Official Voting Tally: Keep it the way it is: 2
Change to a flat rate: 0
Currently I've set up a bracketed shipping. It is as follows:
US: $5 + $1 per item
Canada: $8 + $1 per item
World: $10 + $3 per item
But then I began to wonder. Would this make more sense:
US: $6 flat
Canada: $9 flat
World: $12 flat
All up to the quantity of 5 (how many orders would possibly need more than 5 anyways?).
Would I be able to offset my costs with a simple flat system such as this? Any potential positives or negatives? Would it make more sense to just make the US flat, and keep Canada and the rest of the world bracketed? Would I be better off doing a 1-3 shirt = ___, 4-6 shirt = ____, 7-9 = ____ kinda thing?
Thanks!
Last edited by guest5779; January 4th, 2007 at 11:52 PM.
Positives: Encourages people to buy more since with every shirt they buy the price effectively goes down
Negatives: People don't think that much
Positives: People don't think that much, so simple is good
Negatives: You could lose money on shipping (although you're not likely to lose more than you make)
Depending on the shopping cart you're using... I think most give you the ability to set different shipping amounts/rates depending on quantity ordered, and location it's being shipped to.
I wish Paypal would offer their "Pro" service in Canada already, so I could start using Mal's e-commerce.
Anyway, flat rate is easy for everyone, if you can manage it. The thing I find, is that t-shirts are such small-ticket items, that you really have to count EVERY penny. Even paying for a postal packet means giving up almost 10% of my profit per shirt.
I like the bracketed system you have. MAkes the most sense to me.
What, is Australia even farther behind than us? I find that hard to believe.
To be honest I'm not sure, but I would imagine so.
Although occasionally I remember that Canada is still part of the Commonwealth and I am agape (we are too... I just would have thought Canada would have left decades ago).
Keep it the way it is. I think you will get more single t-shirt sales than multiple, so the cheaper the first pricing bracket (within reason), the better.
Keep it the way it is. I think you will get more single t-shirt sales than multiple, so the cheaper the first pricing bracket (within reason), the better.
I'd agree. While I like flat rate shipping (because if I can't find two or three shirts worth buying it's often not worth the international shipping), I think a lot of orders will be for one shirt and the one shirt orders may feel like they're being ripped off if it's a flat rate.
You might even think of having a pricing bracket like this .. 1 shirt = __, 2-4 = __, 5 or more = __.
It would keep the single shirt price low, and it might encourage someone to buy more than 1 if they think they are getting a good deal on flat rate shipping.
For an example, my husband only buys graphic novels from places that offer flat rate shipping on multiples.. Not t-shirts, but you get the idea.
You might even think of having a pricing bracket like this .. 1 shirt = __, 2-4 = __, 5 or more = __.
It would keep the single shirt price low, and it might encourage someone to buy more than 1 if they think they are getting a good deal on flat rate shipping.
For an example, my husband only buys graphic novels from places that offer flat rate shipping on multiples.. Not t-shirts, but you get the idea.
Haha, I see what your saying. The biggest problem is the expotential costs of shipping overseas. It just explodes around 4-5 shirts, literally.
I'll have to look at it a bit closer. 6-9-12 is kinda catchy, but I can definitely see where someone might be put off by $6 shipping. $9 and $12 are average, so that's no real biggie per se.
Flat shipping... yes or no? 
