SHIPPING CONCERNS

[Terry Green]

This is a topic that comes up often.  People complaining about shipping costs/charges/fees....and I'm one of them....

HOWEVER, I only complain about the cost and not passing the complaint on those that have to charge for shipping.....

Let me explain.....

I don't think a lot of folks realise what it cost to ship something.  For instance, the TradGang Sweatshirts I am selling are very expensive to ship.

I sell a really nice heavy cotton sweatshirt with logo on the chest AND down the sleeve and almost of THIRD of the price is shipping!!!!!

Yes, I sell for $35 delivered and they cost 9-11 DOLLARS to ship.

Not much we can do but complain, but lets not direct that complaint toward vendors as they have no control over the insane rise of shipping costs over the last few years.

   

[carbonflyr]

just the cost of doing biz i guess  

[David Mitchell]

Good point of clarification, Terry.  Thanks  

[kennym]

I charge ACTUAL shipping cost and am shocked myself at the cost sometimes. The only thing I can convince myself of is it's cheaper than driving to deliver it.    

[DeerSpotter]

I don't like hearing  " rural area " that is a up charge  quite a bit of the time. But like they say you can't do anything about it.  And Hey it don't do any good to complain. Cause the CEOs of the companies don't hear it just a little guys at the cashier doing what they are told.

Carl

[Terry Lightle]

Here at at The Nocking Point we charge actual shipping too.Sometimes I feel a little guilty about what it costs to ship orders but there is nothing that can be done,we are at the mercy of the shipping companies.
Terry

[M60gunner]

It is what it is. Guys moan because they have to pay shipping and handling on a pack of feathers. I learned years ago to “make a list” so when I order I get all I need and then some.
 I have come to another conclusion with shipping. Send it second day, twice as much but a 99% chance it will get there on time and on target.

[Holybeardman]

Being in the industry myself, I can tell you that these trucking fees are way inflated over what is reasonable.

I can ship skids of product for 300 bucks or less over 2000 miles. Thousands of pounds of products...

[monterey]

There's another side to shipping.  

Monday I walked into the PO with a longbow in a box, paid 13.50 and said "here, take this to northern Minnesota".  And, they did it!    

[Jon Stewart]

Go to Staples and buy a box of  grey postal shipping bags. They are self sealing and you write the address on them with a marker.  They weigh almost nothing and you pay for the actual weight of the hat, shirt or sweatshirt. I was the merchandise director for an archery club , sold and mailed an unknown amount of clothing items this way at an actual shipping cost with no up-charges. I will say that small, med, large and XL shirts cost the same but an xxl is when the cost starts to rise.

[BWallace10327]

Originally posted by monterey:
There's another side to shipping.  

Monday I walked into the PO with a longbow in a box, paid 13.50 and said "here, take this to northern Minnesota".  And, they did it!      

I've shipped many bows for this rate too, which I why I will not pay $8.00 shipping for a small item that fits in a padded envelope.

[JamesV]

I have no problem with paying "actual" shipping costs but there are a lot of companies that overcharge for shipping to pad their bottom line. Their profit is already added to the price of the item sold.

James

[Terry Green]

Originally posted by monterey:
There's another side to shipping.  

Monday I walked into the PO with a longbow in a box, paid 13.50 and said "here, take this to northern Minnesota".  And, they did it!      

Was that insured with Tracking?

[Terry Green]

Originally posted by BWallace10327:
 

Originally posted by monterey:
There's another side to shipping.  

Monday I walked into the PO with a longbow in a box, paid 13.50 and said "here, take this to northern Minnesota".  And, they did it!          

I've shipped many bows for this rate too, which I why I will not pay $8.00 shipping for a small item that fits in a padded envelope. [/b]

Something is wrong here.....that's not just shipping.  

The sweatshirts i ship, and I have recipts, are again 9-11 dollars due to weight.

This post was about shipping, not shipping AND handling.

[Zradix]

Originally posted by The Nocking Point:
Here at at The Nocking Point we charge actual shipping too.Sometimes I feel a little guilty about what it costs to ship orders but there is nothing that can be done,we are at the mercy of the shipping companies.
Terry

SAME HERE!
We try to use the most "economical" option..but sometimes it just seems more crazy than normal.

[wingnut]

Terry,

Take a look at Endicia.  You get pretty good rates on USPS shipping.  We've been using it for years.

Mike

[monterey]

It was priority mail with tracking.  I don't pay for insurance just because I've never been burned.  I can replace lost or broken items many times over with what is saved by not buying insurance.  

I know several high volume bowyers who do the same.

You can go online and figure USPS shipping on just about anything.  When I shipped it The rate was within pennies of the calculator.  Maybe there is a way of doing it that will save.

Since the shirts probably have a message on them maybe they qualify for media rate?

[slowbowjoe]

Thing that gets me about a "handling" charge: Having worked retail for years, in stores that also ship... you can spend 1/2 hour or more with a customer who then turns around and says thanks, and goes buy online, or buys nothing. There's no charge. but if a shipping clerk spends 5 or 10 minuted for the shipping - add'l. charge.

[9 Shocks]

I second endicia.

Also, USPS will give you boxes for free.

If you use priority flat rate envelopes and if it fits, it ships for 6.50

I ship jackets and clothing in them all the time.  Just gotta roll em up right.

You can use a regional A box or regional B box and get better rates as well.

Lots of tricks to shipping and saving money.

[monterey]

They will also deliver the flat rate boxes to your door and pick them up when they are ready to ship.