Home: Message List - Free Shipping on minimum $50 order

Re: Free Shipping on minimum $50 order

NatOnline — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:12:56 GMT

Hello Cliff,

Yes we have competitors that sell the exact products, but not the same line of products. We don't us flat shipping because we don't have a minimum order so people can test us and buy little. If we go with a flat shipping it will cost us much more: For example if a customer buy a few lip balms with a total order of $7 the shipping will cost more than the products themself.

Like Buybigtires said: "When you go over $50, you have passed a mental barrier" he is right, for our market field.

Re: Free Shipping on minimum $50 order

Biz Online — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 15:16:03 GMT

Fun question!

NatOnline, do you have competitors that sell the exact same product? If yes, what do they do? If no, then create the alure of the Hawaiin Island products you sell, the find-know-where-else appeal, and increase your product pricing. Set a minimum of $75 for free shipping or calculate a flat rate, and do holiday specials with free shipping. Use a flat rate amount of $15 up to $74.99, then give an incentive for the client in the checkout to by this accompanying product to get free shipping!

One of my clients has three web stores. One offers flat rate shipping, one is minimum purchase of $75 for free shipping, and the other free shipping. The flat rate website sells more products at the same pricing than does the free shipping site. We spend $500,000 a year in advertising, so we do know what works for my clients industry.

To determine your flat rate, just review your past six months billing for each package, add roughly 5-10% for your time of boxing up items, and there's your flat rate. People looking online just want to know what the shipping costs will be, ESPECIALLY if they are already SOLD on the product.
Good luck,
Cliff

Re: Free Shipping on minimum $50 order

NatOnline — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 04:56:34 GMT

Well it is a problem for us when we ship on some states, the cost is pretty heavy. We tried before not to offer all the time the shipping free on $50, but it doesn't work very well for our type of business. Almost all our competitors offer this gift, so it's kind of hard to offer less than the competition.

Re: Free Shipping on minimum $50 order

maxamillion — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 23:56:33 GMT

Excellent advice and classy too. Great advice

Re: Free Shipping on minimum $50 order

dazzler — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:16:44 GMT

I don't offer FREE shipping on my web site. I sell 1-of-a-kind handcrafted necklaces and when someone purchases one, they get paperwork including a signed certificate with their individual necklace, a beautiful satin-lined velvet necklace folder, tissue-paper, a Tiffany-style box with lid and satin imprinted ribbon all FREE. I usually send everything out Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation. My clients tell me not to have SALES and not to ship for FREE. They are classy and say that offering FREE shipping is bringing your business down to an average level. Customers should know that to even send a letter first class will cost 41 cents, and just because people are buying something, they should not expect to receive FREE shipping as the norm.

Re: Free Shipping on minimum $50 order

fabulousitee — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:32:35 GMT

I also have an online store http://www.FabulousFindsbyTylisa.com and I offer free shipping on orders over $50. My flat shipping rate is $10, which at first seemed a little high to me. But looking at the competition its only about a dollar or two more than what they charge and the clothing I sell is very affordable. So if someone orders a top at $15 bucks and pays the $10 shipping fee, they are still only spending $25 on a top that's really worth $40.
I guess this is easier for me because I'm not selling the same type of products as you. I also sell accessories and the shipping on those are just $5.

Re: Free Shipping on minimum $50 order

NatOnline — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 17:59:37 GMT

Yes but look at the prices lol You cannot compare but it is a well made marketing.

Can I do that? No because if a customer order a $2.50 lip balm stick from New York, it will cost more to ship, as you can see.

Of course sometime I give free shipping under $50 but only specific occasions, and when customers don't ask for that.

Amazon.com start doing a shipping free from $25 orders but on specific products, but I bet they've got a special shipping discount deals.

Re: Free Shipping on minimum $50 order

LUCKIEST — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 16:34:21 GMT

Good question. Time will tell. On October 8, The New York Times ran a story
NOTHING SAYS "BUY" LIKE 'FREE SHIPPING. L L Bean's free shipping order
comes with no minimum purchase requirement.
You can see the story if you Google "free shipping".
Hope this helps. LUCKIEST

Re: Free Shipping on minimum $50 order

NatOnline — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 15:28:07 GMT

No, we are just retailer. All our products come from Hawaii, and main manufacturers ship in 3 days air, if we want surface ( by boat it will take 2 or 3 months the get the order from manufacturer)

Drop shipping is another concept, not all our manufacturer do the drop shipping. Drop shipping cost more money because most of the time the manufacturer charge $5 fees per order. These manufacturers are also online, one do drop shipping, but you make peanuts benefice, so it is not worth it

Also with drop shipping you don't master the order, it takes time to process. There is more manipulations and you make less money that way. Advertisers will consider you as a Affiliate, and they will not list you on most directories, or else, this will penalize you pretty bad.

The problem is, if you don't make enough benefice, you can't advertise, you can't buy sponsor links, etc...

We process speedy orders. In general we process the orders the same day, and drop off same day or next day, customers are in general very happy to receive their orders very quick.

Re: Free Shipping on minimum $50 order

maxamillion — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 02:33:56 GMT

Have you tried other shipping companies including rail and bus. Increasing the price is not a good marketing method. Customers dont like the idea of free shipping if they feel the price is high.

Do you manufacture the product at your Nevada location or purchase the product from the continental U.S. If you do purchase and the orders are large enough, try drop shipping