The shipping table below lists our basic shipping/handling charges.  Most packages with one 3 pack in either HO or N scale, or 2 N scale engines, or one HO engine will meet minimum charges. 

 For shipments exceeding the stated values, in the US, use the following percentages of the total before discounted or sale value of goods:

• N scale - 5% of total value

• HO and others - 6% of total value

• Shipments which have excessive weight will be shipped at actual shipping cost.

For shipments exceeding the stated values in Canada, use the following percentages of the total before discounted or sale value of goods:

• N scale - 6% of total value

• HO and others - 7% total value

• Shipments which have excessive weight will be shipped at actual shipping cost.

 ## If a signature is requested, then UPS adds an additional $1.00 charge.

### For International Shipping, see the "Estimated Shipping Costs Via Canada Post" Charts.  (Also, please be advised that the United States Post Office has discontinued all surface shipments to International destinations.)

Shipping is by Canada Post or UPS.

If you would like to use an alternate means of shipping, i.e., pickup by yourself or courier, etc., put a note to that effect on your order. Such alternative means must be arranged and pre-paid by you and appropriate notice must be given to us.

Canada Post Packages are cubed, weight is calculated, and the value is entered. We must enter values for the product at retail value in order to ensure insurance will be paid for claims, and for customs agencies in foreign countries.

Canada Post charges by weight, whatever is heavier, the cubed weight or the actual weight. Cubed weight is height x length x width in centimeters divided 6,000 = weight in kilograms.  Therefore, if a package is longer or taller, or gets squished which makes it measure longer or wider, the actual weight of a small packet air shipment might be only 1 kg or 1.2 kg. or whatever. The cubed weight is used, not an actual weight if the cubed weight is greater than the actual; if the actual weight (as of lead) is heavier than the cubed weight, the actual weight is used. 

Insurance is limited to $1,000 per package.  Any shipment over that value, must be at the customer's intelligently-undertaken risk, or we will ship at that amount in multiple packages.

UPS Packages and weighed and measured per their charts, which require zip codes for distance determinations. They also require telephone numbers. The data is entered into their software and they calculate the rates.

UPS will ship "Signature Required" or "No Signature Required". Signature Required means the person to whom the package is addressed must sign for, even if they have to go to a UPS sorting center to get it (and present ID). No signature required means the driver will drop the package off, usually where specified (back porch) (side door) (front porch), but UPS will not offer a tracer if the package is delivered according to their records per their driver input.

Therefore, the risk of shipping "Not Signature Required" must be assumed by the customer. PWRS will do everything possible to help retrieve and have delivered a package mis-shipped by UPS, but PWRS will not assume liability for the value of the goods contained in the missing package if it is not received.

There is a third option with UPS, "driver discretion" where Signature Required is not requested nor is it stated, "No Signature Required"; this is normally a drop-off delivery by the driver as with no signature required, but it is left to the discretion of the driver whether to deliver the package or return it; we're told this depends on the neighbor, obvious signs of vacancy and so forth.

When a customer makes no choice on his account profile or on a particular order, PWRS will ship signature required.

### International shipments will be by United States Postal Service, unless a customer is specifically set up for Canada Post. All shipments will be charged separately, after actual billing is received. 

Shipping to Overseas Customers

We have had many requests for a more economical way to ship products overseas. After research and due preparation and planning, PWRS is happy to announce that we are now prepared to use the United States Postal Service for shipments to overseas customers.

This service will apply to all customers who: 1. do not specifically request an alternative means of shipping, or 2. who are presently being routinely shipped high-value packages.

In addition, each customer is responsible for deciding whether or not this shipping option is best for him with regard to customs issues. That is a separate matter entirely.

Below, please see the basic rules for this new shipping option and also the basic cost for the freight itself (not including insurance, handling, etc.):

United States Postal Service

SHIPPING TO OVERSEAS CUSTOMERS

1. Maximum retail value per package is $500.00

2. Each Customer must be prepared to pay the actual cost of freight, insurance, and a shipping and handling charge.

3. Should we be required to take the package to the post office in person, an additional $2.00 per package will be charged.

4. A heavier weight (rounded up to the next pound) than actual will be used in order to ensure that packages have sufficient postage and are not returned to PWRS.

5. Shipping costs reflect the price increases effective May 12, 2008

6. Flat Rate packages will only be used if and when there is sufficient weight and/or value to warrant the cost.

Pricing by Weight and Price Group (Retail Pricing)

Priority Mail International Flat Rate Options

Customs Paperwork:  

From time to time, customers request that PWRS complete customs declaration forms at a lesser value than the actual retail price.  While we are happy to accommodate customers whenever and wherever possible, such a declaration would actually constitute a fraud against the government who relies upon such documentation.  It would, in addition, cause those governments to view each and every one of our declarations with suspicion and force them to investigate us and our customers. 

We will not alter or fraudulently submit any invoices or documents to be submitted for any purpose.  Should any person request such activity repeatedly, we retain the right to inform their governmental agencies.

Not only is false documentation fraudulent, it is an unethical and unacceptable business practice.  It would only harm us all and we will not do it. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

The Goodie Box

The term "goodie box" refers to a system of holding goods for customers in order to maximize shipping costs.  Only invoiced and paid-for goods can be placed in a goodie box, nothing that has not been paid for will be held in a goodie box.  The contents of the goodie box belong to the customer, not to PWRS; ownership changes hands at the time the product has been paid for.

PWRS will hold the product in a goodie box for up to six months.  We do this at our cost, without charge to the customer, as a service to our customers. Longer periods of holding product may be arranged, on an individual basis, if need be (customer is out of the country working temporarily--not permanently; delayed product is coming from vendor, etc.).  But the standard rule is that PWRS holds the customer's property for up to six months and no longer.  It is the customer's responsibility before the end of that time (unless specifically agreed upon between customer and PWRS), to advise us to ship now.

Should a customer be notified he has product that needs to be shipped, and he refuses to pay shipping charges, he is abandoning his property.  Should it be impossible to contact the customer, he is abandoning his property.

Goodie box product belongs to the customer and the standard policies for returns apply to goodie box products, with one exception.  All convenience returns (change of mind, change of scale, out of hobby, etc.) must be made within thirty (30) days of payment for the product.  The only exception to the thirty-day (30 day) rule is defective goods; defective goods will be replaced in accordance with the standard Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) policy.  No returns and no refunds will be made on goodie box products (except for RMAs within 30 days or if defective).

Abandonment by the customer may result in a loss of the product as well as a loss of the money outlaid to purchase the product.  Abandonment results after six months without provision for shipping of the goods in the goodie box.  PWRS is not required to contact the customer, though we usually do try to contact and consult the customer as to his wishes. Once abandonment occurs, PWRS will no longer be responsible for the product.

We are happy to accommodate our customers, holding product to wait on other items coming from dealers and suppliers. But we cannot increase our warehousing space just to provide a free service to our customers.  We have no intention of abolishing the goodie box system.  Over the years, our customers have been very cooperative in the goodie box system; but a few always make it necessary for hard rules to be laid down and enforced.  Please help us to continue offering this service.