Changing Shipping Policy

[TheBluePig]

I am wanting to add this sentence to my Shipping Policy: If you live in Dripping Springs, TX send a Message to Seller to let me know and I will make arrangements to deliver it to you.

A couple of questions:

Would you wave the shipping & handling fee to buyer?

Would this increase my sales?

Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your help,

Karen R Frisch

[Former_Member]

Hey Ms. Frisch,

I end up with a lot of buyers here in NYC, and if possible, I like to create a custom order for them in order to control the shipping costs. But for a blanket policy, I'd say:

~ wave shipping
~ keep some sort of handling cost
~ refund the shipping if your buyer purchases without reading the policy (likely)

I don't know how much it would increase your sales, but it would certainly make folks in Dripping Springs a little happier.

Keep the faith :: mcp

[Former_Member]

I made a coupon code that waves the shipping for people who are in my town. I give them the code in person or of FB because most of my local sales are people I meet or already know.
I have not seen a large increase in sales because of it, but everyone I have given it to loves the idea of the hand delivery. Also I noticed most of the people I gave the code to ended up asking for custom orders.

[LaLindaArtStudio]

I personally would not feel safe delivering in person to a stranger.

[PrairiePrimitives]

Over the years, I have met many customers to deliver things to them. As long as you meet in a public place, away from your home and in daylight, there really shouldn't be a problem.

I would strongly recommend that you only accept cash upon delivery from anyone who picks up their order in person. Without having online tracking, PayPal will likely not be on your side, should anything go wrong with the transaction.

Karen, I would not charge a handling fee. I would also not restrict the location to just your own city. I would word it more like "If you're in the Dripping Springs area, please contact me to make arrangements to pick up your purchase."

[KiltedWoman]

Make sure you actually have time to set up a meeting place and deliver in a timely manner. I work nights and it would not work for me, especially if I got a couple orders in one day. I have delivered by request to a lady who lived a block away and she turned into a great return customer so there are definitely pros to this approach, especially in a small town setting where word of mouth really helps.