Postage when shopping online

[UK2004]

How do you prefer to pay for postage online, in setting up my e-commerce site this is really proving a problem for me to decide which way to go, would be realyl grateful for your time if peope can indicate above which method they prefer and makes them feel that they are getting value for money.

Thanks.

[Eagle]

Doesn't it depend on the product?...

[UK2004]

Assuming it is normal online shopping, ie clothes, televisions, radios, mobile phones, food any other stuff people normally shop for.

[Robert]

My cart works by the weight of the total order. So none of the above.

[ewan]

My store's shipping system is entirely weight dependant with four different shipping choices and numerous pricing steps. This is for reasonably heavy electronic and mechanical components though. For general stuff like mobile phones, mp3 players, clothes etc as you have mentioned I would probably expect a fixed or free after a certain order value shipping cost. I wouldn't mind if it was weight-based, but as most of these goods aren't too heavy, it shouldn't really matter.

As Eagle's mentioned it does depend entirely upon the product.

[cjd]

We have one price and only one service - guaranteed next day delivery - it doesn't matter how many items you buy it's still one price.

What you charge depends on your costs, your product pricing (you may absorb some p&p in your product price or you may make most of your margin in the p&p price - a ebay tactic).

I suggest you first establish your costs for your products then devise a plan.

[UK2004]

Hi,

We know our product pricing, my problem is many of the cases we will be sending for ipods are mearly 2.50 for recorded deliveyr but some speakers weigh 5kg which with City Link's standard pricing is around 11 pounds, we are setting up ana ccount though and they are ringing me with regard to discount for volumes, we are going to be pricing things to cut many of the big players in our business so margins are small, I just want to have a postage strategy that keeps our customers happy, one of our competitors charges between 6 and 10 pounds for delivery increasing as you spend more which i think is crazy!

I thought of epr product postage cost but that could end up big for some people, then I thought of doing it by weight but setting that up may be time consuming andf some people may get some speakers see at checkout that they cost 7.50 to deliver and be put off.

Any more avice I would be grateful for, we are about three weeks from launch and I'm getting stressed about the whole postage and packing thing!

[Astaroth]

As a buyer I can get annoyed with a per item cost - I buy a computer and it tells me the P&P will be £5 and I then decide my old mouse is a bit tatty and add a mouse and suddenly the price of p&p is £10.

I prefer the p&p to be "free" - then you know you dont have to factor it in. Next best is fixed fee and clearly shown on the site so you can factor it. Next best is by weight as though you cant factor in how much it will be you at least know it is fair. Last is flat rate per item.

With more of a business perspective I would have thought in the B2C market fixed fee with free over a certain sale value is a good strategy assuming p&p isnt £20 but someone could add a £1 greeting card and suddenly get free p&p.