Toptul - Shipping order question 6/1/09

[wrenhandtools]

Here's a question....

As I set up the shopping cart, it brings up the question of shipping charges.
I think most companies charge a flat rate and use this as a small (or large) profit center.

I don't upcharge my shipping, but calculating each individual order, based on size and weight, is not possible in an automated way at this time.

SO what I would like to ask, is, would you like the ease of ordering if shipping was included 100% of the time, or included on orders over a certain amount, or do you like the shipping charges shown separately so you know more detail?

If I was to raise prices 2-4% here and there it would pay for the shipping and makes ordering easier where you would know that the price you were looking at was the "shipped to your door" price.

So, what are your feelings?

 

[mrb]

all I can say here is BE CAREFUL, amazon for example loses money on many of their shipments, but they have the cash to cover it and its part of their business plan to build customer base. If you mess up with doing free shipping or including shipping, it can cost you quite a bit. What happens if you have shipping included and I buy one socket? You just spent $5 to send it to me.

I wish UPS or someone had a program for online stores to get rid of these situations. They do all sorts of wierd deals with the big guys, but the small guy can never get big due to the shipping costs...

 

[Joelfke]

I wouldnt mind a small increase in price to cover your shipping costs, but like said above...dont sell yourself short, shipping (especially with UPS) can get a bit pricey sometimes. To keep good competition though I would like to see "free" shipping with a small increase in prices.

USPS has flat rate boxes and such, that wouldn't be too much to ship out your orders, although I dont know what shipping company is easiest for you, at your location

I think the best idea would be to say free shipping on X amount of purchase

 

[Stuey]

I like free shipping but don't like knowing that I'm paying for it.

I also hate value-based shipping.

What about setting a min and max rate with the disclaimer that certain bulky or special orders may require an extra fee. It really would be best if you had a weight-based estimator. If not, then you'll need a flat rate, or a "we'll charge you when it ships" policy that industrial suppliers adhere to.

You could also offer first class shipping for smaller items.

 

[PCW]

Mike,

Be careful, like my order, 53lbs of tools shipping from WA to CA was like 28.00, but ship that same package to NJ, lots more $$$$$$$$$$. I like the idea of a weight system estimator that Stuey mentioned and like him I like free shipping Thanks again for all the help and can't wait for my tools to be delivered on Wed.

PCW

 

[Hiball]

Mike,

Be careful, like my order, 53lbs of tools shipping from WA to CA was like 28.00, but ship that same package to NJ, lots more $$$$$$$$$$. I like the idea of a weight system estimator that Stuey mentioned and like him I like free shipping Thanks again for all the help and can't wait for my tools to be delivered on Wed.

PCW

Mike, I would definitely think twice about Free shipping and only adding 2-4 percent, 4 dollars on every $100 would scare me to death as a bussiness man knowing that i had to try and ship $100 dollars of tools for 4 dollars. It was .50 cents a pound from WA to CA for the above order. I honestly think you should try and find some sort of Automated system or Just inform you customers that you will have to price shipping after they place there order. But you are gonna scare alot of people away without the automated system account people dont like ordering tools without knowing what its gonna cost. Another thing you can do and this might work for you is base your shipping on Total example .01 - $25 = 8 bucks etc..... $25.01 - $50 = $16 etc.....this gives you most flexibility. It would take some playing around with Weights and Box dimensions too find the Value that is both fair to You and your customers but its a thought.

Steven

 

[vette-kid]

Like others, I dont really mind a shipped price with the mentioned small increase. But I usually prefer the actual shipping. As was already mentioned though, you may be able to work out some type of shipping structure, maybe by weight. or offer free shipping on orders that offer you a large enough profit margin that you can pay it. That will entice people to place a larger order.

 

[john w]

I don't think you should paint yourself into a corner. You're a no-nonsense guy with a no-nonsense product. I say keep the shipping the way it has been - I don't mind paying for what I get, and I'm a long ways from you.

 

[wrenhandtools]

Very good advice guys...thanks a ton as usual!

 

[beelsr]

here's the ideal solution which your DB guy(s) should have thought of if they're up to snuff. Every item needs weight & volume attributes. Sum them up and add an appropriate overhead percentage (can't pack everything perfectly together and packaging weighs something as well). You know have a package's weight and can place the volume in whatever sized boxes you have to pick from.

Once you have a package size, weight & zip code, it is trivial to calculate exact postage. If I still did DB programming, this would be a fun project to do...

 

[CatfishXpress]

I could go either way, shipping included, or pay extra for shipping.

But I definitely would like to know how much it's going to cost me before I place the order.

 

[wrenhandtools]

beelsr - you're right.....but when you add thousands of item numbers.....whew I might be a year older before all that data were entered!! It is probably what will end up happeneing though! You obviously are more into this sort of stuff than me. I am truly envious!

Mike

 

[beelsr]

1. You should be able to get all this info (weight/size) in electronic format from TopTul directly. If not, I bet a few hours with a ruler and a scale would get you a >95% completed (MANY items will be close enough to use the same values)...

2. Your internet guys know a good DBA, for sure. To extend the database to add this info is trivial for one. I don't know what shopping cart you are using but all the good ones have to have a way to calculate shipping...

beelsr - you're right.....but when you add thousands of item numbers.....whew I might be a year older before all that data were entered!! It is probably what will end up happeneing though! You obviously are more into this sort of stuff than me. I am truly envious!

Mike

 

[r0meyrome]

Mike,

Just wondering for some of the people who ordered from you before could we still go through email?!

-Rome

 

[Merkava_4]

Another thing you can do and this might work for you is base your shipping on Total example .01 - $25 = 8 bucks etc..... $25.01 - $50 = $16 etc.....

That's the worst way to do it and I'll tell you why:

With places that do shipping charges like that, I'm always limiting my final purchase amount so that I don't go into the next shipping price bracket. If I go one penny over $25, my shipping charge doubles; that's got to hurt sales I would think.

 

[wrenhandtools]

always....anyone can order from me any way they want.

To all....yesterday afternoon I ate something that didn't agree with me so I was on the couch until this afternoon today (Sat). This delayed me filling some orders.
I'll be working all weekend on filling orders, wish lists, and entering prices into the shopping cart.

Sincerely

 

[spoolin spec v]

I don't think you should paint yourself into a corner. You're a no-nonsense guy with a no-nonsense product. I say keep the shipping the way it has been - I don't mind paying for what I get, and I'm a long ways from you.

agreed.

Kurt

 

[supraman1990]

My personal opinion is that I don't like the "free shipping" gimmick. I prefer to see what I'm paying on shipping, and at the same time I'd prefer to pay actual shipping as well, of course with a small profit margin for the small business man as I know he is packing the stuff himself. It would be fine to have maybe "deals of the week" or some sort of rotating thing like that to offer free shipping on, or possibly even do free shipping on large things such as toolbox after you add in the appropriate mark-up to cover it, as I would probably have a stroke if I saw the shipping cost of a large box to an east coast customer such as myself.

 

[geaugafletcher]

"Free shipping" is a lie. The customer will pay for it one way or another, and I'd rather the vendor be up front about it.

At my workplace, I charge actual shipping plus two or three dollars (for most things) and tell the customers just that.

I like beelsr's idea.

 

[PCW]

Mike,

I saw something on TV the other day that reminded me of your shipping question. USPS (United States Postal Service) has a new service for Priority Mail Boxes. Send anywhere for one price, no matter weight or destination, that could solve both your problems in regards to weight and distance for smaller items. Just thought I would let you know. Link below.

PCW

http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2009/pr09_003.htm

 

[tw33k2514]

Il throw in my 2 cents. I really believe that USPS flat rate is possibly the best invention ever. 99.9% of the tools I buy from ebay come this way. Not only is it cheap, but it is way faster than UPS.

 

[The Muffin Man]

I do like the faster shipping and cheaper prices that USPS offers. Now if they could implement a better tracking system they would be golden .

 

[Joelfke]

Il throw in my 2 cents. I really believe that USPS flat rate is possibly the best invention ever. 99.9% of the tools I buy from ebay come this way. Not only is it cheap, but it is way faster than UPS.

I do like the faster shipping and cheaper prices that USPS offers. Now if they could implement a better tracking system they would be golden .

agreed on both counts....

UPS pisses me off because they are more expensive than USPS and they purposely hold packages so they take as long as they possibly can without paying the customer back for a late delivery....

i think its messed up personally, but they did it when i worked there and they still do it today...most corrupt company ever... i quit 3/09

 

[Bo Heck]

i quit 3/09

I quit 4/08

 

[Joelfke]

worst company ive ever worked for....ever