E-Commerce Times Talkback

Re: Report: Shipping & Handling Costs Drive Away E-Shoppers
Posted by: ECT News 2001-06-11 12:46:49

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While many e-tailers have scaled back on promotional offerings such as free shipping in
recent months to cut costs, a study released Monday by Jupiter Media Metrix said that the
return of paid shipping is driving away Web shoppers.

"As profitability becomes increasingly important, it is perfectly understandable that
retailers would seek new sources of profit, including S&H charges," said Jupiter senior
analyst Ken Cassar. "However, the long-term interest of the retailer is best served if
its customers trust it."

Re: Report: Shipping & Handling Costs Drive Away E-Shoppers
Posted by: Roger 2001-06-14 08:27:04 In reply to: ECT News

Finding the balance is key, of course. But that includes offering low-cost shipping options. Just because Internet shopping can be a fast experience, doesn't mean it must be. If I order office supplies, I want to have the option of shipping it by a low-cost method, even if it takes two weeks. If I need a replacement computer peripheral overnight, then I want that option, too. Give me clearly defined options; don't default to next-day or 2nd-day delivery. Be reasonable: columbiahouse.com, following their mail order heritage, applies astronomical 'shipping and handling' charges (I'll never shop there again).

I, too, wonder why more localized shipping doesn't occur. My nearest Borders Books and Music store is 50 miles away, with US Mail between here and there usually a one-day affair. Why not ship my order from there? Their local in-store newsletter as stuffing would be a great tie-in. Because it makes sense (to me), I would be drawn back to their web site more often.

Re: Report: Shipping & Handling Costs Drive Away E-Shoppers
Posted by: Jack 2001-06-12 19:10:35 In reply to: ECT News

When I make a purchase on line or mail order, I expect to pay the same shipping charges that the retailer pays their transportation company. Handling charges should be part of the cost of doing business. What does "Handling Charge" mean? Does it include the cost of taking my order? Does it include the cost of processing my order? Does it include billing me and crediting my account? Again, "Handling Charge" should be part of the price of the product and not be associated with the shipping cost

Re: Report: Shipping & Handling Costs Drive Away E-Shoppers
Posted by: Jack 2001-06-12 18:59:39 In reply to: ECT News

When I make a purchase online or mail order, I expect to pay the same shipping charges that the retailer pays their transportation company. Handling charges should be part of the cost of doing business. What does "Handling Charge" mean? Does it include the cost of taking my order? Does it include the cost of processing my order? Does it include billing me and crediting my account? Again, "Handling Charge" should be part of the price of the product and not be associated with the shipping cost

Re: Report: Shipping & Handling Costs Drive Away E-Shoppers
Posted by: Thomas Elwell 2001-06-11 16:09:08 In reply to: ECT News

What baffles me is the lack of focus a lot of these e-commerce retailers have placed on their core business and have tried to run and finance every aspect of their business, including delivery.

As an example, here in Canada, Chapters.ca - an online retailer of books and such who have recently been sold to Indigo.ca. They cetralized their processing and distribution of orders and shipped all over the country at a tremendous cost to both themselves and their customers. Why wouldn't they fill orders from their store locations (that struggle for traffic) and then ship from there locally?

Re: Report: Shipping & Handling Costs Drive Away E-Shoppers
Posted by: Mark Robertson 2001-06-12 05:26:02 In reply to: Thomas Elwell

It is perfectly true. When medium level e-stores like exoticindiaart.com are shipping free to the US (all the way from India), why cannot larger stores based in the USA do it?

Re: Report: Shipping & Handling Costs Drive Away E-Shoppers
Posted by: Clint 2001-06-11 14:37:22 In reply to: ECT News

As a shopper, I don't expect e-tailers to charge nothing for shipping fees. I understand that when I order from home, there's a convenience factor to pay for.

But I do often question why they would relate to the dollar value of an item and not the weight. Some places have policies that seemingly would charge more in shipping for a $100 gift certificate than a $10 block of cement.

Re: Report: Shipping & Handling Costs Drive Away E-Shoppers
Posted by: A.J. Akoto 2001-06-11 14:36:44 In reply to: ECT News

If shipping and handling charges are based on weight of products, how does a retailer
account for additional weight resulting from packaging material?
Combination of different products will require different packaging requirements that cannot be
predicted on the front end.

Re: Report: Shipping & Handling Costs Drive Away E-Shoppers
Posted by: Dan B 2001-06-12 00:25:46 In reply to: A.J. Akoto

The smart e-tailer utilizes a warehouse management system that can accurately calculate the weight and number of pieces for a proposed web transaction. Once the total number of items is complete, the system will then determine the shipping costs, including packaging weight and any additional fees such as insurance, and feed this back to the consumer for finalization of the the transaction.

Re: Report: Shipping & Handling Costs Drive Away E-Shoppers
Posted by: Rich Coffman 2001-06-14 10:14:06 In reply to: Dan B

The subject thrust here is .."..costs drive away E-shoppers". This may be true to some degree,
but S&H costs have been around for years - witness catalog sales. The number one reason people buy anything on-line is for the convenience. If it were a 'cost' issue everyone would buy at Wal-Mart. However, Wal-Mart is not the only success on the block.
One other comment found in USA today quotes Jupiter Media Metrix as saying that on-line retailing in the next five years will increase astronomically. Is S&H driving away that volume?