The Truth Behind the Myth: Free Shipping
Free shipping always sounds awesome. We all look for it when shopping but there's one things you may not have realized...
Shipping isn't free. Someone pays.
For example. I do not offer free shipping unless it's something that can be sent with a stamp such as stickers and that is how I can keep my prices competitive AND make sure my customers and buyers aren't overpaying.
See, here's the truth. When you see "free shipping" it's most likely, though not always, the cost of shipping has been rolled into the price of the items. What that means for you is that you are actually paying for shipping. Twice.
We'll use one of my coffee mugs as an example. I sell my mugs at $14.00 and a flat shipping charge so no matter how many of something you buy, the shipping remains the same. I could offer free shipping but I would have to add the lowest shipping cost I could get into the price now making my mugs 21.00 I buy a lot of stuff I could probably do without but maybe you'd want to buy 2 mugs.
At 14.00 each = 28.00
6.00 Shipping
Total: 34.00 + tax if applicable
If I made them free shipping it would look a little like this.
21.00 each = 42.00
Total: 42.00 + tax if applicable
The savings isn't huge but it would put an additional 8.00 in my pocket as pure profit. While I would like that part, I would feel icky knowing that a buyer lost 8.00 when the simpler and more transparent way is better for the buyer.
Shipping to the farthest zone, after the largest postal rate hike in years, a 4 oz package going to the east cost from me in the southwest is 6.14 Yes, you read that correctly. It was a very large increase with very little warning.
I hope I made sense in trying to convey the message but bottom line it:
Nothing is free. Someone, anyone is going to have to pay shipping. It's all in how you look at it and once you know how free shipping works, you have more knowledge because let's face it, every nickel (since they got rid of pennies) counts. For both you, the buyer and me, the seller.
Trust and transparency are the two main components of the way I've run all my businesses for over 30 years. Add in quality products, excellent customer service and the willingness/ability to help your client even if they are wrong.
So if you are a buyer reading this, I hope you have a greater understanding on free vs not free shipping and can make the informed decision. I've bought things I wanted knowing full well I was overpaying for shipping. As an e-commerce merchant, I understand. I try to seek out small business that are utterly transparent about their pricing and shipping policies.