Charging Shipping for Free Download

MR. Bliss · 07-13-2009, 11:04 AM

It seems the trend now days is to offer
a free product, have a potential customer opt-in
and then let them know that they have to pay for shipping.
Sometimes as much as $9.97 for a "Download".

That's not free people.
I have promised my list (customers) that I will never stoop that low.
However, some of my affiliate partners do this and I have to decline.

Don't marketers know that if a potential customer does not fall for this scheme, they will opt-out as soon as they can and will remember not to make another purchase from you!

Please tell me if I am wrong about this.

Lambert Klein · 07-13-2009, 11:08 AM

Never seen that one. Seems like it would be ilegal anyways. Unless this is a physical product that needs to be shipped, then they should be upfront about it..

Lambert

Andy Crofford · 07-13-2009, 11:08 AM

Depending on where these marketers are and how they are using the word "Free" they could be in violation of FTC guidelines:

FTC GUIDE CONCERNING USE OF THE WORD ``FREE'' AND SIMILAR REPRESENTATIONS

AmyBrown · 07-13-2009, 11:09 AM

I've never seen a shipping charge for a download. I wouldn't do business with a company as a customer, affiliate or partner that charged shipping for a free download.

Amy

dave830 · 07-13-2009, 11:11 AM

Well, someone saying they're charging for shipping on a digital product is just stupid.

If they want to charge $1 for a trial membership, so be it, it gets them to give up CC info and could put them in a forced continuity program.

At least be more creative than calling it a shipping charge...

MR. Bliss · 07-13-2009, 11:18 AM

I will post some examples (links) later today or this evening.

la dominatrix · 07-13-2009, 11:19 AM

I have seen many times a shipping cost for a real product, but not for a virtual product. Who in their right mind would pay for shipping on a virtual download. Are you sure it is not a free download and a virtual product, say for instance a free subscription to a magazine or newsletter or something?

La dominatrix

dsmpublishing · 07-13-2009, 11:59 AM

Thats a new one on me - i have never heard of anything so daft talk about losing customers. its like reverting back to the ebay days when people used to charge you if you paid by paypal.

kind regards

sam
X

Loren Woirhaye · 07-13-2009, 12:13 PM

Sometimes you can get immediate download on such offers
but they ship it on CD/DVD in the mail too. Instant gratification
usually boosts response.

Don't ask where I got this info: $2.97 converts way better
on a trial offer than $1. The $1 point will get you more sales
at $1 but the $2.97 will win you more real customers and less
crazy people demanding refunds for continuity.

Mike Shain · 07-13-2009, 12:16 PM

and if you order now we will double your order - just pay seperate processing!

Steve Campbell · 07-13-2009, 01:17 PM

I could see if they called it 'processing' but 'shipping' for a download doesn't make much sense. One of the better methods I've seen is to actually offer a completely free product to build trust with the customer and get them subscribed to your list for future money-making offers or affiliate products.

Scott Ames · 07-13-2009, 01:20 PM

Maybe they are getting ready for the new internet taxes each State is chomping at the bit to impose

John Willer · 07-13-2009, 01:28 PM

Where the hell did you see this?

If I saw it I would never buy. That's like an outright deception.

One thing when it's a physical product, completely another when it's a digital product.

Adam Michael · 07-13-2009, 01:31 PM

Offering a "free + shipping" offer is not against the FTC. That is, if you are actually shipping something.

Additionally, for digital downloads, I have seen "Free + processing fee". I am not sure if this is against the FTC. Thoughts?

07-13-2009, 11:04 AM	#1
MR. Bliss Warrior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Charging Shipping for Free Download It seems the trend now days is to offer a free product, have a potential customer opt-in and then let them know that they have to pay for shipping. Sometimes as much as $9.97 for a "Download". That's not free people. I have promised my list (customers) that I will never stoop that low. However, some of my affiliate partners do this and I have to decline. Don't marketers know that if a potential customer does not fall for this scheme, they will opt-out as soon as they can and will remember not to make another purchase from you! Please tell me if I am wrong about this.

07-13-2009, 11:08 AM	#2
Lambert Klein Kindle Book Author War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Marion TWP,MI , USA. Posts: 565 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 17 Thanked 53 Times in 31 Posts Social Networking	Re: Charging Shipping for Free Download Never seen that one. Seems like it would be ilegal anyways. Unless this is a physical product that needs to be shipped, then they should be upfront about it.. Lambert
	WordPress Domination: from Beginner to Ninja in 7 Days http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007LS0TLE

07-13-2009, 11:08 AM	#3
Andy Crofford HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Carl Junction, MO Posts: 302 Thanks: 1 Thanked 60 Times in 45 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Charging Shipping for Free Download Depending on where these marketers are and how they are using the word "Free" they could be in violation of FTC guidelines: FTC GUIDE CONCERNING USE OF THE WORD ``FREE'' AND SIMILAR REPRESENTATIONS
	BUY ONE GET ONE ARTICLE FREE! Top notch, high quality articles. Many satisfied Warriors.

07-13-2009, 11:09 AM	#4
AmyBrown HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Left Coast, USA Posts: 477 Thanks: 250 Thanked 165 Times in 112 Posts	Re: Charging Shipping for Free Download I've never seen a shipping charge for a download. I wouldn't do business with a company as a customer, affiliate or partner that charged shipping for a free download. Amy
	"Test fast, fail fast, adjust fast." Tom Peters Last edited by AmyBrown; 07-13-2009 at 11:10 AM. Reason: redundant

07-13-2009, 11:11 AM	#5
dave830 HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Sunny Tampa FL Posts: 212 Thanks: 106 Thanked 27 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Charging Shipping for Free Download Well, someone saying they're charging for shipping on a digital product is just stupid. If they want to charge $1 for a trial membership, so be it, it gets them to give up CC info and could put them in a forced continuity program. At least be more creative than calling it a shipping charge...
	Read the rules!

07-13-2009, 11:18 AM	#6
MR. Bliss Warrior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Charging Shipping for Free Download I will post some examples (links) later today or this evening.

07-13-2009, 11:19 AM	#7
la dominatrix Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Malaga Spain. Posts: 506 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 111 Thanked 86 Times in 70 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Charging Shipping for Free Download I have seen many times a shipping cost for a real product, but not for a virtual product. Who in their right mind would pay for shipping on a virtual download. Are you sure it is not a free download and a virtual product, say for instance a free subscription to a magazine or newsletter or something? La dominatrix
	http://www.catherineford.com http://www.catherinefordimreviews.com "A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral". ........Antoine de Saint-Exupery

07-13-2009, 11:59 AM	#8
dsmpublishing Banned War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Portugal Posts: 1,738 Blog Entries: 209 Thanks: 104 Thanked 227 Times in 160 Posts Social Networking	Re: Charging Shipping for Free Download Thats a new one on me - i have never heard of anything so daft talk about losing customers. its like reverting back to the ebay days when people used to charge you if you paid by paypal. kind regards sam X

07-13-2009, 12:13 PM	#9
Loren Woirhaye Who'm I kidding? War Room Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Easthampton, Massachusetts Posts: 4,554 Blog Entries: 15 Thanks: 118 Thanked 921 Times in 659 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Charging Shipping for Free Download Sometimes you can get immediate download on such offers but they ship it on CD/DVD in the mail too. Instant gratification usually boosts response. Don't ask where I got this info: $2.97 converts way better on a trial offer than $1. The $1 point will get you more sales at $1 but the $2.97 will win you more real customers and less crazy people demanding refunds for continuity.
	HOT! $25,000,000/yr Copywriter's Secret Book—FREE! \| The "Automated Free Traffic Formula" ArticleBot Secrets Revealed! Breakthrough Marketing Blog (+ goodies) CopyWriting Services

07-13-2009, 12:16 PM	#10
Mike Shain HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 354 Thanks: 101 Thanked 56 Times in 43 Posts	Re: Charging Shipping for Free Download and if you order now we will double your order - just pay seperate processing!

07-13-2009, 01:17 PM	#11
Steve Campbell Active Warrior Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: New Castle, PA Posts: 45 Thanks: 3 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Charging Shipping for Free Download I could see if they called it 'processing' but 'shipping' for a download doesn't make much sense. One of the better methods I've seen is to actually offer a completely free product to build trust with the customer and get them subscribed to your list for future money-making offers or affiliate products.

07-13-2009, 01:20 PM	#12
Scott Ames Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: West of Rockies Posts: 5,560 Thanks: 377 Thanked 673 Times in 329 Posts	Re: Charging Shipping for Free Download Maybe they are getting ready for the new internet taxes each State is chomping at the bit to impose
	Action is the foundational key to all success. - Pablo Picasso

07-13-2009, 01:28 PM	#13
John Willer Active Warrior Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 65 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Charging Shipping for Free Download Where the hell did you see this? If I saw it I would never buy. That's like an outright deception. One thing when it's a physical product, completely another when it's a digital product.

07-13-2009, 01:31 PM	#14
Adam Michael Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 538 Thanks: 17 Thanked 210 Times in 51 Posts	Re: Charging Shipping for Free Download Offering a "free + shipping" offer is not against the FTC. That is, if you are actually shipping something. Additionally, for digital downloads, I have seen "Free + processing fee". I am not sure if this is against the FTC. Thoughts?