I am looking for advice on shipping and fees. I am located in Canada and I have
noticed that when I have automatic invoicing on the shipping fees a grossly short
of what the actual costs are. But when I do not have the automatic invoicing
on my sales go down drastically, this could be just coincidence but I don't
think so. I had 8 sales last week with automated invoicing on which is my biggest
week in number of sales, but I lost about $20 in shipping costs which for a small
store really eats into the profit margin. I do have in my terms (which I know
most people do not read) that if shipping is more then the buyer is responsible
but you tend to get push back when the system says that 2 mini figure will cost
$4 dollars to ship but they have to go in package mail because they are over
an inch thick due to helmets or back packs which then costs $16 dollars. I also
do not want to get negative reviews so I try to keep my customers happy often
at the expense of my store.
I am looking for advice on shipping and fees. I am located in Canada and I have
noticed that when I have automatic invoicing on the shipping fees a grossly short
of what the actual costs are.
There's a setting in each Shipping method for an additional % of size and
weight iirc.
I think I added a 5% extra to all of them.
And it's not a problem if you lose a buck from time to time, while it's
a major quality of life for the buyers and you.
But when I do not have the automatic invoicing
on my sales go down drastically, this could be just coincidence but I don't
think so.
It's not a coincidence. In 2000 slow manual invoicing was a thing, but as
of right now people want to see the final price, click and pay. It's just
normal.
As of today (or the last 10 years or such), manual invoicing will absolutely
decrease your sales.
I had 8 sales last week with automated invoicing on which is my biggest
week in number of sales, but I lost about $20 in shipping costs which for a small
store really eats into the profit margin. I do have in my terms (which I know
most people do not read) that if shipping is more then the buyer is responsible
but you tend to get push back when the system says that 2 mini figure will cost
$4 dollars to ship but they have to go in package mail because they are over
an inch thick due to helmets or back packs which then costs $16 dollars. I also
do not want to get negative reviews so I try to keep my customers happy often
at the expense of my store.
Much more, automatic invoicing will avoid 99.9999% of NPBs and such problems.
I'd say:
* be sure to update the prices (like every year when it "evolves" - increases),
* adjust the % margin (see above),
* be ready to lose sometimes - who cares for bits,
* do NOT wind back to manual invoices - but always have a manual method in case
automatic can't decide (like for stickers, some figs and instructions...)
I am looking for advice on shipping and fees. I am located in Canada and I have
noticed that when I have automatic invoicing on the shipping fees a grossly short
of what the actual costs are.
There's a setting in each Shipping method for an additional % of size and
weight iirc.
I think I added a 5% extra to all of them.
And it's not a problem if you lose a buck from time to time, while it's
a major quality of life for the buyers and you.
But when I do not have the automatic invoicing
on my sales go down drastically, this could be just coincidence but I don't
think so.
It's not a coincidence. In 2000 slow manual invoicing was a thing, but as
of right now people want to see the final price, click and pay. It's just
normal.
As of today (or the last 10 years or such), manual invoicing will absolutely
decrease your sales.
I had 8 sales last week with automated invoicing on which is my biggest
week in number of sales, but I lost about $20 in shipping costs which for a small
store really eats into the profit margin. I do have in my terms (which I know
most people do not read) that if shipping is more then the buyer is responsible
but you tend to get push back when the system says that 2 mini figure will cost
$4 dollars to ship but they have to go in package mail because they are over
an inch thick due to helmets or back packs which then costs $16 dollars. I also
do not want to get negative reviews so I try to keep my customers happy often
at the expense of my store.
Much more, automatic invoicing will avoid 99.9999% of NPBs and such problems.
I'd say:
* be sure to update the prices (like every year when it "evolves" - increases),
* adjust the % margin (see above),
* be ready to lose sometimes - who cares for bits,
* do NOT wind back to manual invoices - but always have a manual method in case
automatic can't decide (like for stickers, some figs and instructions...)
Instant checkout is really difficult to set up in Canada.
For example:
I can send a package (8"x8"x8" - 5lb) to Calgary for $9.83
That same package will cost me $21.01 to Fort Mackay
While both cities are in Alberta there is a difference of $11.18 in shipping
cost and besides that not all shipping companies will deliver to remote areas.
Or if I look at different provinces:
$11.04 to Vancouver/Regina/Winnipeg
$16.27 to Toronto
$12.65 to Montreal
$15.99 to St Johns
I am looking for advice on shipping and fees. I am located in Canada and I have
noticed that when I have automatic invoicing on the shipping fees a grossly short
of what the actual costs are.
There's a setting in each Shipping method for an additional % of size and
weight iirc.
I think I added a 5% extra to all of them.
And it's not a problem if you lose a buck from time to time, while it's
a major quality of life for the buyers and you.
But when I do not have the automatic invoicing
on my sales go down drastically, this could be just coincidence but I don't
think so.
It's not a coincidence. In 2000 slow manual invoicing was a thing, but as
of right now people want to see the final price, click and pay. It's just
normal.
As of today (or the last 10 years or such), manual invoicing will absolutely
decrease your sales.
I had 8 sales last week with automated invoicing on which is my biggest
week in number of sales, but I lost about $20 in shipping costs which for a small
store really eats into the profit margin. I do have in my terms (which I know
most people do not read) that if shipping is more then the buyer is responsible
but you tend to get push back when the system says that 2 mini figure will cost
$4 dollars to ship but they have to go in package mail because they are over
an inch thick due to helmets or back packs which then costs $16 dollars. I also
do not want to get negative reviews so I try to keep my customers happy often
at the expense of my store.
Much more, automatic invoicing will avoid 99.9999% of NPBs and such problems.
I'd say:
* be sure to update the prices (like every year when it "evolves" - increases),
* adjust the % margin (see above),
* be ready to lose sometimes - who cares for bits,
* do NOT wind back to manual invoices - but always have a manual method in case
automatic can't decide (like for stickers, some figs and instructions...)
Instant checkout is really difficult to set up in Canada.
For example:
I can send a package (8"x8"x8" - 5lb) to Calgary for $9.83
That same package will cost me $21.01 to Fort Mackay
While both cities are in Alberta there is a difference of $11.18 in shipping
cost and besides that not all shipping companies will deliver to remote areas.
Or if I look at different provinces:
$11.04 to Vancouver/Regina/Winnipeg
$16.27 to Toronto
$12.65 to Montreal
$15.99 to St Johns
Make an average of your customers' location and set up a rough price - like
here $14.00 or $15.00, and let it be.
I am looking for advice on shipping and fees. I am located in Canada and I have
noticed that when I have automatic invoicing on the shipping fees a grossly short
of what the actual costs are.
The 'automatic invoicing' is entirely dependent on you setting this up
correctly. The only person shorting you on the charges is you. Any shared settings
you stumbled upon or were offered up by BrickLink are not checked, updated, or
guaranteed.
Start from scratch, learn everything about it, and work from there. Plus, I am
fairly sure Instant Checkout doesn't work so well with Canada. The only location
it can determine is a buyer's country: not province, state, or postal code.
Start from scratch, learn everything about it, and work from there. Plus, I am
fairly sure Instant Checkout doesn't work so well with Canada. The only location
it can determine is a buyer's country: not province, state, or postal code.
indeed, its only good for stores that dont have to charge sales tax and for items
under 2cm which can go via lettermail. (and parcle to but only if you have flat
rate shipping)
I am looking for advice on shipping and fees. I am located in Canada and I have
noticed that when I have automatic invoicing on the shipping fees a grossly short
of what the actual costs are. But when I do not have the automatic invoicing
on my sales go down drastically, this could be just coincidence but I don't
think so. I had 8 sales last week with automated invoicing on which is my biggest
week in number of sales, but I lost about $20 in shipping costs which for a small
store really eats into the profit margin.
Your store is far from being big enough to get any conclusion as this. Your store
is way too small (yet ). Indeed, even my store is too small and I won't
get any conclusion about sales,....
Sales are known to be high for one week and down for its next week.
I do have in my terms (which I know
most people do not read) that if shipping is more then the buyer is responsible
This is in general a very bad idea. Buyer decided to commit to purchase based
on the shipping costs. You can cancel if they don't agree to pay extra, but
you have wasted their time and they didn't have a good experience for sure.
I would not use instant check-out until I learn how it works.
but you tend to get push back when the system says that 2 mini figure will cost
$4 dollars to ship but they have to go in package mail because they are over
an inch thick due to helmets or back packs which then costs $16 dollars.
Almost all minifigs that come with helmet or backpack can be shipped with bubble
mailer. Each minifig has packing dimensions and if they are less than 1.7cm,
they can be shipped with mailer. Period.
I also do not want to get negative reviews so I try to keep my customers happy often
at the expense of my store.
Canada, Alberta
France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
USA, Illinois
). Indeed, even my store is too small and I won't