Comments on: Use Free Shipping when you can for more reasons than one

By: Brigitte

Brigitte — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:30:51 +0000

Hi Ed, yeah all that little stuff adds up. I use the tyvek I get free from the post office. I do need plain ones for Int’l Shipping too so I’ll check out Uline.

By: Ed Rubi

Ed Rubi — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:20:25 +0000

Yeah, free shipping ROCKS! I try to use free shipping whenever I can.
Also, if you get the right packaging materials you can cut down on the weight of the item and it will be cheaper to ship. For example, when I ship a shirt I use a Tyvek envelope. They weigh nothing and they are just about impossible to tear (I’ve tried). Your item arrives safe and sound.
A good resource for shipping supplies is Uline, if there is one near you. Oh, they do ship the supplied to you too if you’d like. If you get a brochure, be sure to check the first few pages, that’s where they list their specials. For instance, a 5 x 5 x 5 inch box, which is one that I use a lot, cost me 20 cents a box. I love Uline!
Nice post Brigitte!

Ed Rubi

By: Ilene, MS

Ilene, MS — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:10:23 +0000

I always try to have something up with free shipping but I’ve found it doesn’t seem to make much difference. Maybe it’s what I sell. I’ve sold things with free shipping that actually cost me to ship because the item sold for less than I’d hoped. By the same token, I’ve sold things where I made money on the shipping charges. When I overcharge for shipping, I always refund the excess. Seems only fair and I choose to think it builds good will.

By: Brigitte

Brigitte — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 03:52:42 +0000

Thanks for the info Deena. I’ll have to reconsider my international shipping options.

By: Deena O'Daniel

Deena O'Daniel — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:43:55 +0000

I also offer free shipping to US addresses on my jewelry and shirts – they don’t weigh that much and I actually build the shipping cost into the item price. It looks better than price plus shipping even if it’s really the same amount. I’ve been doing well with men’s silk shirts that I find at thrift shops for $3-$5 and sell for between $25 and $30 with free shipping. A couple of dollars shipping cost isn’t much with that profit margin. 1st Class international to Europe is about $1/ounce, and postage to Canada is almost the same as US. Thanks for a great post!

By: Lois Dupre

Lois Dupre — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:58:59 +0000

Hi
You can also ship 1st class international quite cheaply. I do it with costume jewelry and my jewelers loupes all the time.

Thanks
Lois