Shipping Expenses
Fri ,31/07/2009
When you are buying lighting fixtures from the Internet you will need to think about shipping expenses. Many companies will give you a good deal on the product and then charge more for shipping and handling. This sneaky little trick is very common, so be aware of it when you read the fine print. Remember to do the math and really understand whether you are getting a good deal.
Type of shipping: the cheapest shipping will be UPS ground and you will be able to save money with companies that use this. Some companies will charge more for FED EX overnight delivery. It is surprising how much shipping and handling will differ with each company. Some businesses will offer options like 7 day, 3 day and next day deliveries while others will promise straight up next day shipping on most items. Obviously as a business you will want to go with the latter. In doing so you will need to see whether you will be paying more for the shipping and whether it is really cost effective.
Being able to keeping track of things: use a spread sheet like Excel or one of the variants available from Lotus or even Google documents. Take note down of all shipping and handling prices, together with the name of the provider. This database will become very valuable when you need to compare your findings and work out the most efficient deal.
What about caps on fees: see if the provider caps their shipping and handling fees at a certain level. A cap on shipping and handling fees is good for peace of mind and some organizations may even offer a flat rate for all shipping.
