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Charging Shipping for Free Download

by MR. Bliss
14 replies
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.
#charging #download #free #shipping
  • Profile picture of the author Lambert Klein
    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
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  • Profile picture of the author Andy Crofford
    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
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  • Profile picture of the author AmyBrown
    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.

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  • Profile picture of the author dave830
    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...
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  • Profile picture of the author MR. Bliss
    I will post some examples (links) later today or this evening.
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  • Profile picture of the author la dominatrix
    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?

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  • Profile picture of the author dsmpublishing
    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
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  • Profile picture of the author Loren Woirhaye
    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.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mike Shain
      and if you order now we will double your order - just pay seperate processing!
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Campbell
    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.
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  • Profile picture of the author Scott Ames
    Maybe they are getting ready for the new internet taxes each State is chomping at the bit to impose
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    • Profile picture of the author ADAMw3
      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?
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  • Profile picture of the author John Willer
    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.
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