I have taken a different approach. To me, free shipping is a "gimmick", just as "buyers premiums" are. I eliminate the gimmicks, and just focus on *treating my buyers EXACTLY as I want to be treated when I am the customer (accurate descriptions, gorilla-proof packaging, actual cost of shipping or under, etc).*. I also do almost zero paid advertising or printing of any kind, and I use all those savings to treat my customers even better.
My goal is to keep my existing customers (and have them provide great "word of mouth" that finds me lots of new customers at zero advertising cost), so that I don't have to endlessly find new customers to replace the old ones I lost. It might not work for others, but it works for me. On Wed, Aug 6, 2014 at 2:14 AM, Tom Martin < [email protected]> wrote: > i am not sure what you just where speaking about.... Ive had a memorabilia > business , both bick and morter , mail order , wholessale, retail and > manufacturing since 1977 when I started there was no internet we advertied > in collector magazine like ffilm collectosr world, stalog. classic Image > sthe Big Reel..and many more My ad budget was sometimes 100K a year but > then I had larger costs likeoverhead, employees and we also adverstised n > Local papers Radio and TV a spot on local NBC Carson was 200.00 for a 30 > sec spot... we also printed catalogs and mailed them my largest mailing was > 10,000 but we charged 1-2.00 for them // then the internet and ebay came.. > I think we 1st went on in 1999 well I also manufactured items and I did > Huge tradeshows,at the javitts center in NYC and at the Mcormic place in > chicago average cost was 4,000 and hotel tavel etc.. after a series of > things like defending a rademark close to 40K and paying off a 100k in > chap13 reorganiazation , paying off my house and then a divorce I found the > indutsry had collapsed esp Comics as there was just to much gred and False > collectable... those made with percieved scarsity but where just cranked > out crap... then I saw a shaleout as several of my huge customers went > down.. I supplyed suncoat picture, media lay and a few others that stopped > paying vendors ..Musicland sam Goody owned them...Luckily they paid me > 30,000.00 they owed me before folding as most BIg companys pay on 30 days > net terms.. Universal paid me by letter of credit as that compant eats > small vendors for appiizers and I refused to givethem terms a average order > was 80,000.00 so letter of credit means you present the docs to bank when > the truck picks up and they release the funds,, its the only way I felt > they would honor the deals... Bi companys have BIG turnover and its hard to > fnd peopel inside that honor deals... Berie swartz aka Frank Ludlow who > made commercail stills asked me once wht do you del with these big guy as > they can take you down witha few bad invoices.. it was true I saw lots of > guys go down... why?? greed... he said stay with MOM and pops they pay > prompt and you spread the risk around..so true I tell nebies this as > everyone wantsthe big deal ,expansion and all but when things get slow the > big cost are still there... Better to sya effcient and small you can always > expand,, the idea is how to survive thru evevry kind of blow... all these > get rich quicl schemes that bilk investors are because very few like the > long haul... and building a company.. they all want to cash in and get > out... I like the old school way... lke Mary see pies in san farn.. they > uses good materials and have integrity in service and ingreiaents,, I think > free shipping is fine If I am paying he shiping it is Free shipping But its > a ploy ebay uses as it makes peopel buy more impulse..fact is your paying > for it its just included with the cost of the item.. sounds better then 500 > item and 500 shipping..10,00 postpaid free shipping...its still 500 > shipping now if someoen can sell a 5000 item with shipping for 500 then > Ill be impressed.. But it a person sells a 5.00 poster and it costs 5.00 > to ship there is no way he can sell it at all unless he gives it away free > and supplies all the materials to ship and no cost.. society has played > with peopel minds with decption tricks on home loans , car loand and all > they think its marjeting ,,ITd not its swindling and while peopel get bait > and switch.. I try to deleiever more then they ask for as a way to build > customers sure some peope you will never please as they get a idea in there > mind what they want..thats not realistic..but I know whay I was able to be > here this long was because Of my customers that I look at like family and > frieds and they have returned so much love, help and understanding whenIve > fallen and had nothing and was disorganized and sick..so what i would tell > eveyone is just ne yourself and the ones that understand will also be fair > and treat you right..Mel blanc told me ... there are some good guys and > some not so good guys,,try to network with the good guys and all will be > well... and he was dead on...Godnite Kids.. Ill be 58 next week I cant > believe im still here thank You God ! > > > > > > > On 2014-08-06 01:05, David wrote: > >> I think using eBay as the benchmark for doing business is not good >> analogy. When you choose to do business inside someone else's business >> then of course they will charge you for that privilege and yes that is >> going to have to be passed on; it is no different to shopping mall >> owners charging the shop owners rent, and taking a percentage of your >> take and another fee for promotional activity and so on - they bring >> the customers to you, they want you to pay for that and frankly that >> seems fair to me. >> >> Let me ask this (general) question: How much money do you (the eBay >> seller) spend on advertising and other promotional activity? I'd >> venture to suggest almost all who exclusively run their business on >> eBay spend NOTHING on advertising and marketing. If you built your own >> online shop (not a home made one) and then spent roughly each month >> what you used to give up in fees to eBay on a proper advertising and >> marketing campaign there is a high probability you would generate >> sales and get to keep that customer as a permanent client to do future >> marketing to (for free). >> >> Of course there is no free ride, yes someone has to pay - but the >> consumer doesn't really care if it's you who pays, he just knows if >> feels he has saved a dollar or two on the way to spending a dollar or >> two with you then it's a good shopping experience and he is happy. >> >> The quote you use and variations of it: "Sales is vanity, profit is >> sanity, cash is reality” comes from 1989, before the internet changed >> the way business is done. Indeed profit is the key but ask yourself: >> was the bricks and mortar shop keeper from the 80s who had to do his >> own marketing, his own advertising, pay his rent, his staff, his >> utilities, packaging, deposit the takings at the bank, pay clearance >> fees etc more or less profitable than the eBay seller of today who has >> little or no overheads in comparison but may have to take less margin >> in order to compete with every other seller? >> >> Remember being a poster seller on eBay is like being a fast food >> outlet on a 50m street of 100 fast food outlets - all with the same >> store front, remind me what your point of difference is again? >> >> So, for Alan he may not have the advertising might of eBay, but by >> offering freight free (on say minimum order size) perhaps free >> insurance or whatever that might give him the edge he needs, I >> certainly don't think it deceives the customer at all, it gives the >> customer what they need - a positive shopping experience. >> >> David Rew >> >> Tom Martin wrote on 6/08/2014 2:13 PM: >> >>> free shiooing?? there is NO free shipping as some has to pay... >>> eitherYOU or the buyer all ebay has done is deceive sellers and buyers as >>> either the seller gets less... or the shipping is Rolled into ( amortized) >>> into the sale.. what a JOKE... ebay make out as they take a fee for the >>> shipping charges... which to me should be illlegal.. >>> so when You sell your poster... If you want 10 and it costs 30% with >>> paypal, listing and endof sale fees thats 3.00 if its 8.00 to ship you are >>> a a give away the poster... you needto pay your costs to put tape on a TUBE >>> and time to wrap and foam and padding costs,,, so you need to make the sale >>> either higher so the shipping can be part of the sale as a cost,,, and if >>> is a 300 poster you can figure you giving away 10% or 30.00 in profit and >>> netting 270 - cost of poster say 100 so you have a net profit of 70.00 on a >>> 300 gross sale after costs.. now consider this a grocerystore make 3% after >>> costs but they do 20 million gross a month whats 3% of 20 million More then >>> I can think of at moment but heft profit margin..." Volume is vanity , >>> Profit is sanity" >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On 2014-08-05 19:17, Alan Adler wrote: >>> >>>> I always have charged insurance in the past. >>>> >>>> but the shipping costs, rules and country limits are all over the >>>> place these days and changing. >>>> >>>> Makes me just want to give free shipping and insurance and sort it out >>>> without bothering the buyer. >>>> >>>> I know it will cost me something - but on my new website, the toughest >>>> thing to get programmed is a shopping cart plug in that actually and >>>> correctly handles all the options. >>>> >>>> Alan >>>> >>>> On Aug 5, 2014, at 2:57 PM, Susan <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> For you dealers out there shipping posters, do you require a >>>>> customers to take insurance on the poster they have bought from you? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Sue >>>>> www.hollywoodposterframes.com [1] >>>>> >>>>> Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2014 07:32:30 +1000 >>>>>> From: [email protected] >>>>>> Subject: Re: [MOPO] Free Shipping? >>>>>> To: [email protected] >>>>>> >>>>>> Why not offer free shipping? >>>>>> >>>>>> Postage is often a consideration when a buying is contemplating a >>>>>> purchase. Remember it is entirely possible/likely the buyer is >>>>>> >>>>> pricing >>>>> >>>>>> similar/same products elsewhere, free shipping can make the >>>>>> >>>>> decision >>>>> >>>>>> very easy. >>>>>> >>>>>> I offer free shipping as standard on all purchases over $399, as >>>>>> >>>>> standard. >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> David >>>>>> >>>>>> Alan Adler wrote on 6/08/2014 6:51 AM: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Howdy all. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Am considering Free Shipping and Insurance for all sales on my >>>>>>> >>>>>> upcoming website. US and Intl. I will also be selling objects. Art. >>>>> Toys in boxes. Props. Wardrobe. So not all flats and tubes. Much of >>>>> the business is also foreign. >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> Any of you ecommerce mavins who use or have tried the free >>>>>>> >>>>>> option care to log in on your thoughts about it? Or buyers who have >>>>> ideas on the matter. Love to hear what you have to say. >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> Thanks in advance for your time. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Alan Adler >>>>>>> Museum of Mom and Pop Culture >>>>>>> Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com [2] >>>>>>> >>>>>>> ___________________________________________________________________ >>>>> >>>>>> How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Send a message addressed to: [email protected] >>>>>>> In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The author of this message is solely responsible for its >>>>>>> >>>>>> content. >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com [2] >>>>>> >>>>>> ___________________________________________________________________ >>>>> >>>>>> How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List >>>>>> >>>>>> Send a message addressed to: [email protected] >>>>>> In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L >>>>>> >>>>>> The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ------------------------- >>>>> >>>>> To unsubscribe from the MoPo-L list, click the following link: >>>>> >>>>> https://listserv.american.edu/scripts/wa-american.exe? >>>> SUBED1=MoPo-L&A=1 >>>> >>>>> [3] >>>>> >>>> >>>> ------------------------- >>>> >>>> To unsubscribe from the MoPo-L list, click the following link: >>>> >>>> https://listserv.american.edu/scripts/wa-american.exe?SUBED1=MoPo-L&A=1 >>>> [4] >>>> >>>> Links: >>>> ------ >>>> [1] http://www.hollywoodposterframes.com/ >>>> [2] http://www.filmfan.com/ >>>> [3] https://listserv.american.edu/scripts/wa-american.exe? >>>> SUBED1=MoPo-L&A=1 >>>> <https://listserv.american.edu/scripts/wa-american.exe?SUBED1=MoPo-L&A=1> >>>> [4] https://listserv.american.edu/scripts/wa-american.exe? >>>> SUBED1=MoPo-L&A=1 >>>> >>> >>> ---- >>> >>> Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com >>> ___________________________________________________________________ >>> How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List >>> Send a message addressed to: >>> [email protected] >>> In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L >>> The author of this message is >>> solely responsible for its content. >>> >> >> Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List >> Send a message addressed to: >> [email protected] >> In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L >> The author of this message is >> solely responsible for its content. >> > > ---- > > Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com > ___________________________________________________________________ > How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List > Send a message addressed to: > [email protected] > In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L > The author of this message is solely > responsible for its content. > -- Bruce Hershenson and the other 29 members of the eMoviePoster.com team P.O. 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