LESAINT1 on wed 22 oct 97
Hi everybody. I was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to charge
customers for shipping. Is it better to try to estimate the amount and
collect it with the payment, or send a separate bill once the charge is known?
Does anyone charge a handling fee to cover your costs for packing material or
your time spent packing? I don't want to overcharge people but I seem to be
losing time and money on shipping issues. I would really appreciate any help
on this question. Thanks, Leslie
Wendy Rosen on thu 23 oct 97
Leslie,
Buyers have always wanted their packing and handling fees included in with
the product... you need to state it clearly on all of your materials and in
your display for wholesale shows. Packing fees are usually under 7% if
they are not included. It seems crazy to me to charge the same percentage
for plates (that neatly stack) in contrast with bowls or sculptures that
might require more sophisticated or inefficient use of packing materials...
oh well life isn't fair... why should business be any different? Buyers
will appreciate you including packing fees...
Wendy :>
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Hi everybody. I was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to charge
> customers for shipping. Is it better to try to estimate the amount and
> collect it with the payment, or send a separate bill once the charge is
>known?
> Does anyone charge a handling fee to cover your costs for packing
>material or
> your time spent packing? I don't want to overcharge people but I seem to be
> losing time and money on shipping issues. I would really appreciate any help
> on this question. Thanks, Leslie
*******************************************
Wendy Rosen
The Rosen Group
Niche & AmericanStyle Magazines
http://americanstyle.com
3000 Chestnut Ave #304 Baltimore, MD 21211
Voice: 410/889-3093 Fax: 410/243-7089
*******************************************
Jennifer Boyer on thu 23 oct 97
Hi All,
Here is my shipping chart for individual customers. I figure it by zip code
and the value of the pots. This allows me to tell them the shipping charge
at the time of the order and then I get payed for it all before I ship it
out. For shops I would stick with a percent of total formula for shipping
and handling like 10 percent, but also figure in a zip code based rate into
it. UPS really varies by zip code so you need to factor it in. This chart
is based on where I live: Vermont. So someone in another part of the
country would align the zip codes differently. Also I take my boxes to UPS
so don't have to dealwith the 5.00 pick up charge.
ZIP CODES: 0-30000 30001-60000 60001-99999
VALUE:
UP TO 10.00 5.50 6.00 6.50
10.01- 30.00 6.50 7.00 7.50
30.01- 50.00 8.50 9.00 9.50
50.01- 80.00 10.50 11.50 11.50
80.01-110.00 12.50 13.50 15.50
110.01-160.00 14.50 15.50 17.50
160.01 & OVER 16.50 17.50 19.50
Hope this helps
Jennifer in the flurries!!!
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Hi everybody. I was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to charge
> customers for shipping. Is it better to try to estimate the amount and
> collect it with the payment, or send a separate bill once the charge is known?
> Does anyone charge a handling fee to cover your costs for packing material or
> your time spent packing? I don't want to overcharge people but I seem to be
> losing time and money on shipping issues. I would really appreciate any help
> on this question. Thanks, Leslie
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jennifer Boyer
Thistle Hill Pottery
Montpelier, Vt. 05602
jboyer@plainfield.bypass.com
Suzanne Storer on fri 24 oct 97
Leslie,
Two years ago I arrived at the following shipping formula after consulting
with potters here on clayart and elsewhere to find out what was customary
and what I could live with. I charge 7% (for my time and supplies to
package the pots) plus all UPS shipping charges. I include these charges in
the invoice and put the invoice in the box that has the packing slip on it.
Shipping charges seems to be a sensitive area. At 7% for handling I figure
I only make about $5/hour when I prepare shipments. Using recycled
materials aids significantly with costs. Two local grocery stores here are
very happy to recycle their "waste" through me. I re-use their boxes and
purple apple trays which they would otherwise burn up. I use two purple
paper pulp trays face to face to line all sides of the boxes on the
interior. Meets UPS requirements and substantially strengthens the box.
One customer would then use those purple trays that arrived with my pots in
his worm farm where they were composted completely. Too bad worms can't eat
up pots that don't pass inspection.
Suzanne-in-Utah where the tomatoes are STILL ripening on the vine, but barely!
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Hi everybody. I was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to charge
> customers for shipping. Is it better to try to estimate the amount and
> collect it with the payment, or send a separate bill once the charge is known?
> Does anyone charge a handling fee to cover your costs for packing material or
> your time spent packing? I don't want to overcharge people but I seem to be
> losing time and money on shipping issues. I would really appreciate any help
> on this question. Thanks, Leslie
>
Bob Hanlin on thu 30 oct 97
Leslie:
The way I handle it is to take the pot(s) to one of these UPS pack and ship
places and bill them seperately for the shipping. I've had no trouble with
this because I tell the customer up front what I'm doing.
At 10:37 AM 10/22/97 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Hi everybody. I was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to charge
> customers for shipping. Is it better to try to estimate the amount and
> collect it with the payment, or send a separate bill once the charge is
known?
> Does anyone charge a handling fee to cover your costs for packing
material or
> your time spent packing? I don't want to overcharge people but I seem to be
> losing time and money on shipping issues. I would really appreciate any
help
> on this question. Thanks, Leslie
>
>
Bob Hanlin
bhanlin@ionet.net
Oklahoma City, OK
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