| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Carie
Chatty Knitter
249 Posts |
 Posted - 12/08/2005 : 1:02:59 PM
|
For 6 balls of 171 yds DK acrylic yarn. I ordered some from a yarn store in Ohio, based on a phone # that one of my fellow KR followers gave me. I actually didn't ask how much shipping was, my bad. But doesn't that seem a little high? They could have used Express Mail for $3.85
Carie
My name is Carie and I'm a yarnaholic.
(***hi carie***) |
|
|
mokey
Permanent Resident
15375 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2005 : 1:11:46 PM
|
What was the actual postage charge on your envelope/package? Add a couple dollars onto that and it would be a fair price.
"An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Martin Luther King Jr.
www.femiknits.blog-city.com |
 |
|
|
Yarn Delirious
Seriously Hooked
USA
777 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2005 : 2:05:42 PM
|
sounds like expensive shipping to me. Did they send it Fedex or something?
Some shops only charge you what it costs them. Others, guess it is something they need to add more to to cover costs.
Yarn Delirious blog |
|
|
|
Wen
Permanent Resident
Australia
3242 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2005 : 8:23:52 PM
|
and some only charge shipping if it is a small order. You need to check the shipping policy with the shop whenever you have something shipped. You never know it could be shipped free if you buy over a certain value or a certain amount.
Wen
2005 stats: 7 FO, 9 WIP, 1 frogpond.
http://photos.yahoo.com/whdayus |
|
|
|
Valk_scot
Permanent Resident
United Kingdom
1281 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2005 : 02:32:38 AM
|
Many shops charge a flat fee no matter how little or how much you buy. This can be great, but not if you only want a small amount. I assume this policy is to encourage you to buy more but there must also be fixed costs in there as well as the variable postage, no? Time for wrapping, materials, trip to post office etc. All adds up, and for a small shop (?) on narrow profit margins these costs have to be covered.
Having said all this I do agree it does seem a bit high but as you say, it pays to check first.
Val.
[img]http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_9_21.gif[/img] |
|
|
|
Carie
Chatty Knitter
249 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2005 : 09:14:25 AM
|
I called the shop to inquire, and it turns out she charged me too much for the yarn! Not the shipping! I bought the yarn on sale and she charged me full price. She is going to credit my account.
I thought it sounded a little high...
My name is Carie and I'm a yarnaholic.
(***hi carie***) |
|
|
|
The Irish Ewe
Permanent Resident
USA
1052 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2005 : 07:21:29 AM
|
Carie, glad it worked out for you!
As mom is a powerseller on ebay, we know that shipping costs are more than just postage. You have to account for labels, bubblewrap, peanuts, and tape - all of which cost money. And your time in packaging is not free. That aside, mom usually does not charge for shipping over the costs of postage, but writes it off instead. Does this always work out for her? No, but the other side would be people complaining over the costs. It's a fine line to walk (sorry, had to throw a Jhonny Cash term in there, the movie was great!) but most shops are not out to gouge you on shipping :)
The Irish Ewe
Norway, Maine
http://www.TheIrishEwe.com |
|
|
|
Carie
Chatty Knitter
249 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2005 : 12:54:33 PM
|
Thanks, Ewe, for putting it that way. I appreciate that the oness of every tiny component of the process is on the seller. As it was, they only charged me the Priority Mail costs, so they must have a similar outcome to your mother.
Carie
My name is Carie and I'm a yarnaholic.
(***hi carie***) |
|
|
|
tortadetortuga
New Pal
47 Posts |
Posted - 12/31/2005 : 1:09:05 PM
|
Priority mail used to be my shipping choice, but the costs have doubled in the last few months. $3.85 is now just the flat stiff envelope labeled "flat rate", and it "cannot deform the packaging." The small box is $7.70. And it just doesn't seem to get there as fast anymore.
On my site I have a flat $5 fee for orders under $75 and free from there on out, anything else just seemed way too high and I haven't figured out a shipping calculator program that I like. It usually doesn't come close to covering the shipping costs, let alone time and packaging, but I chalk it up to building the business rep and hope that my margin will cover it. The shipping calculator is a high priority for me though. As Irish Ewe says, it's a fine line. We're not in business to make a loss (my husband doesn't make enough money for us to need to lose money ;)) but the competition is pretty stiff in this expanding market.
************************
http://lanasdelibelula.com |
|
|
|
knottyknitter
Permanent Resident
USA
3702 Posts |
Posted - 12/31/2005 : 4:16:34 PM
|
| With the price of gas these days, wear and tear on my car, and my travel time on top of it, I'm more than willing to pay reasonable costs for shipping (and handling),and I would consider that amount to be reasonable. |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
| Knitter's Review Forums |
© 2001-2013 Knitter's Review |
|
|
|
|
Topic Locked
