Help request for Aussies

[RichardLOZ]

Yes Eric he did very well. Not sure that cycling is a huge sport down here, but I am sure that there will be a few ales being downed in some pubs, particularly up near where he hails from.

[KoalaGirl]

Hi Richard

Will that metro supplier send you a sample if you request it? I've seen some pathetic thin metro's that break just by putting the lid on them! so quality is important {but you'd know that already} I use the 226gr metro exclusively so I'd be interested to see what you come up with.

[bart70]

Hi Richard

Will that metro supplier send you a sample if you request it? I've seen some pathetic thin metro's that break just by putting the lid on them! so quality is important {but you'd know that already} I use the 226gr metro exclusively so I'd be interested to see what you come up with.

That is a good point - I have already had a batch of thin walled (easily broken) metro's from one of our candle suppliers. I managed to break several just taking the lids on and off :rolleyes2:rolleyes2

Bart

[RichardLOZ]

Yeah I have also had a few batches of jars like that as well. I have heard back from the manufacturer in China again today. This is the manufacturer who supplies Gala glass in Adelaide, so quality should be pretty good, considering that Gala sell out before their shipment has even landed. Looking good so far. The only pricing I don't have yet is the wharf costs. I have the jar price, the shipping price to Sydney, GST would need to be added and any customs fees (no duty though as glass jars are duty free), along with whatever fees are charged on the wharf. How we get them from the dock to someone is also yet to be decided, but at the moment it is looking pretty good and I would estimate with the addition of the as yet unknown fees (rough guess taken) we could most likely land the 225 gram metra (status) jars for around 0.71c each AUD.

[jonsie]

Thought I'd use this thread to vent a little bit.

I placed an order with NCS on Monday and it's currently being shipped. But since I forgot to include some other wick sizes, I went to place another order on Wednesday, and they tacked on a $5.00 packaging fee? Any of you know what that is? Is it new? I sent them a message asking what it was for, and I hadn't heard back from them yet.

And, I had been holding off on placing a big order with ACS until they got their UV stabilizer in (the original reason Richard started this thread). Last week they said it was in, but not decanted yet. Here it is a week later and it is still not decanted So frustrating.

[RichardLOZ]

and they tacked on a $5.00 packaging fee? Any of you know what that is? Is it new?

Hey there. Not new at all. For orders under a certain $ value (cant remember what that is at the moment) they tack this fee on. Robbing bastards if you ask me, and the bloody sooner we can co-op and bring larger quantities of stuff in, bypassing the local suppliers the better off we will all be!

[Tribalvixen]

yep any orders under $50 there is a p & h fee. Sucks when you just want some fo's or wicks. If you want to find out about palm wax and need a translator let me know my Hubby speaks fluent Indonesian/Malay.

[jonsie]

Thank you so much for the explanation. My order was right under $50. I'll add a couple of things and get it submitted, but not without some grumbling.

I happy to discuss co-ops. It would be nice if this forum had a special section just for Aussies because our needs are so unique.

[RichardLOZ]

If you want to find out about palm wax and need a translator let me know my Hubby speaks fluent Indonesian/Malay.

We found out some time ago where ACS gets their palm wax from and already have pricing on that, but we have to bring in something like 18 tonne, which as you can imagine is somewhat expensive I am sure we will get there bit by bit, but I think glassware and perhaps FO's may be a good starting point.

[Tribalvixen]

Fair enough Richard I was just trying to help... I just wish I could get pink sugar for less than $29 for 200 mls here. Might have to see if I can hunt down a Phy.....ate (no idea how to spell that) Free over 200F one from the U.S. I am just a hobby person so I am prob out for any co ops as I wouldnt be able to buy huge amounts

[bart70]

We found out some time ago where ACS gets their palm wax from and already have pricing on that, but we have to bring in something like 18 tonne, which as you can imagine is somewhat expensive I am sure we will get there bit by bit, but I think glassware and perhaps FO's may be a good starting point.

I have made it my mission in recent months to find alternate suppliers for everything I need as part of an effective business continuity plan. I still have a couple of FO's to go so would be interested in pooling knowledge of others as to where I may find them - Maybe even bring in a bit extra and onsell.

Bart

[RichardLOZ]

Some of the Candle Science oils that NCS has I quite like. I have called and spoken to CS and for whatever reason they just will not ship internationally. Perhaps if enough of us approach them they might reconsider. I don't use to many from there as we like to be different from other people, and lets face it, most of the small home based chandlers are buying from either ACS or NCS so everyone is doing the same damn thing. Talk about boring. Such is life.......

[jonsie]

Even if they don't ship internationally, we can pay a freight forwarder to do it for us. If we do it enough, we can work out discounts for volume.

A product I would like to see provided that I haven't seen our suppliers offer is gift packaging sized for the metros we all use. I have found boxes that fit the medium sized metro (including the lid) and asked David to carry them, but he wasn't interested.

[bart70]

I have found boxes that fit the medium sized metro (including the lid) and asked David to carry them, but he wasn't interested.

I guess if he is not going to keep stock of the Metro's themselves......He might as well not bother with the packaging... LOL

We were only discussing metro packaging last night......Would be nice to see.

Bart

[KoalaGirl]

I also have hunted high and low for box's for the 226gr metro's. You can get them in 3x3 and 4x4 but the metro's need a 3x3x4 high. They would rattle around in the 4x4. Im sure we could commission a certain size if the order were large enough?

[RichardLOZ]

There is a place in the US that carries boxes for those and heaps more, however they do not ship international either

[jonsie]

This is the box that I am currently using, and I am very happy with it. It has a lock bottom and tab top, and sturdy enough to hold a metro jar full of wax, plus the lid. Uline also has them in white, black, and Indestructo Mailers:

http://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-13219/Retail-Boxes/3-x-3-x-4-Kraft-Gift-Boxes

If any of you want me to mail you one, PM me.

I also use the Large and Small metros, but Uline doesn't supply the right sizes for them. I found a box manufacturer that has 2-1/2 x 2-1/2 x 3 but minimum order is 500 and I'd have to arrange freight forwarding. If anyone else is interested in something like this in the kraft color, let me know.

[bart70]

This is the box that I am currently using, and I am very happy with it. It has a lock bottom and tab top, and sturdy enough to hold a metro jar full of wax, plus the lid. Uline also has them in white, black, and Indestructo Mailers:

http://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-13219/Retail-Boxes/3-x-3-x-4-Kraft-Gift-Boxes

If any of you want me to mail you one, PM me.

I also use the Large and Small metros, but Uline doesn't supply the right sizes for them. I found a box manufacturer that has 2-1/2 x 2-1/2 x 3 but minimum order is 500 and I'd have to arrange freight forwarding. If anyone else is interested in something like this in the kraft color, let me know.

These look great!....and better still the pricing is reasonable.

Would be interested in anything that fits the 226g metros. A minimum order of 500 is not an issue for us as we would be looking at a minimum of 1500-2000 units anyway. I have not done a lot of research on boxes yet - The local printer I use for our labels does a lot of specialised commercial labeling and may well have contacts in the packaging industry - I must follow it up with him as well.

Bart

[RichardLOZ]

This is the box that I am currently using, and I am very happy with it. It has a lock bottom and tab top, and sturdy enough to hold a metro jar full of wax, plus the lid. Uline also has them in white, black, and Indestructo Mailers:

http://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-13219/Retail-Boxes/3-x-3-x-4-Kraft-Gift-Boxes

They look pretty good. What are their shipping charges like to Oz?

[jonsie]

Bart, that would be very interesting if your printer had packaging contacts. I have struggled to find properly-sized packaging (in plain kraft) for not only my metros, but for my tea lights and maxi lights too. I have seriously considered ordering from China but since they don't accept credit cards and without an agent, I didn't proceed. I believe whatever surplus we have from bulk purchases can easily be sold off to crafters here in Oz.

Richard, I know I yap on about using Freight Forwards but I admit I never used one myself. So based on using a friend in the U.S. to receive the packages and forward them through USPS, I've broken it down this way:

~150 3 x 3 x 4" boxes will fit in a Large USPS Flat Rate Box.

The approximate cost per unit after shipping within the U.S. is $0.25 if shipping 200 units from Uline

Large Flat Rate Box postage to Oz is $58.50

Fee for friends's time and expenses: $10.00 (optional, of course, hehe)

(150 x .25) + $58.50 + 10.00 = $106.00 (delivered to your door)

$106.00/150 = $0.71 per unit

Since Uline ships these in boxes of 100 or 500, then to maximize your Large Flat Rate Box, you could split an order of 300 with someone else. If shipping 300 within the U.S. vs 200, your unit cost would drop a few cents.

Also, I am talking with someone back in the U.S. who may be interested in offering this as a service. She is still considering a fee to charge, but I cannot imagine a better person to take on something like this. PM me if you are interested.

[KoalaGirl]

Richard.... check your messages.

[bart70]

Jonsie,

Had to meet with my printer last week about a new line of labels, and as if it was some strange coincidence they advised me that the business has been on the market and they are in negotiations with a purchaser who was very big into packaging solutions and already has a business established providing plain and custom printed packaging for customers.

They were still in the negotiation stage but said it would happen quick if it went through. This may give me a future contact for packaging solutions. I will keep you posted if there is any progress in this area.

Bart

[bart70]

Not sure how many Aussies are aware of Gala Imports in Adelaide who are glassware importers. Those who have checked them out probably notice that they are often out of stock of their glassware as most of their shipments 'pre-sell' prior to arriving.

I have contacted them - they have regular monthly shipments of candle glassware and whilst they may not have immediate stock they can in most cases guarantee stock from their next monthly shipment. This is a vastly different slant on being out of stock to that of the 2 candle suppliers who can go out of stock and have no idea of when it will be arriving, and even scarier, if you are going to get it when it does come in (Yes...at least one of them 'selects' who gets preference to their stock when it arrives).

Worth noting is that Gala's website prices as Ex-GST so you will need to factor that it. Orders over $400 are shipped free to your nearest capital city, then attracts contracted freight costs from their to your location. If you have an account with them, orders paid within 7 days of delivery get a 2% discount (Yes...if you have an account you do not pay in advance!).

I have not used them but am looking at securing some stock from one of their shipments in the next couple of months (just finishing working out what my needs are likely to be).

I have no connection with Gala - Just thought I would post details as some people may have ruled them out due to their stock levels, but may not have known that confirmed shipping dates and delivery can be made with them from their monthly shipments.

I am tiring of lack of stock from the usual suppliers, and have had broken items in every glassware shipment (am not alone from what I have been told) from one of them so the economics of breakages, dual freight and lack of supply are starting to make other options attractive. I thought I would share this with others who may be finding the same.

Bart

[jonsie]

This may give me a future contact for packaging solutions. I will keep you posted if there is any progress in this area.

Sweet. I look forward to updates on this.

Worth noting is that Gala's website prices as Ex-GST so you will need to factor that it. Orders over $400 are shipped free to your nearest capital city, then attracts contracted freight costs from their to your location. If you have an account with them, orders paid within 7 days of delivery get a 2% discount (Yes...if you have an account you do not pay in advance!).

I haven't ordered from them yet either, but I am tempted to lay down some money for large metros and glass holders for maxi lights. The shipping was always a concern for me, but I could swing a $400 order. What kind of account gets this discount? I have an account on their website... that kind of account, or something more involved?

[bart70]

Sweet. I look forward to updates on this.

I haven't ordered from them yet either, but I am tempted to lay down some money for large metros and glass holders for maxi lights. The shipping was always a concern for me, but I could swing a $400 order. What kind of account gets this discount? I have an account on their website... that kind of account, or something more involved?

There is some paperwork to complete to have an account with them. As we have a fully registered business it should not be too much of an issue for us to get one (especially as we have an ABN). Whilst I have not confirmed, if you do not have the account the only difference is that you pay for the goods when they have them ready for shipping and are not entitled to the extra 2% for paying within 7 days of delivery. I am not sure what other criteria is required for an account.

As far as I know the free freight to nearest capital city for $400 applies whether you are an account holder or not. When we started adding up our potential requirements we came to $400 pretty easily.

I would be tempted to bet that they would be cheaper for you than ACS. They worked out cheaper for me and I have 350km of contracted freight rates on top. I am guessing that as specialist glass suppliers they will have much better packaging and shipping arrangements (ie - proper insurace) than ACS which will mean less broken items, so even cheaper again when whole of cost is considered.

I also found their service very prompt - I have dropped them a couple of emails and had clear concise answers back within hours. They told me they get 2 containers every month of candle glassware alone. When an order is placed (and not in stock) it is secured from the next available shipment and in most cases is only a 4-5 week wait. I can live with that as it allows me to forward plan my orders and know that stock will be available.

Might well be worth dropping them an email.

Cheers,

Bart