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Sorting Out Shipping Expenses
Posted on March 2, 2009, by Tom Sanderrs, under Shopping and Product Reviews.
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.
The cheapest form of shipping is the old UPS ground courier which is generally very cheap but takes a little longer than overnight delivery. FED EX is a commonly known overnight courier and costs can vary a great deal between different companies. Some businesses will offer options like 7 day, 3 day and next day deliveries while others will promise straight up next day shipping.
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.
It’s also worth investigating whether the provider caps delivery fees at a certain amount. A cap on delivery and handling fees means you don’t have to worry about fees escalating if you buy in great quantity. Some companies even offer a flat rate across their catalogue. Watch out for providers that charge ridiculous amounts because it’s an ad hoc order or something similar.
Larger, well established providers usually give you the best deals both of products and shipping. Many large operators even offer to waive the shipping and handling fees if the order is over a reasonable set minimum. They can do this because they have the buying power to do it. There providers also treat them well because they are guaranteed continuous buyer because they are established.
Because there are so many different rates for shipping and handling it is wise to be careful or you could end up paying way too much to get your lighting fixtures deliveries. Shipping and handling prices may look insignificant but when you look into the costs in a deeper way you will be surprised at how much they can affect your company’s budget. So do your research and get the best deal on shipping and handling rates.
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