Shipping Should Be Free

[Gumbies R Us]

The I have to spend X amount of dollars to receive free shipping or I get charged $20 or more on shipping kills my desire for shopping online from a lot of places

 

[Reefer Matt]

Why is the shipping cost $50? I'm suggesting using a service that negotiates bulk pricing.

Customer should be charged sales tax and included in the price should be credit card charges. Brick and mortar charge sales tax and prices assume all paying with a credit card. Cost of box an eaten costs for the convenience of not having a brick and mortar store. Plus why are you paying $15 for a box. I don't pay that. Not for something that would house a single frag.

In the end, garage farmers don't have the other costs associated with brick and mortar.

That’s being very conservative on the cheap end too, those are the costs of business regardless. Your post started off about free shipping, but now is about how businesses without a store don’t deserve to make a profit.

 

[Kooma]

Why is the shipping cost $50? I'm suggesting using a service that negotiates bulk pricing.

Customer should be charged sales tax and included in the price should be credit card charges. Brick and mortar charge sales tax and prices assume all paying with a credit card. Cost of box an eaten costs for the convenience of not having a brick and mortar store. Plus why are you paying $15 for a box. I don't pay that. Not for something that would house a single frag.

In the end, garage farmers don't have the other costs associated with brick and mortar.

Why don't you give fragging and selling with free shipping a try? I'll be your first customer, I'm excited for that free international shipping promise!

 

[GARRIGA]

The I have to spend X amount of dollars to receive free shipping or I get charged $20 or more on shipping kills my desire for shopping online from a lot of places

I’m with you although running to my closest LFS round trip bring 40 minutes and longest about two hours plus gas and time there but I rarely just get one item and there the benefit of possibly one stop shopping plus who doesn’t like wasting time looking at that you can’t buy

I’m just trying to get the dialog started on reducing overall costs and share my experience shipping reptiles which don’t see being much removed from selling a frag in a box

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I’m with you although running to my closest LFS round trip bring 40 minutes and longest about two hours plus gas and time there but I rarely just get one item and there the benefit of possibly one stop shopping plus who doesn’t like wasting time looking at that you can’t buy

I’m just trying to get the dialog started on reducing overall costs and share my experience shipping reptiles which don’t see being much removed from selling a frag in a box

Ok you have a fair excuse of buying online . The two lfs that are close to me (20ish minutes) aren't my favorite, but they do come in a pinch if I need something ASAP.

 

[PotatoPig]

Why is the shipping cost $50? I'm suggesting using a service that negotiates bulk pricing.

I’ve never shipped anything and have only made one minor foray into coral sales, so may be missing something, but from a quick check on PirateShip the cost for next day delivery for the smallest package size seems to range from around $25 to $50 depending on where in the country it’s going.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I do have a story. I one time had to ship some stickers to someone and went to our local post office (ups). They got my little folder box sized and weighed and asked "how quick do you want it shipped" I said "what's the price difference". They said "overnight it will cost you about 106"...... You should have seen the disbelief in my face. I said "106 dollars"? Obviously they said yes and I said well whats the cheapest option. $15 was the cheapest.
I just could not belief they wanted to charge me $106 to ship essentially an envelope filled with some stickers.

 

[GARRIGA]

That’s being very conservative on the cheap end too, those are the costs of business regardless. Your post started off about free shipping, but now is about how businesses without a store don’t deserve to make a profit.

Never said anything about not making a profit outside of price losers which is a common business practice to attract traffic.

I’m just questioning why for some sales it doesn’t already include shipping. Think about shipping as a burden similar to paying rent.

Having said that. If price shipped same or better than going to an LFS then for the buyer might be a moot point but when comparing some of these prices after shipping or fact one has to spend a minimum suddenly online not cost effective.

I’m in no way saying garage farmers should operate at a loss. Just that perhaps shipping should be a cost of doing business comparable to the cost of operating a brick and mortar operation where you have additional costs such as rent, insurance and possibly employees because you need to be open enough hours to service clientele.

Rent possibly equals shipping. That’s all.

 

[areefer01]

Should have prefaced it with items such as a single $100 frag. I'll correct that now to be clearer.

I would probably still ask the question as I did originally. As you know it all comes down to package size and weight or some combination thereof. Then it comes down to the business, if they get any discounts, promotions, and so forth. This it sounds like you already know as you mentioned earlier. Not everyone is Amazon who gets everything to include possible stipends nor is everyone Bob the side Hustler who doesn't.

Why does Bob have to eat the shipping cost for a single frag? Bob may have a mortgage, a needy significant other (ok, that was teasing - but maybe Bob has a SO and family to feed), or is saving for retirement and this is just something used to pay for supplies or to dream of something bigger.

I think I understand the conundrum that lead to pondering the question. I find myself running into this often when I am looking to buy a captive bred or raised fish. In fact I did last year or late 2023 when I wanted to try a Lyretail Damsel. The fish as a single was 50 USD. Shipping was 62 USD. I said to myself that seems silly. I reached out to the vendor and they found a way to lower shipping to 54 USD or somewhere thereabouts. Better but still more than the 2" fish. Fine, let me buy 5 fish and I will feel better paying for the shipping. That is actually what I did only to follow up later to order another 6.

I don't have an answer not that you asked me to solve anything. I just believe that in todays climate with everyone using the two ton heavy thing to order things cargo space is at a all time premium. Who is subsidized, who is struggling among the carriers, inflation, issues around the world adjusting cargo priorities, to the businesses just finding news ways to make money or save it for the board of directors.

I think it comes down to us, the hobbyist. The onus is on us to buy according and have a threshold on shipping. Not much else we can do.

Note 1: I apologize if I am sounding like a lecturer, I do not mean to
Note 2: I do not own a business who ships products
Note 3: I understand there are businesses who help other businesses like finship
Note 4: Bob is a fictional character
Note 5: The issue is real, I understand and agree, but do not see that shipping should be eaten by the small business

Hope your day is well.

 

[GARRIGA]

Why don't you give fragging and selling with free shipping a try? I'll be your first customer, I'm excited for that free international shipping promise!

Been doing that since the 90s with boas and other reptiles and try sticking to the topic of overpriced frags and no one says anything about international. Don’t you need permits for that. You do with reptiles and those are added costs.

 

[GARRIGA]

I’ve never shipped anything and have only made one minor foray into coral sales, so may be missing something, but from a quick check on PirateShip the cost for next day delivery for the smallest package size seems to range from around $25 to $50 depending on where in the country it’s going.

But that price the same whether frag costs $50 or $200. Don’t expect you to ship $50 frag for $50 but you’d still make a profit selling a $100 frag with shipping included and still didn’t pay rent or insurance or employees.

Can’t stress this enough. Cost of shipping should be same as the burden of paying rent unless that sold considerably less than offered at an LFS.

 

[PotatoPig]

But that price the same whether frag costs $50 or $200. Don’t expect you to ship $50 frag for $50 but you’d still make a profit selling a $100 frag with shipping included and still didn’t pay rent or insurance or employees.

Can’t stress this enough. Cost of shipping should be same as the burden of paying rent unless that sold considerably less than offered at an LFS.

I mean, sounds a lot like “free shipping on orders over $XYZ”

 

[GARRIGA]

I would probably still ask the question as I did originally. As you know it all comes down to package size and weight or some combination thereof. Then it comes down to the business, if they get any discounts, promotions, and so forth. This it sounds like you already know as you mentioned earlier. Not everyone is Amazon who gets everything to include possible stipends nor is everyone Bob the side Hustler who doesn't.

Why does Bob have to eat the shipping cost for a single frag? Bob may have a mortgage, a needy significant other (ok, that was teasing - but maybe Bob has a SO and family to feed), or is saving for retirement and this is just something used to pay for supplies or to dream of something bigger.

I think I understand the conundrum that lead to pondering the question. I find myself running into this often when I am looking to buy a captive bred or raised fish. In fact I did last year or late 2023 when I wanted to try a Lyretail Damsel. The fish as a single was 50 USD. Shipping was 62 USD. I said to myself that seems silly. I reached out to the vendor and they found a way to lower shipping to 54 USD or somewhere thereabouts. Better but still more than the 2" fish. Fine, let me buy 5 fish and I will feel better paying for the shipping. That is actually what I did only to follow up later to order another 6.

I don't have an answer not that you asked me to solve anything. I just believe that in todays climate with everyone using the two ton heavy thing to order things cargo space is at a all time premium. Who is subsidized, who is struggling among the carriers, inflation, issues around the world adjusting cargo priorities, to the businesses just finding news ways to make money or save it for the board of directors.

I think it comes down to us, the hobbyist. The onus is on us to buy according and have a threshold on shipping. Not much else we can do.

Note 1: I apologize if I am sounding like a lecturer, I do not mean to
Note 2: I do not own a business who ships products
Note 3: I understand there are businesses who help other businesses like finship
Note 4: Bob is a fictional character
Note 5: The issue is real, I understand and agree, but do not see that shipping should be eaten by the small business

Hope your day is well.

Get your point and why I didn’t mention fish as those require larger boxes to allow ample space for air and weight substantially higher yet if said fish can be shipped for $54 then drag requiring 1/4 the box and weight likely considerably cheaper for that seller once they connect with a service that negotiated bulk pricing.

I get that everyone’s cost are different but store owners also have mortgages and other typical living expenses.

My correlation is purely that an online business should equate shipping to the cost of rent and insurance which aren’t transactional. Within reason. I’m not expecting any business to ship an item for more than profit unless they can afford to do it to drum up more business. Might be cheaper than advertising. Another sunk cost that can’t be transactionalized (that’s likely not an actual word)

 

[GARRIGA]

I mean, sounds a lot like “free shipping on orders over $XYZ”

Why my premise around overpriced nubs. I’m obviously not talking about something costing $20.

 

[I never finish anythi]

The coral supplier I source my corals from only charge £10 for overnight shipping and his corals are cheap so I'm happy with that price tbh .

 

[GARRIGA]

I do have a story. I one time had to ship some stickers to someone and went to our local post office (ups). They got my little folder box sized and weighed and asked "how quick do you want it shipped" I said "what's the price difference". They said "overnight it will cost you about 106"...... You should have seen the disbelief in my face. I said "106 dollars"? Obviously they said yes and I said well whats the cheapest option. $15 was the cheapest.
I just could not belief they wanted to charge me $106 to ship essentially an envelope filled with some stickers.

Not sure if you saw my comment on the fishing reel. My cost $30 insured. My company I was working at $12 insured. Same delivery speed. Manager told me sometimes rates as much as 80% cheaper. Makes sense. UPS makes one stop to pick up lots of packages and likely already there because they were dropping something off.

As for your situation. Sir delivery is extensive although depends. If I want to ship a 6 pound adult boa vis FedEx it’s $150 yet Delta charges me only $75 but that’s airport to airport and both seller and buyer need to drive to one.

 

[areefer01]

Get your point and why I didn’t mention fish as those require larger boxes to allow ample space for air and weight substantially higher yet if said fish can be shipped for $54 then drag requiring 1/4 the box and weight likely considerably cheaper for that seller once they connect with a service that negotiated bulk pricing.

I get that everyone’s cost are different but store owners also have mortgages and other typical living expenses.

My correlation is purely that an online business should equate shipping to the cost of rent and insurance which aren’t transactional. Within reason. I’m not expecting any business to ship an item for more than profit unless they can afford to do it to drum up more business. Might be cheaper than advertising. Another sunk cost that can’t be transactionalized (that’s likely not an actual word)

Maybe you are asking the wrong question. If we flip it upside down the question now becomes why is the 1/4 to 3/4" frag 100 USD.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Unless one is running a brick and mortar operation with high rent and other costs then shipping should be free unless heavily discounted from retail. Talking about selling frags.

This hobby getting ridiculously expensive and these days that’s a one inch nub being shipped. Shows usually have these small cup containers allowing several nubs the customer can use on the flight back. Can’t the industry find a more efficient way to get these nubs from point A to point B in the smallest overnight container.

I know. I know. I’m dreaming but let’s be honest. These garage farmers aren’t putting up the capital expenditure or running costs of a store and perhaps can absorb some of these shipping costs because we don’t always need to spend the typical minimum order requirement of $200 plus. Might just want that single overpriced nub.

Let's confine this to $100 frags, for example. Let's exclude auction sales and stick to overpriced nubs

There is no such thing as free - you pay one way or another.

It simply becomes a hidden part of the price.

 

[GARRIGA]

The coral supplier I source my corals from only charge £10 for overnight shipping and his corals are cheap so I'm happy with that price tbh .

Now that’s cheap but likely seller eating some costs which is the point I’m making. Shipping equates to rent paid

 

[GARRIGA]

Maybe you are asking the wrong question. If we flip it upside down the question now becomes why is the 1/4 to 3/4" frag 100 USD.

Don’t get me started as fact is most hobbyist likely tossing those in the trash

Prices astronomical and better hope that mushroom you coveted didn’t grow a pimple before it ships