Most people love the convenience of online shopping but hate the shipping and handling fees associated with it. Can you think of time when you were at your computer ready to make an online purchase, saw the shipping charges and decided to go to a retail store later instead?
Many online store operators dislike the idea of paying for the shipping fees themselves. However, think of all the overhead costs associated with a brick-and-mortar retail business. From the high prices of retail leases, to the walk-in liability insurance, to sales staff salaries, to point-of-sale equipment; the list goes on and on. E-commerce businesses on the other hand have the opportunity to keep their costs down by operating from home or from low-price industrial areas. This cost advantage should be utilized to increase your chances of a successful online sale by eliminating potential obstacles.
Consider offering free shipping on standard ground deliveries. Some customers may want the option of express shipping, but let that become a voluntary increase in total price by them and not a forced one. If you have a number of small ticket items that could put you in the red, consider a reasonable price minimum, such as “FREE shipping for orders over $50”.
One Comment
free shipping… is the best thing to offer for customers.. cause customers won’t be worry for shipping fees just for the price of the items they want to buy..