I looked up the mailing cost of a package to New Zealand weighing 8 oz or less. The price on the USPS website is $24.80. I wonder where the $19.40 came from?

As you know shipping has gotten very expensive, especially international shipping. I always charge my cost rounded up to the next dollar, even on the nuisance micro orders where the postage is significantly more costly than the parts. Maybe the next time you order from me I can put together a tuner button sampler pack and add it to your package. A dozen or so tuner buttons should not tilt the weight to the next postal tier.

Bob Smakula

Hey Wayne, what would you charge me for you to put some tuner buttons in your pocket, drive to the airport, get on a plane, fly to Boston, MA, rent a car, drive to my house in New Hampshire, and leave the tuner buttons on my doorstep?

$25 is a bargain.

Yes, shipping is expensive. Yes, due to “reasons” customs departments seem to currently take special pride in delaying shipments.

Circling back, you could always source tuner buttons from China and set up a business to sell them where you are. I can guarantee that you will still get complaints about shipping costs from people.

But with Amazon we now have adults that have spent most of their life with next day (or same day) advanced paid (aka prime) shipping.

Two of the few disputes I’ve had filed against me with PayPal was because they did not receive their banjo thimbles within two days of ordering. So there is that too.

I often say this thing (which I probably should not say) when customers ask for “free shipping”. “Yeah, if you know of a shipper that is free that is who I will use”.

$19.40 is the "starting at" price for the cheapest price group, NZ is group 12, so $24.80 for 1-8oz.

Agreed that it feels a bit steep. A company of gold tone's scale could likely get better rates than we see posted on the USPS website.  Not sure why it would be significantly higher.

But in general we're spoiled by subsidized shipping. I've ordered small electronic parts (larger than tuner buttons) from china for a total cost of $2, including shipping, and received them in Canada one week later. There's no way that reflects the true cost.

I think Bob's solution is the best.

I don’t know anything about New Zealand, but the guitar tuners looks like generic guitar tuners. Any reason they aren’t available at a local music store?

Thanks for all the responses. Dean, I have looked at that option here but the owner want to keep the original tuners on it.

There is a development. The chap who owns the banjo is an American. His folks are in Illinois. He will be purchasing from GT a number of buttons and getting them shipped to his folks. They will repackage them and send them on. I don't know if it will be cheaper but it is now up to him.

Sadly, do not buy anything from the US if you can avoid it. Shipping is extortionate and can take months. I bought a bridge from the US . It took 3 months to arrive in Australia. I can buy things from the UK that arrive in 3 days. Draw your own conclusions.