Shipping Question

[littlewhip]

I order quite a bit, ( have to cut back ) anyway I dont mind paying the shipping as long as its reasonable, but as the other poster said, when you purchase an item for 12.99 and shipping is 14.99, no way will i pay that for 1 item,its nice when shipping is combined and we have to add pp fees as well.

[yorkiegirl83]

I struggle w/knowing what to charge also. I try to go based on what the closest estimate will be from USPS. I know that I don't like paying excessive shipping charges, and I sure don't want my customers to either!

I'd honestly rather pay a fair flat rate charge, and have a bit of price increase to the items honestly. I think I *may* do that with my site also as it's so hard to know what to charge for what packages.

I hate it when I'm checking out and see a shipping charge per item because I know in the long run, that's not what it costs to ship out. I also dislike really high shipping/low priced items because it just seems like a promotional thing --"oh you're getting SUCH a great deal", then you get slammed on shipping

[Erin]

Originally Posted by s13silviagirl

Just a thought, to all those with businesses, have you thought about having the postal meter thing put into your home/business? It weighs the item and prints a label, then charges your account. Something to think about. Also, forgive me if I am wrong on all of this as I have been out of the US for almost 4 years, but doesn't the PO pick up if you call and ask for pick up, especially on the flat-rate boxes?

I use priority mail or UPS and both are built into paypal. I use a kitchen scale for small packages and a large shipping scale for large ones.
You box everything up, weigh it, and it prints the label. I drop them off at the PO because I tend to take them right before the truck comes at 5:30 rather than waiting until the next day. Priority is easy. It's those who are shipping bows and things that use first class mail that have to deal with the new rates. The rates used to be based only on weight. They recently changed it to count thickness as well. It's very hard to calculate what a thicker envelope (over 1/4") might cost because some are considered a "flat" and some a "package" We have a postage meter at my work (day job) and it's just as confusing.

[Shadow]

Don't you just hate all those new regulations?

Originally Posted by Erin

I use priority mail or UPS and both are built into paypal. I use a kitchen scale for small packages and a large shipping scale for large ones.
You box everything up, weigh it, and it prints the label. I drop them off at the PO because I tend to take them right before the truck comes at 5:30 rather than waiting until the next day. Priority is easy. It's those who are shipping bows and things that use first class mail that have to deal with the new rates. The rates used to be based only on weight. They recently changed it to count thickness as well. It's very hard to calculate what a thicker envelope (over 1/4") might cost because some are considered a "flat" and some a "package" We have a postage meter at my work (day job) and it's just as confusing.

[xxmxaxrxyxx]

Anytime I shop online...i always look for free shipping. Of course I tend to buy more because most site only offer free shipping over a certain dollar amount. But to me...shipping kills a lot of greats deal. Just my opinion

[Tiger's Mom]

Originally Posted by s13silviagirl

Just a thought, to all those with businesses, have you thought about having the postal meter thing put into your home/business? It weighs the item and prints a label, then charges your account. Something to think about. Also, forgive me if I am wrong on all of this as I have been out of the US for almost 4 years, but doesn't the PO pick up if you call and ask for pick up, especially on the flat-rate boxes?

I do have a pitney bows home meter and It sure has made my life sooo much easier . . .I no longer have to fall in line, just drop off (never seem to remember to call ). I have created a spreadsheet on weight with prices (delivery confirmation added) so I don't have to recalculate everytime . . check the weight, look at the chart and overide the price . . simple as that. and of course if you go over the 13 oz. it automatically kicks in the priority rate . . . so far none of my package have gone back so once you have figured everything out, shipping is a breeze

Figuring out the right shipping and handling charges is not an easy task so in my case I just simplify it based on the amount being purchased. I do a lot of multiple shipping since I carry both stocked items and custom made items so I lose money all the time but I find it more time consuming to figure each and every package . . . especially since finding TIME is always a problem for me.

[AMD]

For me, finding the right ammount to charge for S/H was very hard. Ripping people off is just what I don't want to do, which you probably agree. I finally chose to send everything UPS, or Priority USPS; customer's choice. For Priority mail, the post office provides FREE boxes/envelopes & it's one flat rate - cost depending on what package you use. So, for me, the hardest thing to tell is how much can fit in an envelope before you have to upscale to the box. I went to the UPS website and calculated cost pound by pound. For the Priority, it's one rate for the envelope and another for the box. Period. Since I send packages with signature confirmation on orders over $50, I charge the ammt between flat rate & flat rate + signature. In the end, I say you break about even, or maybe loosing some money on shipping from time to time. The S/H charges on my site are currently calculated by weight. I wish I could combine weight and cost. That way you would pay what it cost me, but if you spent $25 +, $50 +, or whatever, you could have free shipping. I also may refund shipping if they pay the box price and I can fit it all into the envelope. That way they're not getting ripped off because they're order weighed a lot. There's no perfect way, so you just have to find what works best with you. Hope that helps..it is a challenge.

[AMD]

Originally Posted by AMD

For me, finding the right ammount to charge for S/H was very hard. Ripping people off is just what I don't want to do, which you probably agree. ....I also may refund shipping if they pay the box price and I can fit it all into the envelope.....

It was too late to edit: I meant to say I refund the difference if they pay the extra for shipping and it doesn't cost me that much.

[RONLYNN]

Whenever I shop on line I LOVE when the shipping is built into the cost of the items....I'd much rather have it that way rather than think you are going to spend a certain amount and then add shipping. I feel like I am getting a deal!

[CollegeCutieUSF]

Originally Posted by Erin

OK so it looks like I'm not the only one struggling with this.

I want to do free shipping over a certain amount, but my current e-commerce site won't allow it. Luckily my husband is a programmer so he offered to find me a new solution or write one. I just need to tell him how I want it to work, so thats what I'm trying to figure out.

Thank you all for your responses. I actually do like that my site gets so close to the actual shipping costs. I sat and entered the USPS shipping table from 1-70 pounds to each state. It took days. Then I weigh every item. So far we've been happy with priority mail.

When i sell my treats I built the shipping cost into my item. The shipping alone for one bag ends up comming out to around $2+ and that includes a delivery conf. printed from paypal. Not to mention the money I spend on labels, packaging, bubble wrap to protect the treats, and gas to get me to the post office. I usually end up eating $1+ on my shipping costs. I ate even more when I had my introductory offer of $8. But after playing around with the numbers and shipping costs, my prices might have to increase starting in the new year.