Free Shipping/Higher Priced Item or Regular Shipping?

[DoodleBirdTerrariums]

Would you rather buy something with free or reduced shipping but pay more for the actual item or buy a lower priced item with the actual shipping costs shown?

I know the total cost is the same but be honest, does the "free" shipping sales tactic appeal to you?

I run into the problem of high shipping fees with the type of items I sell. So I wonder if jacking the price of the item up and entering lower shipping is a better alternative. If you were buying a fragile item would you mind paying more to ship it?

[QuirkyUniverse]

I understand some things cost more to ship. I tend to look at the overall price, shipping and sales price so either way probably wouldn't matter to me.

[NuuArts]

As long as you state how you packaging and ship, if it sound safe for me I would buy if I like the item. I usually list the lower shipping cost and add just a bit more to my item price in order to carry on having a second income and I studied other shops prices too.
Have good sales
Nu

[Former_Member]

I like my shipping prices included myself. I hate having to remember that I'm going to be charged shipping on top of what I'm going to buy. Many times for me it is a deal breaker. I would rather know up front how much the total is. Guess that is from being from Portland and not having state taxes. The price is the price.

[NuuArts]

I ship EMS internationally and the real cost is 25 to 45 usd. Which would turn off the future customers that is why I balance with the item price may be other shop owners items are different.

[AltarEgoDesign]

As a buyer, I definitely find comfort in knowing that an item with free shipping is the final price instead of having to mentally add a shipping fee to the total, especially if the total is already steep.
I'm excited to see more answers about this subject, because I have seen it work well both ways.
~A

[Former_Member]

I sell some fairly expensive heavy items and I don't offer free shipping.

My buyers are willing to pay the shipping costs for their purchases.

If I'm purchasing a fragile item I'd especially like to see the shipping cost listed separately. That way I know that the seller has taken into account the cost of the packaging to get the item to me safely.

[Former_Member]

I'm just having this debate myself!

I do offer free worldwide shipping on everything except wholesale orders.

However, I sell in a highly competitive category and I see other sellers charge for their shipping and sell the same things as me even though their overall price is higher - so I'm wondering whether to lower my prices and charge for shipping?

This Etsy lark is so confusing!

[sewbigkeepsake]

FREE? We all know that we pay for shipping, just like we put gas in our car to go shopping.

I go with the view that adding fair shipping costs is honest and understood by most. Big box stores offer "free shipping" often, but have you ever really thought shipping is free?

[Former_Member]

I don't personally like free shipping, but that is probably me speaking as a seller. If you list something as "free" shipping it won't turn up in google shopping, which drives a good amount of traffic (for me at least).

That being said, my other shop www.iceout.etsy.com, has discounted shipping right now (not free) and customers are ordering more.

[PiecesOfMePaperCraft]

It doesn't matter to me whether a seller offers free shipping or not. I've been selling on Ebay for 10 years and have a pretty good idea of what things cost to ship. I usually assume when a seller offers free shipping the cost is built into the price of the item. It makes no difference to me because I look at total cost. However, it does affect my searches because if I set a price range when searching, those higher priced items are sometimes excluded because they're priced higher than my budget.

Another thing is that Etsy charges a fee on the item price but not shipping charges. If you add the shipping cost to your item price you're going to pay more to Etsy in fees. It's something to think about. I don't offer free shipping on either of my shops for that reason alone. I keep my shipping fees reasonable and in line with other sellers who sell similar items.

[Former_Member]

Very good point! Another reason I don't like free shipping. haha.

[Former_Member]

I think changing it up from time to time percolates interest.

[Untwistedsister]

the thing about 'Free' shipping is that I know the shipping is built into the price and if I purchase multiples I get no break with the 'ships with another item' which doesn't entice me to purchase more at the same time.

[Former_Member]

Trying to not consider all the ins and outs of Etsy (like the "ships with another item" shipping option, fees, etc), free shipping is appealing to me. Here's how I think I think about it (lol):

I would rather pay more for the item than pay for the item plus shipping costs. I would rather feel like I'm paying, say $20 for the item rather than $15 for the item and $5 for shipping. It's not necessarily rational because I know that SOMEONE pays for shipping and it's usually the customer but I think this is a way for people to rationalize spending a little bit more. Perhaps.

Edit: I also think that people (should) expect to pay more to ship something fragile or oversized. It's just kind of a given, or at least it should be. One thing you might consider is raising your prices then offering a coupon code for a percentage off or free shipping.

[Former_Member]

When I started out, I listed everything as free shipping hoping to draw people in. I did all right, and made sure I 'padded' the sale price enough to cover shipping costs.

I finally gave up after a year and pulled all of the shipping back out, especially when I started listing much heavier things than cards. NOW people are buying!

That said, when I see something that is 'free shipping', I know the cost is in the price. I take that into consideration when comparison shopping and don't always automatically buy from the person offering free shipping. Sometimes the price is too high, sometimes I like the looks of something else.

All I can suggest is try it and see how it works for your shop.

[ohmyclumsyheart]

I recently switched my items to prices that are "all inclusive." I have done so because as a UK seller I think international customers might be put off by the shipping fees. I figure I am put off by international sellers who want to charge almost the same amount for shipping as with the item itself.

I am not doing it to increase sales but rather make it easier for my customers to work out the actual cost of their purchases.

Also: maybe "all inclusive price" is more accurate than "free shipping."

x

[JoArtyJo]

I think low ( not necessarily free) shipping is a good idea. I don't like it when I've almost decided to buy something then notice there's a huge shipping fee (even if it is totally fair, it still shocks me and puts me off!) so maybe keep a small charge for shipping, this way customers don't feel tricked by the free shipping thing, but also don't get put off. I do this with ,y art, it costs me more to ship than I charge, but I don't mind as I charge enough for the item.

[DoodleBirdTerrariums]

Judy says

Another thing is that Etsy charges a fee on the item price but not shipping charges. If you add the shipping cost to your item price you're going to pay more to Etsy in fees.

________________________________________

Excellent point! I hadn't thought of that!

[Former_Member]

I do not like a higher item price with free shipping. I am a savvy enough internet shopper to know that free shipping really means it is built into the cost of the item. I want to know what the cost of the item is and the separate cost of the shipping because I am better able to comparison shop that way. As a seller I really try to charge fair shipping costs and not make money on shipping but I do include cost of shipping materials in my shipping fee not just the cost of postage. I just want it to be fair to the customer and if the shipping is hidden in the cost of the item it isn't as transparent a transaction.

[Former_Member]

I've just changed my shop over to free shipping. After reading somewhere that 60% of internet sales are terminated at the checkout due to shipping costs, I thought about my own online shopping and realised I've done the same thing many times as an international buyer.

My shop can absorb the expense by not offering any new discounts or special offers.

[PiecesOfMePaperCraft]

Free shipping doesn't appeal to me anymore than a lower price with a shipping fee added on. When I see free shipping I automatically assume it's been built into the price. Like someone else said, there's no such thing as 'free' shipping!

What really bothers me, and this really should be a whole new thread in itself, is when sellers offer free shipping on an item that's already priced too low. I see card sellers do this all the time. How can they make any profit on a $2.00 item with free shipping when it probably costs at least $1.00 to ship, along with Paypal and Etsy fees? Drives me nuts. :/

One thing I want to mention about jacking up the price to include shipping. When I search for items, I often search by price range, taking into account that shipping will be added on to those prices. If you raise your price to include shipping, you may bump yourself out of my price range and not be included in my search. You're also going to pay higher Etsy fees when the item sells. Etsy doesn't charge a fee on shipping. Just something to think about. (if all this has already been mentioned, I apologize. I didn't read through the whole thread)

[PiecesOfMePaperCraft]

Oh geez. Apparently I just repeated myself. I didn't notice this is an old thread from October. ha ha

[Former_Member]

I adjust increased my prices a bit and made shipping very low. I myself don't like to pay for shipping but don't mind to pay a slightly higher price for the item if I like it. When I opened my store many of my friends suggested making shipping free or very low as customers would rather know they are getting a break with the purchase.

I myself have been turned off from buying items with high shipping costs.

Luba

[Former_Member]

Hey Judy, sorry, I dug around in the archives rather than start a new thread!

My selling price on Etsy is half way between wholesale and retail so the free shipping hasn't increased the prices (except on one cheaper basket that will be pricey to ship).

No idea how some of the prices come about on Etsy, the makers must work for 2 cents an hour.