Shipping saving: large vs small order
 

Hi,

I ve been ordering quite a bit and I m realising that most retailler don t charge less when you make a large order. IE, there is no advantage in ordering a large order to save on shipping. It always a flat rate for given items from what I understand (for example, AEG = 50 USD, GBB = 25 USD, etc).

I was curious to see if my observations are accurate...

I've seen a 10-15% rebate on ehobbyasia.com orders when pooling with my friends for a big order (when compared to each orders quoted separately).

Not an impressive rebate indeed.

I d be even more curious to compare what we are being charge for shipping versus the real amount paid by the seller...

Don't forget, they charge you shipping and HANDLING.

The "handling" component generally pays for things like wrapping paper, tape, labels, cardboard boxes or bubblepack mailing envelopes, foam peanuts, and the cost of gas to take your package to the postal outlet. Those things don't come for free. I've shipped a lot of guns and parts in my day, and I always eat the "handling" costs...but for me, to mail a gun, is easily going to cost me $5 out of pocket, and I buy my paper & tape at the dollar store.

It might cost them $20 to mail your package, and another $5-10 in handling costs. That's reasonable.

I've always found that "handling" to be a BS way to nickel and dime the customer.

It is the cost of doing business. Do local retailers charge me extra for rent or electricity? No. It is built into the price I pay at the register.

I recently paid 20 bucks for registered airmail, shipped out of HK. TWENTY FREAKIN' DOLLARS! when the norm is any order over 20 dollars gets free registered airmail.

if it's being mailed within canada, you can just look at the canada post postage price on the white sticker on the front of the package...

most of the time, I give people a quote based on my best guess, rather than making them wait a day and me waste a drive to the PO to find out, I'm usually right if not I pay the difference as my quote is usually less than actual, but hey I'm a Cool Guy :D

If you want to save money make one big order instead of multiple small ones.

As for folks not cutting a break on larger orders maybe your idea of a big order isn't what the guy selling the stuff rates as big enough for a discount.

You do save money on bigger orders but it's not always that impressive. But you are right on the relative size of what defines a big order. With ehobbyasia I only saved 10-15% on orders valued at 450-800US$. I think that's pretty big but maybe not for them ;)