How do I figure out shipping Charges when I will be using a dropshippe

customer shipping charges when dealing with dropshippers

[buckee]

My website is almost ready to go, but I am lacking one very important thing from my dropshippers to pass on to my customers upon ordering, and that is, the shipping charges. Since they will be doing the shipping and not I, how do
I inform my customers what they are paying for shipping on each item?
I'm at a stand still here, and Your help and input in this matter is greatly appreciated.

I am dealing with both large items and smaller items like clothing, but since I won't be handling the product, I haven't got a clue, how to pass on the shipping charges to my customers.

[votrechien]

You'll have to figure out the weight and dimensions of the product as well as the formula your drop shipper is using.

With that being said, it can be very difficult to figure out the exact cost for every single product. If you have some basic info, most importantly the weight, you can estimate costs to the U.S. fairly accurately provided you know what carrier they're using.

[jwolthuis]

Another option is to offer per-item flat-rate shipping. In the USA, you'd offer three rates: Lower 48, Alaska/Hawaii, and International.

You would pick a rate that covers your overall shipping costs over time. Don't worry so much about trying to break even on shipping with every order. You'll go mad trying to get that to work. Concentrate on covering your costs on a monthly average, then adjust up/down as needed each month, until you hit a sweet-spot.

With larger (heavier) items, you could build some shipping cost into the product price.

The idea is to keep your shipping formula simple, so that people can understand it. For example, "Shipping on each item is $1.99 ($2.99 to AK/HI, $5.99 International)".

Yes, it costs more than $1.99 to ship one item, but the low cost may convince the customer to order multiple items, that when combined, covers the cost.

[votrechien]

Another option is to offer per-item flat-rate shipping. In the USA, you'd offer three rates: Lower 48, Alaska/Hawaii, and International.

You would pick a rate that covers your overall shipping costs over time. Don't worry so much about trying to break even on shipping with every order. You'll go mad trying to get that to work. Concentrate on covering your costs on a monthly average, then adjust up/down as needed each month, until you hit a sweet-spot.

With larger (heavier) items, you could build some shipping cost into the product price.

The idea is to keep your shipping formula simple, so that people can understand it. For example, "Shipping on each item is $1.99 ($2.99 to AK/HI, $5.99 International)".

Yes, it costs more than $1.99 to ship one item, but the low cost may convince the customer to order multiple items, that when combined, covers the cost.

That's what we do too, although no matter what you have to have some idea of what your drop shipper is charging you to work this into the price.

[buckee]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the advise. This is all new to me, and it's been a real hurdle to get over.

[not2easy]

Beware of building shipping charges into the product IF there are expectations of returns or shipping damage because only the amount invoiced can be returned or claimed. For soft, small, unbreakable items, no biggie, but for items with higher shipping costs you will lose that built-in amount on returns and insurance claims.

[buckee]

Great advise there not2easy ..Thank you

[piatkow]

A couple of points:
1 All advice seems to be US related. If you are in a different country make sure that what is recommended is legal locally (For example I am not sure that you can get away with not refunding shipping in the UK)

2. If there is a huge size range then it is perfectly reasonable to have multiple shipping rates. The firm that I have bought garden equipment from has three flat rates, indicated in the catalogue by an icon beside each item showing either an envelope, a parcel or a truck.

[buckee]

I live in Canada, but my dropshippers are in the US. I'll be dealing with mostly US costomers.
Thanks again