Shipping from website orders

Hey guys,

I'm in the final stages of setting up my website and I was wondering how to come up with a shipping cost structure. I don't know where to even start. I plan on shipping matted, not framed photos for the most part, between 15" and 24" including the mat. Thanks for the help!

Tom

Depends whether you need the exact amount for each package shipped or are happy with flat rates (that may lose you some money every now and then or overcharge some people significantly depending whether you price it to the max or to the average).

I use a flat, though my system is changing so have to re-figure it all out. Anyways, you can ask your shipping provider for estimates and then include the materials of course, and time, handling, etc. unless you already include that in the cost of the item. Shipping calculators are easily available online with most providers.

As far as shipping. Make sure you go to through an agency site when you ship, instead of going direct, you'll save yourself a lot of money.

For example the company I left wanted to send a 3k package to Germany, £40 from dhl (directly) and £16 through an agency.

I would structure your pricing on a fixed fee and then for every item/weight higher charge in smaller increments. Remember that if the combined items get too large you mies well send it in two packages.

That's not how it works in the USA, Pete. We don't have agencies per se, just company stores like The UPS Store and they'll always gouge you on the packing if you let them do it for you.

You can pack it yourself, print a label from the website, and have it picked up from your porch. Same goes for USPS, except they don't offer packing services.

cdifoto wrote in post #11562991
That's not how it works in the USA, Pete. We don't have agencies per se, just company stores like The UPS Store and they'll always gouge you on the packing if you let them do it for you.

You can pack it yourself, print a label from the website, and have it picked up from your porch. Same goes for USPS, except they don't offer packing services.

Well that's disappointing but there again we don't have UPS stores etc, our infrastructure sucks.

What about just using a 3rd party to print + ship it out for you?

cdifoto wrote in post #11562485
Depends whether you need the exact amount for each package shipped or are happy with flat rates (that may lose you some money every now and then or overcharge some people significantly depending whether you price it to the max or to the average).

Where would I go about finding the average? Do you think I could do an east/west pricing breakdown to make it more fair?

kaitlyn2004 wrote in post #11568022
What about just using a 3rd party to print + ship it out for you?

Well, I have an Epson R1800, so I'll be doing a lot of the printing myself, which is muuuuch cheaper than the alternative, but if I'll check out the overhead on that and see what it looks like. Not a bad idea.

Also Kaitlyn,

Would I then want to direct all orders straight to that business, giving them permission to print without my consent on each individual piece, or would I forward each request to them?

T Kubik wrote in post #11569600
Also Kaitlyn,

Would I then want to direct all orders straight to that business, giving them permission to print without my consent on each individual piece, or would I forward each request to them?

If I were going that route I would probably want to have my manual intervention there. Just would rather hide the printer company (most will ship gift/unmarked/etc.) and it also gives you an opportunity to interact with the customer, perhaps personalize it in some way, etc...

Of course having them just make that purchase directly cuts out overhead

T Kubik wrote in post #11569592
Where would I go about finding the average? Do you think I could do an east/west pricing breakdown to make it more fair?

Go to fedex.com, usps.com and ups.com and start punching in weights & zip codes. Or find their rate charts.

cdifoto wrote in post #11571025
Go to fedex.com, usps.com and ups.com and start punching in weights & zip codes. Or find their rate charts.

Just to chime in don't forget the costs for materials to ship and the time overhead