On the subject of shipping charges...

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Carl Fisher

Carl Fisher

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I didn't want to hijack any of the other threads as this didn't really fit into the conversation, but curious how others feel.

Option A: Build shipping cost into the product you are selling and offer free shipping on checkout.

Option B: Charge a little less for the product and charge for shipping at the end of the process.


I've actually gone away from free shipping and started to offer a lower price on what I sell and charge outright for shipping. Honestly I've seen better response to that than the other way around.

Some people just consider shipping costs part of doing business on the internet while others want to see their bottom line price as they build up their cart and not be taped again at checkout with shipping.

It's a mixed bag here on IAP as well. I know one vendor who I've never paid a dime for shipping yet somehow he still keeps his pricing the best available for what he sells while others charge flat rate of various sizes depending on the order.

Just curious what you've experienced as a vendor and how you feel as a consumer on the subject. Also as you answer, I'm curious if you grew up with brick and mortar and internet is still relatively new to you, or did you grow up ordering online?
 
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Usually I prefer shipping to be separate. If shipping costs are factored into each item, you can grossly overpay on big orders. I do want to be able to see shipping costs without having to go to the end of the checkout process, though. Have the fee schedule listed somewhere on the site, or have a shipping estimator at the beginning of checkout. That way I can figure the true cost of my order, and decide if it's worth it.
 
Yeah, I think it would be hard to factor shipping into the price without knowing how many items someone will buy. If you're selling pens and add $6 a pen to your price for shipping, but someone orders 8 pens, even though they will all fit in a small flat rate box, they are now paying $48 for "shipping".
Besides, I don't think that many people are fooled by "free shipping" claims... or "free" anything for that matter.
I buy things from wherever I can find the best deal, so B&M and online.
 
How about letting them know the shipping cost up front??? Like shipping no matter how small or large in the US $5, shipping overseas again no matter how big or small $13.95...and if you ever offer free shipiing in the US, make it less the normal US shipping to our friends in Uk, Canada, Australia, Europe, Africa and Asia, Central and South America, they need a break once in a while. I have even given some free shipping to some in the UK , Canada and Aussie land when they ordered instead of a thank yoi free item that they might have to pay customs on.
 
I have finally resolved to the fact that you will never be able to please everyone no matter how hard you try. You just have to do what is best for your business plan.

Unless a vendor is trying to make shipping profitable, it doesn't matter if they charge $5 shipping or offer free shipping, for the most part the prices are the same in the end and it will even out in the wash.

Besides there are better things to spend your time pondering, like will the Mrs agree to going to the pub tonight? Thursday night special is her favorite. :eat::eat::eat:
 
OKLAHOMAN said:
How about letting them know the shipping cost up front??? Like shipping no matter how small or large in the US $5, shipping overseas again no matter how big or small $13.95...and if you ever offer free shipiing in the US, make it less the normal US shipping to our friends in Uk, Canada, Australia, Europe, Africa and Asia, Central and South America, they need a break once in a while. I have even given some free shipping to some in the UK , Canada and Aussie land when they ordered instead of a thank yoi free item that they might have to pay customs on.
Click to expand...
That's fine when you can use the USPS Flat Rate boxes for 95% of your sales. But when you have to use UPS Ground because you are shipping items labeled as flammable (you can't ship anything labeled flammable through the USPS), it can cost you double the cost of the item to ship it.
I have heard that some vendors will ship this type of item through the USPS, but if they get caught, the fine can be upwards of $25,000 per occurance.
 
Monty said:
OKLAHOMAN said:
How about letting them know the shipping cost up front??? Like shipping no matter how small or large in the US $5, shipping overseas again no matter how big or small $13.95...and if you ever offer free shipiing in the US, make it less the normal US shipping to our friends in Uk, Canada, Australia, Europe, Africa and Asia, Central and South America, they need a break once in a while. I have even given some free shipping to some in the UK , Canada and Aussie land when they ordered instead of a thank yoi free item that they might have to pay customs on.
Click to expand...
That's fine when you can use the USPS Flat Rate boxes for 95% of your sales. But when you have to use UPS Ground because you are shipping items labeled as flammable (you can't ship anything labeled flammable through the USPS), it can cost you double the cost of the item to ship it.
I have heard that some vendors will ship this type of item through the USPS, but if they get caught, the fine can be upwards of $25,000 per occurrence.
Click to expand...
 
IPD_Mr said:
I have finally resolved to the fact that you will never be able to please everyone no matter how hard you try. You just have to do what is best for your business plan.

Unless a vendor is trying to make shipping profitable, it doesn't matter if they charge $5 shipping or offer free shipping, for the most part the prices are the same in the end and it will even out in the wash.

Besides there are better things to spend your time pondering, like will the Mrs agree to going to the pub tonight? Thursday night special is her favorite. :eat::eat::eat:
Click to expand...

DARN!!! I'm a day late on my pub night! :drink:

Back to the topic...
I'm swinging both ways on this in my Etsy & eBay stores. I charge a shipping fee on my pens under $100. If someone buys two items, there's a discounted shipping price for the second item since I'm packaging them together anyway. And if sale goes over the $100 mark, then It's free, whether it's one pen over that amount or multiples tipping it over that mark.
 
I think if you are doing a lot of "smalls" that can go in a flat rate box or the like, having a flat shipping charge is acceptable. We deal in various weight & some oversized items, so have to quote shipping on each specific order. If we started adding oversized shipping charges into individual items, it would not look so good. One example is our large eagle carvings....I can send a single via parcel post for (lets say) $10, It is however "oversized" for priority and brings the charges to around $23. BUT, I can ship you 3 of the eagles for only $26 priority...just "funny" how all the weights & sizes have to work together.
Brad
 
We know just about what the shipping costs are on everything we sell is. We offer free shipping, and if they order multiples items on a single order we "refund" them the extra, either in a freebie or cash. We also compute shipping we add the postage and the packing supplies, on multiple buys in one order there is only one packing supply cost, that alone saves them money.
 
Carl Fisher said:
...Option A: Build shipping cost into the product you are selling and offer free shipping on checkout....
Click to expand...

Call me a stickler for details, a curmudgeon, or a skeptic.
If someone is building the shipping cost into the product the selling price includes shipping; it's not free shipping.

Those who believe there are such things as free shipping must also believe in
the tooth fairly, leprechans, and a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow--NOT that there's anything wrong with that. :biggrin:

Cheers. :wink:
 
I've been charging a flat rate of $5 from my website for years now and I think it's the way to go. Any one of us can take $14 worth of parts, half an hour to make a pen then sell it for $95. I can't see having to "build in" shipping charges since there is SO much available funds to take a few dollars to mail an item with.

Besides.......... when I see "FREE SHIPPING", my first thought is "yeah right, nothing is free, who are they kidding, why not just be up front and say we charge a few dollars to mail!"
 
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