FREE shipping is it really free...I dont think sooooooo

[JaBek1]

If memory serves, there's an old saying that states "there is no such thing as a free lunch."

As with everything in business, it is the buyer that must pay for everything.

There are many old sayings that, unfortunately, fall into the realm of fallacy. For example: "The customer is always right." Actually, that is not true. However, If you want the customer to spend his money buying your goods or services it probably isn't prudent to tell the customer that he/she is wrong.

I've always liked the one about "practice makes perfect." No it doesn't. Practice makes permanent. Only perfect practice makes perfect and I'm not sure anything perfect exists.

[JB7339]

"The customer is always right."

I have never believed that - I have always said that I will go the extra mile for my customers and do as much as it takes to make them happy, but they are not always right. (yeah you don't often tell them that out loud though) lol

[mainlypostcards]

Shipping is not free and this is a topic that comes up on different sites every now and again.

Some people say they prefer to offer "free shipping", because it excludes any confusion about shipping charges.

My view on the matter is as follows:

I mostly sell postcards - In the UK I can ship 5 cards for the same basic postage and I can ship 3 cards abroad for my basic postage rate.

If I were to offer free postage, I would have to include the cost of overseas postage to my item prices, which would triple them in some instances and any UK buyers would get a rough deal straight away. Also, anyone buying 2 postcards at the same time, would be paying twice my postage charge.

It is much better to keep the item price realistic and have a reasonable p&p charge, with the possibility of combining items to reduce p&p costs. I will only charge my customers the actual cost of the stamps + a fixed amount for packaging/handling regardless of the number of items they have purchased.

I am not even sure about offers like "£x.xx for each additional item". This could also lead to a huge "profit" for the seller.

It's absolutely fine with me that a seller adds a small amount to the actual cost of the stamps to cover packaging/handling/petrol to go to PO/etc to the final p&p charge, but p&p should remain realistic and reflects the actual cost incurred by the seller.

[vally18]

I too enjoyed how Adrumi captured the point so very well! It was quite clever and funny and it hit home perfectly.
And thank you Salomina, for truly understanding and validating my frustrations.
Warmest regards,
Vally

[NuttyKrafts]

I treat on line shopping just like real life shopping - you need to shop around for the best prices. You have mentioned Amazon - here in the U.K. I think we get free shipping on everything now ( it usd to be for orders of £15 and over) but if buying from amazon marketplace then the shipping is expensive. I really hate being ripped off by excessive postage, and won't buy such items; for example I have seen a promo DVD for sale with p&p at £3.50 - thats U.K. to U.K.

I do offer free p&p for certain items on the 'other side' simply because was being marked down on the DSRs for shipping costs! Even as they were at cost plus 5p or 10p for packaging! Seems like 75p is too much to pay for something being posted as a large letter ( 69p for a stamp) in a padded envelope ( costs 5p).

Here I charge reasonable postage rates and can offer a decent discount for multiple purchases.