POSTAGE FOR 1x T SHIRT - $16!!!

[MODELEER]

I just opened an account today & I'm already thinking of closing it. The cost of shipping in Overpriced! 

[PenguinPower]

The default shipping option is the fast & expensive one….There generally are cheaper options, but you may have to get beyond your initial shock and get further into the checkout process before you see them….

[Fiorenzo]

I'm begging to show the least expensive standard shipping price as default for ages. I can't understand why Z is insisting on displaying the expensive Premium costs without further explanation at checkout.

[DM]

Z is insisting on displaying the expensive shipping option because they want to maximize their profits. Why would they show the option that gets them less money as the default?

[Saints_Aplenty]

But, how many customers are driven away by posting the highest shipping rate as the norm? And, does Zazzle really profit from the shipping, or do the actual shippers (the USPS, UPS, FedEx, or whatever they use) profit?  Just asking.

At any rate, the practice seems counterintuitive to me.  

[DM]

Look up the sites yourself. Zazzle's shipping price for a single mug is $16.74. Let's be generous with packaging and say it weighs a pound. UPS flat rate shipping for a mug is $9.45. USPS 3 day priority for a small box is $9.45.

Who do you think pockets the remainder?

[Caprice]

...AND...Z undoubtedly gets volume discounts from vendors like USPS and Fedex.  I doubt they pay the 'retail' price.  In Z's defense, I think a LOT of stores do this, because they DO, in fact, make money from shipping costs.  The savvy consumer has to notice and look for the cheaper options on the shipping page when buying something. @Saints_Aplenty @Cat @Fiorenzo 

[Saints_Aplenty]

@DM and @Caprice 

I'm not going to argue... I don't think the differential is pure profit though.  After all, no matter what the shipping cost, Zazzle still has to pay for packaging materials and the labor to prepare the package for shipping (according to each carrier's specifications if any).   

I still think, though, that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.  It seems to me best to give the lowest, slowest shipping first and then say something like: "Want it faster?  We offer...  " 

I was just reading an article on WordTracker yesterday entitled "7 content tips to improve your conversion rate".  And, the last paragraph reads:  "Remember, every step along a sales funnel is an opportunity for users to change their minds and abandon their conversion. Avoid providing this opportunity where possible."

Anyway, that's just my 2-cents...  

And, Zazzle does what Zazzle does.

[Cat]

I totally agree! I once read that for every hoop you make your customers jump through, you lose 50% of them. In my mind, failing to show all of the shipping choices/prices up front is exactly the sort of thing they were talking about.  

[Caprice]

I agree that defaulting to the least expensive shipping is best for not scaring off customers - just saying I can see why Z does it if they make $$$ off leading with premium. That said - what's the opportunity cost, right?  How many sales are LOST because people getting horrified by premium shipping? I would hope Z has done that calculation... 

@Cat 

[Cat]

I don't usually order things, so I'm not familiar with the checkout process, but I just tried it out and it's crazy!

It seems like the presentation order is backwards. You have to enter your payment details BEFORE you even get to see and/or choose the shipping options - and there's no indication that you even have a choice of shipping options. Honestly, I backed out before I got to the shipping part because I didn't want to actually buy the thing, I just wanted to see how it works, and it seemed like I might be committed to the purchase if I went further.

I have to agree with @Saints_Aplenty - a certain percentage of customers are probably getting spooked and backing out before they even get to the screen where they can choose a cheaper shipping option. Seems like a real problem to me!

[Cat]

You might want to check out Zazzle Black. https://www.zazzle.com/zazzleblack

[NigelSutherland]

Zazzle Black is confined to just USA only unfortunately.

[Sandra-]

I’m in the UK and happy to say we have Zazzle Black here too. https://www.zazzle.co.uk/zazzleblack 

[NigelSutherland]

I stand corrected! I was reading the restrictions on the .com site as that is where I create all my products! I see the UK site mentions that it doesn't apply to ALL products, but I don't know how restrictive that is. 👍