Shipping Charges

C

CharlesW

The Rainmaker
While there most likely are some abuses of the shipping charges, it isn't a cheap thing to do.
$4 to $20 is pretty easy to spend on the UPS or USPS charges alone.
A business has to account for the cost of a shipping carton, the time spent packaging the product, determining the charges and getting the product out the door.
Keep in mind that some of the things we do for each other for little or nothing would have a business owner broke in pretty short order.
A recent personal example:
Item cost $2.00 + tax = $2.10
Shipping carton, old box I already had = free
Shipping charges = $8.64
Time involved = priceless :D

At one time I had a sideline business and the shiiping costs were quite often greater than the profit on the item itself. If I had been giving free shipping, I would have lost money on those transactions.

Charles
Now being helped down off of soapbox
 
CharlesW said:
While there most likely are some abuses of the shipping charges, it isn't a cheap thing to do.
$4 to $20 is pretty easy to spend on the UPS or USPS charges alone.
A business has to account for the cost of a shipping carton, the time spent packaging the product, determining the charges and getting the product out the door.
Keep in mind that some of the things we do for each other for little or nothing would have a business owner broke in pretty short order.
A recent personal example:
Item cost $2.00 + tax = $2.10
Shipping carton, old box I already had = free
Shipping charges = $8.64
Time involved = priceless :D

At one time I had a sideline business and the shiiping costs were quite often greater than the profit on the item itself. If I had been giving free shipping, I would have lost money on those transactions.

Charles
Now being helped down off of soapbox
Click to expand...

Charles,

I couldn't have said it any better! Even in our slow months we easily spend over a $1200-$3000 a week with UPS and packaging supplies. There is no such thing as "Free Shipping" to us. Either we pay it or the customer pays it.

A very small percentage of customers have commented on our shipping charges since the first of the year increase but for the most part consumers understand that shipping is an expensive part of business and appreciate the level of service that we can AFFORD to give them under our current price structure.
 
:yeah

discounts or shipping...very hard to afford both ....we who ship do try to do the best for our customers:D
 
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU GUYS COMPLAIN about $5 or $8 for shipment :whine

You should be on this end to know what is REAL shipment costs :angry
 
:yeah :lmfao Cousin Jose you could move to our side of the Atlantic and then you can save too:rolleyes: but then we wouldn't be able to say we know someone in Aviero Portugal:rofl
 
jgv said:
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU GUYS COMPLAIN about $5 or $8 for shipment :whine

You should be on this end to know what is REAL shipment costs :angry
Click to expand...

jgv,

Just curious.............. how do shipping rates "within" your country compare to UPS back here in the states? Do you have a "UPS" over there?
 
We have UPS. We don't use it. We also have FedEx, DHL, and a lot others you don't know.

I pay about 15 euros to send a package of about 2 pounds to the US, and it takes about a week to get there. This by mail.

My suppliers (from the computer store) ship me stuff like computer monitors and don't charge more than 7-10 euros. Not by UPS tho. And they are delivered the next day, for sure! (of course you can cross my country driving in half day :lmfao )
 
But, after reading your post again, let's say, when I did my last order with our Meguiars *short* rep, I ordered APC+, some pads and bottles and i payed 5 euros for shipping. Next day, again ;)
 
So, a Euro is how much in U.S. currency?
About 80 cents or about $1.22.

Your shipping costs seem pretty reasonable considering gas must be close to $5 a gallon.

Charles
 
You're right Charles, but most trucks here have diesel engines, and our transport companies aren't as rich as UPS (if UPS is rich, they must have earned it somewhere ;) ).

Also, the most distant supplier I have is about 300Km from me, and most are about 60Km away.
Little country, little money, oh well :doh

At least, we're receiving terrorist threats from al-qaeda now, after what happened in Spain...:angry
 
Dwayne and Steve - Have either of you tried package recycling? I would gladly return my empty packing box and peanuts as I'm sure many others would. Heck, Boss could probably supply a couple of small distributers all by himself! :D

Your packaging materials cost would go down. Not sure if the manpower costs and hassle of recycling would be a deal killer or not. Something to think about.

Just a thought.
 
Regarding shipping charges, is there anyway to lower down the shipping charges by not using the popular couriers UPS , DHL etc, just wondering. I'm thinking more in the line of using ship rather than plane ( do people still use this method?-- maybe I'm a bit out of time):lmfao

Btw Steve, I can't find my country in your shipping column :wait . Dwayne, what would be my shipping charges when I order more than $100 before the end of march, I know the offer says free shipping for order of $100, I wouldn't expect it to apply to me as I'm on the other side of the globe hehe :jump :jump

cheers
 
In truth, I figure the shipping charges are really quite reasonable. Were I to make the drive down to Dwayne's or up to Steve's, I am certain the cost of gas alone would be much more than the shipping charges. As well, were I to hire a personal courier...

Also, the speed at which I get the stuff is far better than pony express - which is sometimes better than the post office.

I suppose a business could offer free shipping and still make a tidy profit... but it would have to be free shipping in name only !! At least this way we know exactly what the product costs and can separate it from the cost of shipping. I much prefer that.

Nah, I have no problem with paying for the shipping and figure it to still be a good deal overall.
 
Dalmore....I seriously considered offering a discount to those who returned their boxes and peanuts with their next order, but the cost of returning them for the buyer is about the same as getting new stuff....:dunno ...maybe if you saved up a few orders worth...also what if your new order doesn't fit in the same box or it's too big....:dunno

Circus1...yes I've shipped by boat 4-6weeks in most cases ...the last time the guy forgot he had ordered the stuff :lmfao :rofl

Check www.USPS.com for what they charge, the only problem is that you won't know what the package weighs until it is packed:dunno

one other point I'd like to make...I know I have set pricing on my site by $$$ ordered, but if I see that the shipping is much less than what's being charged, you'll always find something extra in the box:D
 
Another grievance of mine is when the stuff arrive, I get a tiny card where I go to the post office to collect them......and the custom officer will show me the custom tax... HOLY CRAP is my usual response.:wait

Btw Steve, something is missing in your webby.... an introductory package kit. Eg PWC + EX + SSR1 + Natty+ 2 MF = free :google for first time customers haha, wishful thinking :kneel :kneel
 
USPS has taken an awful lot of time. I wonder if the time (2-9 days) includes processing time. Yeesh I'm anxious for some EX-P! :jump

Steve you rock! :hippi
 
Circus1 :lol: I believe Dwayne will be coming up with a few kits when he has the time, and I know a few of my other distributors also have kits....as the mfg. I prefer not to outright compete with my distributors...it wouldn't be fair:naughty

Woob..I think they went out on Wed. so arrival will be soon:D
 
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