Re: shipping costs

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Re: shipping costs

From Nicholas on 27 Jan '99
replying to shipping costs posted by Karl

>Hello. I am currently working on designing a web site for my new business, which is selling mobile home/manufactured housing parts and supplies. The only mental hurdle I haven't cleared yet though, is the shipping costs for some of the heavier items. Does anyone have any thoughts, or know of any sites/businesses that seem to be successful selling their (perhaps larger and heavier)products over the internet, despite the possible hinderance of expensive shipping costs? Thanks very much for any input.

It's a numbers question, answered with a calculator or spreadsheet.

Assuming you're in the U.S., shipping heavy goods suggests:

1. Negotiating with UPS. They not only have the regular commercial
ground rate, but "Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4" for volume shippers.
Don't tell them I told you, it's supposed to be a secret.

2. UPS "Hundred Weight," aka CWT.

3. Never pay retail to a commercial LTL "Less than truckload"
shipper. There are all kinds of ins and outs to work around
the "official" federal tariffs. Most volume shippers pay
truckers less than 50% of tariff.

And crunch those numbers...

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>>Hello. I am currently working on designing a web site for my new business, which is selling mobile home/manufactured housing parts and supplies. The only mental hurdle I haven't cleared yet though, is the shipping costs for some of the heavier items. Does anyone have any thoughts, or know of any sites/businesses that seem to be successful selling their (perhaps larger and heavier)products over the internet, despite the possible hinderance of expensive shipping costs? Thanks very much for any input. > >It's a numbers question, answered with a calculator or spreadsheet. > >Assuming you're in the U.S., shipping heavy goods suggests: > >1. Negotiating with UPS. They not only have the regular commercial >ground rate, but "Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4" for volume shippers. >Don't tell them I told you, it's supposed to be a secret. > >2. UPS "Hundred Weight," aka CWT. > >3. Never pay retail to a commercial LTL "Less than truckload" >shipper. There are all kinds of ins and outs to work around >the "official" federal tariffs. Most volume shippers pay >truckers less than 50% of tariff. > >And crunch those numbers...