So, when posting a deal... Should we list the price w/S&H or w/o? Thoughts...
by
mbrugnoni
asked 3 years ago
Certain sites have free shipping, while others don't. Also shipping costs for different places varies.
I would make a note in the subject line like "FREE Shipping" or "Plus Shipping".
If you know the shipping, I think it's helpful to add it somewhere to the deal (if not in the title then at least in the description).
Also, it could be neat to start a "free-shipping" tag trend. Might be cool to see a bunch of deals listed here: http://deals.woot.com/deals/tagged/free-shipping
Yeah, I think notes would be helpful when possible.
However I think the complexity of local taxes, varying shipping rates by distance from vendor, etc... would make the posting of accurate S&H information difficult.
I do like the tagging idea... it may be easier/cleaner if we could tag with a logo (or such) where you could quickly delineate items with free shipping in the main community posts. (one less place to check)
I'm thinking something similar to the smart post icon, that the user could add by utilizing a simple check box when adding the deal.
@mbrugnoni: Maybe with a snail with a $ on its back if there is shipping and a X or a circle-slash over the $ if shipping is free.
Check box is a good idea.
@sgoman5674: Quality logo/icon idea(s)
This would really help me, I hate having to calculate shipping when making online purchases. Woot is great since it's a flat rate, but other places are not so kind. It makes it difficult to see how great of a deal you are actually getting.
I like the idea of free shipping or of adding shipping to the purchase price. When I decide whether or not to buy, I calculate in the shipping price before making the decision anyway. It's all about the bottom line.
@jrossite: I say post it w/o. When people see a lower price it make them want to buy something
then after they figure out they want a product the shipping price won't matter.
@sirjinx: I don't know about that... I think many people want an item at the best price, out the door. (and do hold off when shipping prices are high)
I think you definitely should include any shipping costs. If it is free then that is a plus. If not, then it (sometimes) helps make up my mind if it is such a good deal or not.
I know I don't like paying for shipping nor do I ever factor shipping in when I buy something. I don't like having to deal with it, so I signed up for Amazon Prime, $70 a year for free two day shipping.
if you start worrying about adding shipping when you post things, you might also have to worry about adding tax. Some sites (Dell) charge tax, and others (Amazon) do not, and still others (Woot) have to charge tax in certain states. Also, some people have Amazon Prime, or qualify for super saver shipping, so although there might be shipping on an Amazon item, it doesn't necessarily apply to everyone.
The bottom line is I think you should post the price without shipping, and if you are a kind enough soul, you can make a note in your title or comment about whether shipping is included or not.
@sirjinx: I don't think you understand how a 'deal site' works. Or maybe I don't understand the point of deals.woot (though I did just read the "No, really, what is Deals.Woot?" portion of the FAQ).
I'm thinking this is meant to be a community-driven deals-site in the vein of FatWallet, SlickDeals and other similar sites. Your suggestion would make for a crappy deal site. And a crappy deal site isn't going to gain a large following. And without a large following, well, what's the point?
@pmhesse: FYI: Amazon does charge tax in NY state. But I don't think shipping is the same as tax. Many sites do have a fixed shipping rate per item - that is, it might vary by item, but it's the same anywhere in the continental US. And then there's free shipping.
I like the idea of a check box for free shipping. I'd like some kind of option to include shipping if it's fixed and known, but I'm not sure of the best way to handle that interface.
I think just a note (or some sort of tag as mentioned before) stating whether there are shipping costs or not would be sufficient.
Further to that, if the price is after a mail-in-rebate (or some other non-instant discount), I think that should somehow be noted as well.
Just so everyone has a clear idea of how sales tax works I will fill you in.
1. Sales tax is state based, not federal.
2. If there is property, whether it be a warehouse or a store itself, in the state that you are having it delivered to, the seller has the option of charging sales tax. I am not really clear about the option of charging tax or not, but I know that Amazon.com charges sales tax when shipping to most of the states in the US.
I had an issue regarding being charged sales tax from a vendor in New York while working in New Jersey. They told me that since they had a warehouse there, even though the invoice was from New York, they were able to charge me sales tax.
3. Sales tax is figured by the state being shipped to, not where it is from.
@sirjinx: "I say post it w/o. When people see a lower price it make them want to buy something then after they figure out they want a product the shipping price won't matter."
Huh? The site is deals.woot to help savvy buyers find great deals, not baitandswitch.woot to get a sucker on the hook with a low purchase price and then hit them with exorbitant s&h.
P.S. The quoting/@author "feature" kinda sucks. Hard to figure out who's saying what.
One of the great things about Woot was the flat rate shipping charge, that alone has made many purchases worth it. The problem that I have with many other "deal" sites is that the shipping cost are often padded to make up for the discount.
I like the idea of at least mentioning the shipping somewhere, because that is part of the cost to get the item. There may be two similar deals out there, with the shipping and handling being the deal maker.
@sgoman5674: Warning, boring info from a tax geek
A 1992 Supreme Court case (Quill vs North Dakota) says that a vendor/seller must have nexus, or a physical connection, with the state before the state can REQUIRE the vendor to collect sales tax. Nexus may be established by a warehouse, distribution center, salesperson, delivery truck, etc. If a vendor has nexus, it must license & collect sales tax on all sales in that state.
If it only uses common carriers such as UPS, USPS, etc., then the vendor is not required to collect & remit the sales tax. Instead, it becomes a use tax issue for the buyer. (Use tax is a complement to sales tax & has been around as long as sales tax.) Some businesses choose to license in states where they do not yet have nexus & collect the sales tax.
Some states use origin-based sourcing & others destination-based. Origin=taxed when it leaves the vendor's location, regardless of who ordered it. Destination=point of taxation is when it is received by the buyer
@blondebibliophile: Got it. Thanks for the clarification.
I definitely agree with the idea of having some sort of free shipping icon easily visible!
Include shipping costs, because it's part of the true cost of an item.
Think of it this way--how many times have you been on e-bay and seen what looks like a good price only to discover that they're charging an arm and a leg for shipping so that it really doesn't end up being all that cheaper than what you could get it for else where. Letting us know up front saves hassle (and frustration!) of getting most of the way in and then deciding to back out because shipping is more than you're willing to spend.
I have to agree with getting some idea of the shipping. I cannot tell you how many times I thought I had found a great deal and then got all the way to the end of the sale, when I was finally told the shipping and was ticked off. I like having some kind of idea what shipping will be and when someone finds that one site is high in S&H - post it here and let everyone know.
I recommend including shipping information up front. People like me aren't going to buy if the shipping is too high. In fact, I get very annoyed if I have to go through the whole check-out process in order to find out the shipping is more than I find reasonable. I not only cancel the order. I rarely go back to those sites.
with S&H. The only way to compare apples to apples.
I would keep it the way it is. Give the price with a note about 5.oo flat shipping.
Definitely yes please. Shipping costs vary widely and affect the actual value of the deal.
I always take the shipping cost into account before I decide whether I want to buy a product or not. It's very irritating when I have to click through the seller's site like I'm buying it before I can find the actual shipping cost.
If at all possible add the shipping costs! Or include them in the purchase price.
I say definitely! Nothing worse than having what seems like a great $5 deal ruined by finding out the shipping charge is $20!
Yes, shipping costs should be added to the price of the deal. This way, I won't be surprised about how much money I end up actually spending.
I think it should be included and shown as it can make or break a deal.
I like how you have posted the price of shipping here - and that some have FREE shipping is a plus! Thanks!
Agree....just "free" or "plus"......although a deal's a deal
YES! Please include shipping and handling prices in the post!
Sure show s&h. Otherwise Manhattan fulla stores to wander in.
deal $ ...AND S&H$
I think a "total" price is always nice. I really like the flat fee shipping at Woot.
S&H charges - or lack of them - should be included. You can't tell if the "deal" is really a deal until you know the final price.
I like things simple and clear. I don't want to waste time searching for info that should be layed out right in front of me. The cost of shipping is a real part of the cost of purchasing an item via internet, catalog, phone etc. Before I make a purchasing decision, I absolutely do take the cost of shipping into consideration and I also do comparison shop shipping rates as well as product prices.
If you have no shame in the shipping rate you are posting, then don't be afraid to put it right out there with the product price. Your customers will appreciate it, respect you for it and the "nothing to hide" idea gives adds a feel of trust-ability to you as well.
If free shipping, then maybe it gets a Woot Massive Deal (WMD) icon. Cuz S/H can make or break a good deal.
@cshiebler: Couldn't have said it better. I know lots of people who are religiously opposed to paying shipping. I say include it in the title with the price if it's a flat rate. Example: "2 Bags of Swedish Meatballs $8.99 Shipped"
I think it should be listed as price + shipping. Separate them out so we know what were getting and why.
The Flat rate fee that Woot.com maintains, is one of the big attractions I had to it from the beginning. Even though I saw the "Bag-o-Crap" for one penny, I already knew the final cost...$5.01. That kind of security is what helped me hit the buy button. If I thought it could change, based on what I got, I would just go elsewhere.
If the "deal" really is a deal, the S&H should be posted. If the S&H will vary with the customer, then a standard should be used (i.e. "plus S&H", "Price: $?.?? plus S&H", or "Approx. S&H: $?.?? - $??.??"). If there is no S&H, or at least it is listed as free, then that too should be listed--in the same place. I shouldn't have to wait until I am on another screen, to get surprised by the S&H costs. No matter what the extra costs (S&H, fees, extra taxes, etc...), it should be listed in plain view, right along side the listed price. That's what really makes a deal...a DEAL.
Without shipping would probably be a better option in the event there is an opportunity for buyers to choose different shipping options (next day, 2nd day, etc.) if that comes more available throughout the progression of the site(s).
I assume charged shipping so an icon or text indication the deal came with free shipping would be good.
i just know that i personally hate when I'm told "oh yeah its only 10 bucks" only to find out when i go to order it, that shipping is an additional 7 dollars. completely worthless. if there are shipping fees, they should be noted. its not that hard, and you wont piss people off.
always post price plus shipping, it will force us to be educated consumers. did I say educated on a woot blog?
I think it's very important to have the shipping price (that's part of the decision on whether to buy something online), and definitely have it stand out when it's free.
Deals: good. Surprises about the "as delivered" price: bad. Though, S&H typically assumes quantity 1. What if the quantity is more than 1 or the buyer adds other things to the purchase?
Stats
- Asked
- 3 years ago
- Asked By
- mbrugnoni
- Answered
- 77 times
- Viewed
- 3192 times
- Voted Against
- 0 times
- Voted For
- 30 times
77 Answers answer
Sort By: