The Myth of Next Day Shipping

DaveH

DaveH

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Dec 2, 1999
Messages
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Having been burned by this more than once, I thought I'd share something I've discovered.

That the next day shipping option is not what you would expect. I used to think that if I bought something over the web or phone before afternoon pickup time, I'd get it the next day.

WRONG!

What I've found that means is once they've handed it to the shipper, it's next day. What many places don't tell you it may take several days just to pull your order and package it up.

See the difference in what I expected and what I got? Oh, and if you order during the weekend, it may not get processed until the Monday.

Just a caution for you guys to think about before you spring for the extra shipping to get it "right away".

DaveH
 
Hey Dave,
I feel your pain! The other thing you need to check is if it is even available where it's shipping from and where you are receiving it.

In this little burg where I live you cannot get Next Day Shipping! First time I needed the service I went to PO Monday AM with over $100 in cash ready to pay 'whatever' to get a small box to my destination the next day. "We don't offer Next Day Shipping" was the info I got as I waved a handful of cash in the guys face for motivation! Man, I was blown away! Luckily it was still early and UPS could do it for a healthy sum which suited me just fine.

Also, I always try to use simple language now when I'm asking shipping questions like right after they say "And of course we offer other shipping offers such as next day delivery" I pipe in with "So, do you mean I will get it TO-MOR-ROW?!" making sure to sound as condescending as possible and that usually gets a terse but at least 'honest' reply.
biggrin.gif

I think people just get into their groove offering shipping and forget what they are offering in the 'real' world might not be as it sounds. Or at least that is my rationalization of choice!
wink.gif


Burned MANY times by various shipping organizations,
Shawn

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"The difference between being a Coward
and a Hero is not whether you're scared,
it's what you do while you're scared."
Unknown
 
We ship probably less than 10% of our orders same day (even by starting at 3 or 4 in the morning we need all the time to get yesterdays and earlier orders out the door.) We ship about 40% on the following day and almost all of them by the day after that (except for unavailable products, of course.) Many reasons for this-the most common being out of stocks which every company has every day. I can tell you, though, that we and others need to build margin into air shipping charges to cover constant refunds for customers who expect what you expect. As an example, we could live with an $8 second day air charge. Instead we charge $12 and lose money at that because of the refunds. Second day air is a method of transportation, not an indication of shipping date. I don't know that there is any answer to the problem but I can tell you that others subsidise your expectations. There's the ugly truth. Take care.

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Fred
Knife Outlet
http://www.knifeoutlet.com
 
There is such a thing as one day shipping, but it is rare.I, living in Birmingham,Alabama can order from Bayou Lafourche in Monroe Louisiana early today and actually receive my order tomorrow! Not just once, but all the time.It's a lucky combination of an aggressive dealer and contiguous shipping zones.For once in my life, I must be living right!

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AKTI Member #A000934
"Always just one knife short of perfection!"
 
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