A quick update on the shipping front that I’m very excited to share — real-time shipping options, costs, and delivery ETAs are now available on the LuftShop! Going forward, all shipping data will be generated directly by Canada Post which means your shipping options are easier and more accurate than ever.

Shipping costs have always been a contentious subject, a situation made worse during and in the wake of the pandemic. I have spent enough money through online vendors and for shipping to have (I believe) a well-grounded perspective on the topic, one which has been reflected in my costs and policies over the past 15 months. But there’s always room for improvement, and so let’s get into some key changes for the LuftShop.

Shipping Methods — Your shipping options better reflect your chose products and quantities, ensuring the most efficient methods are available based on the contents of your cart. Refined product and packaging specifications (dimensions and weights) help do away with somewhat arbitrary rules I had to previously enforce — maximum 3 books for the 2kg limit for Small Packet, for example.

Pricing — Displayed shipping costs are now tied directly to those provided by Canada Post, for the size and weight of your individual package. While my existing pricing was very close across multiple quantities, regions, and shipping methods, not every fee on my pricing matrix was as dialled-in as I would have liked. As a result, while most of you won’t likely see a huge reduction in cost — though there are some locations and quantities/product combinations that will see a marked difference — you will have the knowledge that your shipping costs are tied to my actual costs.

Delivery Estimates — While previous estimates were already derived from Canada Post data, they were always expressed as windows of time, ie. 5-7 days or 2-4 weeks, details open to some interpretation. Now, delivery estimates are indicated in calendar days, ie. delivery by November 15-16. That said, I recognize this is currently of limited benefit given my pre-order-based operation, but look for this to change over time, and I begin to stock the more popular titles for immediate shipping.

Communication — One other important benefit to look for going forward, will be improved communication around shipping notifications. Automated emails from the system will keep buyers more in the loop, providing updates and tracking numbers (if available with your chosen shipping method) automatically.

From Day 1, this automated pricing service was the first major upgrade I knew I wanted to make, so I’m really jazzed to have it up-and-running. It will make my operations much easier, and as a result, improve my service to you.

If it’s time to dd another title to your scale modelling library, visit the shop and give it a spin. If you notice any issues, or have any questions, drop me a note.