They are making out like bandits on those "shipping" costs. I used to work for a mail order supply. Bet it costs like $1.46 to ship that watch. They get like half or more off of what UPS or Fed EX charges most people. Depending on how much they ship. And a book can be sent USPS very cheap because the govt started that for schools and libraries. I had a guy even try to charge way more than I would pay and he said, it's "normal" in the mail order business. They probably make more on that then the sale of the item. Then they wonder why people bail on them.



MARC

Your post makes me think of two words: Colonel Flagg!

and Bush wasted BILLIONS of our tax dollars and is responsible for the DEATHS of HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of innocent civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan....

Why don't you think of a new line? All you LYING Repugs are why the US is in such a mess.

Are you happy you and your Congressmen and women have brought my country to it's knees with it's idiotic policies for 8 years? NO, since the Reagan years you have, bit by bit, destroyed a little of my country. You freaks are nearly through destroying the USA. Happy???

Repugs lie about everything....YOU probably are happy!

TRAITOR!

LIAR!

IIDIOT!

ATTENTION: DEBRA

Debra, I read your post in total disbelief. That was some pretty harsh flaming. Your comment on Bush: Yes, he spent and wasted Billions of taxpayers dollars. The last eighteen months of his presidency, was not impressive. At the end, the Stimulus Bill, my first thought was give Dr. Jack Kevorkian a call. I felt my brain(its old) was going to explode. After some serious thought, why would an out going President, sign and pass such a monstrosity of a bill. He wouldn't! There were many closed door meeting with his Cabinet and President-elect Obama and his staff. If you watched former President Bush as his presidency drew to an end, he was under extreme pressure. I don't need you to agree with me, but, President Bush was and is an honorable man. He made decisions with the American people in mind. Behind those closed doors, he made some tough decisions. You saw the news reports, many people wondered why he didn't retaliate on many of President-elect Obama's comments and charges toward President Bush and Senator John McCain. Simply, he made decisions he felt were best for the American people. Remember, there were closed door meeting with select members of Congress and President-elect Obama at end. There was a decision made to finally let the American people in on the pending explosive sub-prime mortgage hypocrisy. They knew America was in serious inconvenience. President Bush signed the Stimulus Package knowing that President-elect Obama would be signing even more Stimulus Plans. They knew it was big, just not how big. In essence, President Bush took a bullet for Obama.
The slaughter of innocent civilians: Collateral Damage! It's a War, not flag football. It's not just lying Repugs. There are also lying Dem(ented) Liberals. Debra, do your research, the whole of Congress are connected at the hip on this slow destruction of America. Happy? NO, I'm not happy.

Ted Kennedy: Almost four months sober. Attain sobriety? Who knows?

Michael Jackson: Mom's are letting little boys out to play.

Serena Williams: The ball was INSIDE the lines. Bummer!

INFO ALERT! There is No such thing as a 'Hate Crime'!

Bottom line, Karen, is I don't mind paying a reasonable shipping cost, but if I feel that you're making a profit on both the product AND the shipping, I'm out the door. So many people use eBay - we pretty much know what it costs to ship something, and we assume that retailers get volume discounts on their shipping. So, if you charge more for shipping than we know it costs to ship an item, we won't fall for it. (That also goes for you eBay sellers who list stuff for .99/no reserve and then try to jack your buyers for outrageous shipping charges!)

Sure, you can raise prices to offer free shipping, then the customer will just find another store offering free shipping and cheaper products.

I appreciate the dilemma of online retailers, but consumers do not want to pay more than they have to in order to obtain what they want.

It's difficult to compete online with products, since identical items are obtainable at many retail sites, and it's difficult to compete on price because of competition. Your only other option is to compete on customer service.

One annoyance I have with shipping is that some retailers have a flat rate, say $9.95, on everything. That really jacks up the price if you're buying something for $50 or less. My suggestion is to find comfortable pricing on orders, based on the amount of the order. Keep the shipping charges low if the customer is spending less, then raise it gradually until some point where they've spent enough to earn free shipping.

The graduated system is more difficult, but it does demonstrate sympathy from the retailer for the customer to pay extra (shipping) in order to obtain their items. Give your good customers (large orders) the benefit of free shipping, but don't gouge the little guy on smaller purchases.

Karen: Educated people know there is no 'free lunch.' Mike and Rad's comments, of course, have merit. However, statistics show shoppers will buy local if that product is available. Also, be willing to pay a reasonable higher price. The convenience of cash and carry, is a very strong incentive. Obviously, not knowing your merchandise and profit mark up, limits my input. You may have seasonal items, items that represent local high schools, a community college, state university, etc. Recalculate, make sure your shipper offers the best services, pick up times and times per week for the cost. Again, not knowing, inhibits any other suggestions. Karen, you will find the solution and you will make it work.

NEWS FLASH: There is no such thing as a 'hate crime.'