[Elecraft] Reality of "Shipping and Handling"

[Terry Schieler]

Correct.  I totally understand that, Ken.  My company ships stuff all day.  I am aware of the labor, benefits, overhead, hidden costs, etc. a company deals with.  But I believe I correctly, I recall small item purchases that I've made from Elecraft Parts and others where they were safely shipped to me in a small padded envelope via USPS.  If they were shipping me small parts in a cardboard box with bubble wrap and the like, I'd expect the cost going up to cover that.  I recently had two, fairly hefty VFO knobs for a boat anchor project that were shipped to me via USPS in one of the $0.50 padded bags for $2.71.
 
I didn't intend to poo poo shipping and handling costs that are passed along to a customer, but merely point out that for these particular little bits of lightweight molded plastic, the USPS may be more attractive to a purchaser.  
 
I have a special appreciation for what Elecraft, Powerwerx and Rose (and YOU) all do every time I walk back to my shipping department.  ;o)
 
73,
 
Terry, WØFM
 
 
From: Ken G Kopp [mailto:kengkopp at gmail.com] 
Sent: Monday, June 17, 2013 1:44 PM
To: Terry Schieler
Cc: Walter Underwood; Elecraft Reflector
Subject: Reality of "Shipping and Handling"
 
Rose ships covers and cases all over the world ... or rather I should
say -I- pack and ship them for her. (:-)  I'll wager we're one of the 
larger shippers here on the reflector ... with the exception of Elecraft.
 
Powerwerks is most likely losing money at $6.49, and it has nothing to 
do with the cost of the item(s) being shipped.  They will have numerous "hidden costs" ... all shippers do.  It just depends on how deeply one wants to burry them.   If one lived in the same town where they're
located, I doubt that you could drive there to pick up an item without
conduming  $6.49 in fuel ... maybe more.  One's time also has a finite
value.
 
There's address and return labels and likely a label printer to print them, 
bags for the item(s) and probably another label on that bag.  Then there's the shipping packaging, be it a small padded envelope or a carton.  If it's a carton, there's the cost of "peanuts" or other cushioning material.  "Bubble pack" is suprisingly expensive. (;-)  Padded envelopes cost
$.50 to $2.50, depending on the size, even bought in 100 lots as we
do.  Don't forget the shipping costs ths shipped pays their suppliers
when they purchase shipping supplis  
 
Oh, and there's the cost of paper and ink for the printer that prints the
packing lists and labor costs of the person(s) who does the shipping operation.
 
I'll almost guarntee they're losing money at $6.49.