-packet' category which is $6.45. Plus the cost of the bubble mailer ($1.59+$0.21 tax) and the total cost is $8.25.
Yep, not cheap. But the only way it can be shipped cheap. Sending it out via FedEx or Purolator cost about double so not really an option for this item.

Keeping track of shipping charges is a time consuming task. We don't make them up. Shipping charges include the parcel box or shipping envelope for smaller kits. If you ever feel the shipping charges charged to you are incorrect, just email me with your concerns.