Like many here, I am a fan of Cameron putters and headcovers, so I decided to join Club Cameron. The membership is priced at $93 for one year, for which you get a welcome pack with a baseball cap, a headcover, T-shirt, mouse mat and stickers.

But when I came to add in shipping to the UK, the only option available was UPS, a notoriously expensive option, which added an extra $94.25. That's right, more than the cost of the membership itself. Then UK import duty and VAT addded another $47. TOTAL $234 !!!!!!!!!

I checked the cost of buying a headcover, retail $25. Shipping was going to be an extra $53, plus import duty and VAT. Total probably around $100. I would be better buying off a US eBay seller who bought the headcover from Cameron, and sold it at $65 plus $10 shipping. I emailed Club Cameron to be told that the shipping was set up by the parent company, presumably meaning Acushnet. But Acushnet has a large office and distribution network in the UK out of their Cambridgeshire office, and could they not have assisted in setting up a more sensible arrangement?

Am I being unreasonable here?

Follow up.

Ironically, not 10 minutes after I sent the last post, I received a headcover from an eBayer in CA. The cost of the postage from CA was $2.40 to the UK. Add in the cost of the envelope, and make it a few dollars more.

So, Cameron and UPS - $53, eBayer $5-10. Mmmm, which one should I choose?

I had the same problem when I wanted to join, only I believe they wanted a little over $100 for shipping to Denmark I wrote them an email and recieved a very nice email from a lady who seemed very understanding. Sadly she couldn't do anything about it, even though she thought it was outrageous as well...

Never joined...and probably never will.

Thanks Riuzzi. I probably had the same email. What I can't understand is that Acushnet has a large distribution operation in the UK, and Cameron putters are widely sold here and pretty popular. They should be able to get stuff to us cheaper than having someone in the US buy at US retail, then mark it up before selling it on and still being cheaper overall!!

Would they prefer that we buy off eBay?

Anyone else have a view, or an idea how to fix this?

Foreign shipping for Club Cameron items is very cost prohibitive. Most people will go through other Club Cameron members, Titleist accounts, to get the items at or less than the cost available to members. Basically, PM GlenwayPutters on here and he can get you just about any Club Cameron item and ship it to you for probably a fraction of the cost as CC.

Thanks Gx, great advice.

I had exactly the same problem as you - all set to join and then realised the unbelievable cost of shipping So didn't bother and get my stuff off that well known auction site instead.

Totally agree also about Acushnet's UK - they could definitely sort this out if they wanted to.