KLeSueur@AOL.COM on sat 2 mar 02
If that's what it cost you to pack and ship it, by all means charge that amount. If you are concerned about the cost, get a hold of a mail order catalog and look at the prices for "shipping and handling" for similar items. You won't find yourself out of line.
Kathi LeSueur
Stephani Stephenson on sat 2 mar 02
Llewellyn Wrote
I have a large platter 15 inch and a bit more with the handles. By the
time
you double pack it will be a sizable box. Is it unreasonable to ask the
client flat out $30.00 cover charge for shipping and handling? The
actual
UPS won't be 30 but often fairly near that and the rest would be packing
dept time? It seems high but if you are the potter and the packer it
takes
out of studio time to do etc. How far in our out of the ballpark is
this
flat fee. Otherwise I have been getting quotes from my postal man and
then
billing and all takes time if the order needs to be out in short order
for
a given date- anniversary birthday etc.
Llewellyn
No this is far from an unreasonable amount to charge.
It helps a great deal if you let the customer know right at the
beginning that they will br responsible for shipping and handling
charges. Even if you don't know EXACTLY what that will be, you can give
an estimate. Customers usually react unfavorably only when shipping
charges are a last minute surprise .
so prepare them and they will simply include that in their decision
making.
UPS and FEDEX ground both have nice websites where you can type in the
weight and the destination zip code to estimate the shipping rate.
The tough part is you don't always know the exact weight till right
before you ship.
Also you may soon find that simply charging for shipping isn't enough,
especially with the time and effort that goes into packing ceramics.
Double boxing, lots of packing material, sturdy boxes. Even if you used
recycled material you spend time getting it. So figure out a reasonable
packing charge in addition to shipping. believe me this is a true
reflection of the cost of shipping. For example ,if you take your box
to a shipping depot to have it packed and shipped they will levy a
pretty good charge for the service. Even if you don't charge that much,
think about it.
A flat fee may work if you ship similar sizes and weights
One problem with that though is the sizable difference in shipping costs
from zone to zone. From California , for example, shipping to east
coast U.S.A. can be two or three times more expensive than west coast.
Sometimes I use an 'East of Mississippi River/west of mississippi river
estimate........
O NOOOOO!!!!!!why am I thinking about shipping....It is SATURDAY for
gawd's sake!!!!! I need a day off....
Stephani Stephenson
Llewellyn Kouba on sat 2 mar 02
I have a large platter 15 inch and a bit more with the handles. By the time
you double pack it will be a sizeable box. Is it unreasonable to ask the
client flat out $30.00 cover charge for shipping and handling? The actual
UPS won't be 30 but often fairly near that and the rest woud be packing
dept time? It seems high but if you are the potter and the packer it takes
out of studio time to do etc. How far in our out of the ballpark is this
flat fee. Otherwise I have been getting quotes from my postal man and then
billing and all takes time if the order needs to be out in short order for
a given date- anniversary birthday etc.
Llewellyn
Kris on mon 4 mar 02
I charge 7% of the selling price for packing and handling and then the
actual shipping cost itself. it is not unreasonable you should not be out
these costs. I mean boxes bubbles, bubblewrap etc all cost not to mention
your time.
bliss in alaska
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