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FREE SHIPPING OR Not For Physical Product...?

by scoopy
8 replies
I am selling a physical good not to big the average shipping is like 5-8 dollars the price tag is about $25 (product) should my customers or monthly regulars pay a shipping fee or should i send free shipping an pay it myself. I don't know how happy they would be paying $30 a month every time it ships when its only like $20-25 on the site.

Thanks guys
#free #physical #product #shipping
  • Profile picture of the author JasonTai
    No idea what your product is but it sounds like you offer a plan to get one every month or you can buy a single product at a time. How about spice it up and offer your customers free shipping if they sign up for X number of products for x number of months. Explain to them the money they will save. Maybe this will have customer sign up for your longer term plans if that's what you offer
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    • Profile picture of the author scoopy
      Hey Jason thanks they will want to be a part of it mentally but the shipping cost an when they see an additional monthly bill of $27 instead of 20 like the site says they might be discourage or kill conversions i think but idk maybe say "We Pay Half of Your Shipping !" just my thoughts..
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  • Profile picture of the author Ken Durham
    Everyone loves free shipping and it is something the media and consumer reports always say to look for when shopping online. Perhaps use it as a promotion as mentioned by JasonTai.
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    yes, I am....

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  • Profile picture of the author volcomgeyser
    without specifics of product cost and carrier selection its hard to give you a good answer.

    i have had success with USPS flat rate boxes because it allows you know exactly what the cost will be no matter if you send it to NY or CA and it also allows you to standardize shipping carrier to PO boxes and military APOs, etc. You definitely cant do that on UPS, but Fedex recently released smartpost which works like fedex ground, until it gets to the receipients local USPS office where they make final delievery. It helps in rural areas and getting screwed on fedex/ups extra "residential" or "rural" surcharges

    The other consideration is tracking/insurance. USPS tracking is horrible and insurance will cost you more. Fedex and UPS excels in this area, but for a $25 sale, who cares???

    One other thing you should consider is the carriers ability to integrate with your payment platform/shopping cart. And does that same solution print out a nice packing slip and shipping label or make you take an extra step to ship?

    Hope that helps
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    • Profile picture of the author scoopy
      Originally Posted by Ken Durham View Post

      Everyone loves free shipping and it is something the media and consumer reports always say to look for when shopping online. Perhaps use it as a promotion as mentioned by JasonTai.
      Yeah thanks will consider it for sure... But they will want to receive this monthly just as long as its not like $7 bucks for shipping or if the product is $20 they are technically paying like $27 which is a bit to expensive by then.

      At $20 dollars to be honest is already a bit high in price in my niche but they will do it at that price but if they see $27 i would even consider staying on it monthly


      Originally Posted by volcomgeyser View Post

      without specifics of product cost and carrier selection its hard to give you a good answer.

      i have had success with USPS flat rate boxes because it allows you know exactly what the cost will be no matter if you send it to NY or CA and it also allows you to standardize shipping carrier to PO boxes and military APOs, etc. You definitely cant do that on UPS, but Fedex recently released smartpost which works like fedex ground, until it gets to the receipients local USPS office where they make final delievery. It helps in rural areas and getting screwed on fedex/ups extra "residential" or "rural" surcharges

      The other consideration is tracking/insurance. USPS tracking is horrible and insurance will cost you more. Fedex and UPS excels in this area, but for a $25 sale, who cares???

      One other thing you should consider is the carriers ability to integrate with your payment platform/shopping cart. And does that same solution print out a nice packing slip and shipping label or make you take an extra step to ship?

      Hope that helps
      One other thing you should consider is the carriers ability to integrate with your payment platform/shopping cart. And does that same solution print out a nice packing slip and shipping label or make you take an extra step to ship?

      Can you explain this more thanks

      So you say that the best for this type of product would be usps.

      Thanks

      PS: Is there much of a different when shipping to CA an then to NY city or all over the US besides Hawaii an canda of course.
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      • Profile picture of the author pappyy3
        Free Shipping -- There is no such thing ....

        Most online retailers that offer free shipping incorporate the shipping costs into the product price.

        Shipping companies need to be paid. Postage needs to be paid.

        The only way this would be commercially viable for you is that there is already a decent profit margin in the product price for you to pay shipping out of your pocket for each customer??
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        Tonster

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  • Profile picture of the author scoopy
    Can i say "We Are paying Half The Shipping ! " to make them a bit happier?
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