[meteorite-list] Shipping theft IE HIGH CHARGES

From: Ron Hartman <RNHARTMA_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:29:53 2004
Message-ID: <007301c377f7$b0975100$3f34908c_at_RHARTMAN1>

My two cents worth (and personal off-list replies always appreciated at
RHartman_at_meteorite1.com)

Buy items from many businesses, for example, Edmund Scientific Company, etc.
you will pay a rather substantial percentage for S&H and with a fairly high
starting amount. Edmund's minimum is now $ 9.00 for any item under $50.00.
15% is not unreasonable to see in the commercial world. The handling charge
includes box (which will cost from 25 cts to the better part of a dollar
out of your net; filler (peanuts, foam, etc.,) tape, and, of course the time
you spend packaging or paying someone to do it for you. This is a real and
meaningful business cost. Also, your cost of actually going to the
postoffice or carrier's office, and all the rest of it. This is especially
true when low profit margin items are involved.

Given business practices in the real world, S&H policies of meteorite
dealers, and collectors as well, as a group, tend to be surprisingly
lenient. Most (myself included, so far at least) usually charge actual
shipping only, and in many instances (as I do often with International
clients) even less that the actual shipping charges, even though it is more
time consuming to ship internationally.

A real business needs to follow all of its costs. If handling expenses are
not included as a part of the "markup", then some must be reflected in S&H
costs, and this is a reasonable and equitable method of operating. I do
agree that a small inexpensive chip does not need a priority box at $ 3.95
when you can use a bubble envelope which costs you only 12 cts in quantity.

In addition to charging only actual postage costs, I do often use
first-class for small items as that brings costs usually to dollar or so,
and it is about as fast.

For larger orders, our membrane suspension boxes, for example, we use UPS
ground, or if speed is essential, 3 day, 2 day or overnight. For these, or
meteorites, UPS (or FedEx / others) is safer that the postal system. You
can track everything and have proof of delivery in the price. Insurance is
only a few cents rather than over a dollar per hundred dollar value. I've
often wondered whether one could even collect on a lost meteorite from the
postal system given the conditions required for refund. Perhaps someone
could relate their experiences. I would appreciate hearing that.
(RHartman_at_meteorite1.com). I'll most likely miss your reply if you hit
"reply" to the list.

Those of us who do sell meteorites often operate out of our homes and do not
have a paid staff ,or in some instances are to some degree supported by way
of space or facilities by the museum or educational institution with which
we are associated. We, in effect, do not encounter many of the additional
expenses that a business might have, and hence we can afford to give our
clients this break. We also may not add in the cost of our time in
running a business and that too benefits the customer. We are in a sense
spoiling our customers! We are being very kind to them, and that is not a
bad thing as we are a close knit and very specialized (and highly
intelligent! ... tis true!!) and unique group of people.

My first internet experiences as a collector brought me to Mike Farmer's
website some time ago. I would click a e-mail request to him at 2 or 3 in
the morning and receive a reply right away. Then we would email back and
forth and complete a deal. I'm impressed at the time persons such as Mike
(as only one example) spend, doing the business part after a long day, and
always promptly sending out a well-packaged item and (with Mike) ALWAYS with
a very professional looking typed label.

Ron Hartman
www.meteorite1.com
www.membranebox.com


----- Original Message -----
From: "John Gwilliam" <jkg_at_theriver.com>
To: "Michael Farmer" <meteoritehunter_at_comcast.net>; <Impactika@aol.com>;
<meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2003 7:50 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Shipping theft IE HIGH CHARGES


> Anne, Mike and List,
> I agree with Mike, it is wasteful to send items of small value (let's say
> $25.00) via Priority mail. However, when the value of the shipped item is
> higher than that, Priority is the safest way to go.
>
> Let me explain what I mean by "safest."
>
> A few years ago, I shipped an item to a first time buyer via 1st Class at
> his request. After a week or so, I started receiving daily emails from
him
> that he hadn't received the item yet. After several more days, he
demanded
> a refund of his money. If I remember correctly, the item sold for around
> $90.00 and had cost me $60.00. To keep my Ebay customer happy, I had to
> send him a refund or face the possibility of receiving negative
> feedback. After that, I made it a policy to ship all items valued over
> $25.00 via USPS Priority with a Delivery Confirmation. Using this system,
> I can track the shipment of the package.
> A month or so later, the same Ebay bidder won another item which was worth
> about $100.00. The description in my auction clearly stated that I
> shipping on that item would be via USPS Priority. I received his payment,
> shipped the item Priority ( with Delivery Confirmation) and thought I was
> done with it. The buyer sent me an email a week or so later..."where's my
> package?" I told him I'd sent it and he went into his previous routine
> about wanting a refund if he didn't receive the package. I went to the
> USPS website and tracked the package. It had been delivered to him four
> days prior. I figured he'd received the package and would now be
> happy. But, a few days later, I get another email from him and he's now
> demanding a refund. His email included his phone number so I called
> him. I let him rant and rave for a minute or so and then told him I had
> proof that the package had been delivered to him three days after I had
> shipped it. After a few tongue tied moments he said he'd get back with
> me. Later, he did call me back and say that his wife had received the
> package a week before, had opened it, put it on "the wrong desk" and
> neglected to tell him about it.
>
> Shipping Priority + Delivery Confirmation saved me $100.00.
>
> Now, very few dishonest, thank goodness for that, but I've had enough
> problems similar to the one above that I ship Priority to people I haven't
> dealt with before and/or if the value of the item justifies it.
>
> Best,
>
> John
>
> At 10:41 PM 9/9/03 -0700, Michael Farmer wrote:
> >Anne and all, that is a waste, tiny items shipped priority? I have found
> >over the last 7 years of doing this that first class almost always
arrives
> >just as timely.
> >Of course, as long as you send that way and charge that then it is ok. I
> >am talking more about the people who charge one rate and send at a lower
> >weight. I have had several emails from clients of mine who discuss this
> >about other dealers.
> >Mike Farmer
> >>----- Original Message -----
> >>From: <mailto:Impactika_at_aol.com>Impactika@aol.com
> >>To: <mailto:meteoritehunter_at_comcast.net>meteoritehunter@comcast.net ;
>
>><mailto:meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>meteorite-list@meteoritecentra
> >>l.com
> >>Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2003 10:35 PM
> >>Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Shipping theft IE HIGH CHARGES
> >>
> >>In a message dated 9/9/2003 11:09:16 PM Mountain Daylight Time,
> >><mailto:meteoritehunter_at_comcast.net>meteoritehunter@comcast.net writes:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>>I just saw one dealer who is on this list, selling a 1 gram Taza stone
> >>>and adding $3.85 shipping charge. It costs .45 cents to ship and maybe
> >>>.20 cents for the envelope. NET gain for the dealer $3.00 profit on the
> >>>shipping alone.
> >>
> >>
> >>unless it is shipped by Priority Mail then the dealer is making $0 on
> >>shipping. I don't know about you but I ship practically everything in
the
> >>States by Priority Mail, safer and quicker.
> >>BTW: I did not take the time to go search Ebay to see who you are
talking
> >>about, just a tad busy right now.
> >>
> >>Anne M. Black
> >>www. IMPACTIKA.com
> >>IMPACTIKA_at_aol.com
> >>IMCA #2356
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________
> Meteorite-list mailing list
> Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
> http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Received on Wed 10 Sep 2003 08:00:19 PM PDT