Shipping Should Be Free

[GARRIGA]

That’s cool. I go to some other local shows too and hang out as a customer. I don’t get into them all as a vendor. I’m a nobody, and a small outfit. People don’t understand all the hard work that’s involved in being a vendor at a show though. It’s an all day affair, and there are no guarantees of making any money.

Used to think of it as marketing for online sales yet don't recall ever making an online sale to a local customer from a show. Gets very expensive and time consuming to vend a show. I'm reducing my attendance this year as I'm down to just 8 adults and they sell when they sell. Got too old for this long ago. Rather just pop in and show my face and get caught up on the gossip because there's always gossip.

 

[RedReefer]

Rates vary wildly depending on where you’re shipping. For example, if I ship similar boxes to New York City and Buffalo, NYC will be way more. Sometimes double the cost or more. Even though distance and everything is roughly the same from me

There is far too much variability to estimate shipping costs.

Pirate Ship gives the same discount as the largest shippers out there. I’ve tested this multiple times. It’s usually 70-75% off retail.

Now, another caveat, is the absolute largest shippers can get crazy deals where they pay a flat fee per box no matter the size (within reason) or where it’s going. They will be limited to how many they can send per day. I don’t know the full details here though. I’m sure someone does. I highly doubt any coral farm meets these amounts. For one of the vendors we buy from that has this setup, I’ve heard rumor they can ship up to 10,000 boxes a day before UPS looks to change the plan

Can you purchase overnight shipping though pirateship? I didn't see an option...

 

[rtparty]

Can you purchase overnight shipping though pirateship? I didn't see an option...

Yes. There’s a drop down box where you can select different carriers and options

 

[gbroadbridge]

I’ve actually recently implemented this thought process on my eBay listings. I’ve lowered my shipping charge to $40 (which is less than I pay to ship, and that’s not even considering the cost of shipping materials) and increased the prices in my frags by a couple of bucks each. It’s too early to tell as I just did this 2 days ago, but I’m not sure that this was a good strategy. I haven’t sold a single one so far.

The thought is that the lower shipping charge would be more recognizable and appealing than the minor bump in item price would be a deterrent. We’ll see…

When I sell stuff (anything) on Ebay, I always list with free shipping.

I just build the $20 shipping into the price - folks appreciate seeing the final cost in the listing, rather than an addition at checkout.

 

[Johnd651]

As far as shipping goes...a group of us has been experimenting, taking advantage of he wonderful weather and fast shipping to trial it out. The below is 2.5 days, USPS, new england, 15°F weather. We only lost about 12°F that whole trip.

 

[lbacha]

When I sell stuff (anything) on Ebay, I always list with free shipping.

I just build the $20 shipping into the price - folks appreciate seeing the final cost in the listing, rather than an addition at checkout.

That works for eBay because you are selling a single item. It gets tricky if they buy more than one item because then the shipping needs refunded for the extra items

 

[vetteguy53081]

Its unfortunate and postal service once again raising rates Jan 19th - Fifth time in a year period . What is difficult is a hobbyist getting two $35 dollar corals at a discount bringing to $25 each and you add shipping at $49 dollars and you are at $98 dollars or $49 each with shipping

 

[gbroadbridge]

That works for eBay because you are selling a single item. It gets tricky if they buy more than one item because then the shipping needs refunded for the extra items

No it doesn't - each item is priced including shipping. I don't combine shipping so if you buy 5 items they all include shipping.

That is how it balances out in the end. Some buyers are subsidised by others.
No one complains. They either buy or don't buy.

 

[GARRIGA]

No it doesn't - each item is priced including shipping. I don't combine shipping so if you buy 5 items they all include shipping.

That is how it balances out in the end. Some buyers are subsidised by others.
No one complains. They either buy or don't buy.

Thought you can combine orders to save on shipping. Recall doing that buying fishing gear. Mostly all I buy on FleeBay.

 

[GARRIGA]

Now I’m starting to understand why frag swaps so popular. Although the heavy blue lights do annoy the you know what out of me.

 

[lbacha]

Thought you can combine orders to save on shipping. Recall doing that buying fishing gear. Mostly all I buy on FleeBay.

That is only an option if you charge for shipping, if you bake it into the price then you pay for shipping for each item unless the seller is willing to give you a discount.

 

[braaap]

I made over 4,000 sales last year online. I sell on eBay and etsy mainly. I charge flat rate shipping. But let me tell you I ALWAYS pay more than I charge. And people still complain!

I’m not doing this for free. I’m not doing it for fun. I’m doing it to feed my family. I’m sorry but I already eat 40% of shipping fees. I’m not eating 100%. Not a chance.

 

[lbacha]

Now I’m starting to understand why frag swaps so popular. Although the heavy blue lights do annoy the you know what out of me.

Buy or trade with local reefers, good prices and you can see how they maintain their tank.

 

[braaap]

That is only an option if you charge for shipping, if you bake it into the price then you pay for shipping for each item unless the seller is willing to give you a discount.

Not true. You can set shipping rules on sites like eBay and Etsy. If someone buys 10 of my item x and 2 of my item y I offer a discounted shipping automatically. And it displays that as they are checking out. It could be 1 of each. But it triggers on items that can ship together easily enough.

 

[GARRIGA]

Buy or trade with local reefers, good prices and you can see how they maintain their tank.

Finding time to go to the LFS difficult enough.

 

[lbacha]

Not true. You can set shipping rules on sites like eBay and Etsy. If someone buys 10 of my item x and 2 of my item y I offer a discounted shipping automatically. And it displays that as they are checking out. It could be 1 of each. But it triggers on items that can ship together easily enough.

A couple posts up someone stated they do free shipping on ebay but add shipping into the price of what they are selling since people like to see free shipping. Thats what I was talking about.

 

[lbacha]

Finding time to go to the LFS difficult enough.

Hard to find LFS that have good coral, unfortunately like fish many have pests and other issues due to the nature of how they bring in their livestock. There are definitely exceptions, but you will usually pay more for their coral as that is a big expense

 

[braaap]

A couple posts up someone stated they do free shipping on ebay but add shipping into the price of what they are selling since people like to see free shipping. Thats what I was talking about.

Oh. Well when I list items here I list all my prices shipped. I factor in what it will cost me to ship and then I have to be happy with what I sell it at. I figure 13% is my cost to ship and fees. Usually covers it.

 

[KrisReef]

Ice cream and chocolate should be free.

What I have noticed is that free ice cream and chocolates are rare, and very often the free stuff is inferior and not the ice cream or chocolate that I prefer.

I am at a restaurant atm and they have “Flour-less Chocolate Cake “. It tastes like drier lint and I can’t figure out how it ever became popular?

I remember buying books off the Amazon site when they first appeared. Now they sell everything and books of knowledge are rare.

I don’t want free coral and I am willing to pay shipping costs for real chocolate cake but all they have at this restaurant is fecal to the discriminating palate.

Shipping corals in inclement weather is a crime against life.

 

[Barncat]

Honestly I think $35-$50 shipping that I pay here in Canada is pretty reasonable considering:

- The styrofoam cooler the corals ship in ain't free
- Heating packs ain't free
- Those plastic bags and elastic bags ain't free
- Boxes and tape ain't free, nor is paper or printer ink
- Employees (including if there is only one employee and that's you) ain't free
- Electricity and heating/cooling bills certainly ain't free...
- The fuel that goes into vehicles which carry our packages places ain't free
- The drivers and pilots ain't free either
- On top of that there has to be some profit or all that effort and cost won't be worth it, because it's profit that feeds the employees' families and gives them quality of life.

The shipping cost has to cover the cost of shipping materials as well as pay employees - whether those are the employees at the coral shop or the ones belonging to the shipping company. Allergic to shipping fees? Buy local!