Size does Matter!

When selling items online, or in a online store, size does matter!.

If you have very large items, that will need extensive shipping or to be picked up locally, then this will really restrict your business online. There are some businesses where this is an exception, such as machinery and antiques, as there is enough money involved in these categories to justify huge shipping costs.

But for the average online store, that sells products, shipping could kill the deal. How would you feel if you just purchased an item for $7.99 only to find out that is will cost $35.00 to ship it?.. Unless it was a one of a kind item, you are more likely to look for something close to home, and click the back button.

You don't want people clicking the back button. You have worked to hard to get people and customers to your site, so try and make it user friendly, without big surprises such as huge shipping costs. Some vendors will try and make their money in the shipping, by offering the item for a very low price, sometimes a few cents, but overcharge on the shipping. This will erode your customer confidence in you and your site.

Price your product properly, and offer products, that are not too big and bulky to ship, or give incentives, such as free shipping on a certain dollar amount spent, or coupons for their next purchase. Make sure your shipping costs, reflect ACTUAL shipping costs, do not try and pad the shipping, customers do look at the postage when it arrives, and will feel ripped off, if you are making money on the shipping.

Build your profits into the item or items you are selling, not in the shipping, and stick to more manageable sized products that do not cost too much to ship, or it will not be worth it in the end.

Leave your big items for local sales, such as in your local newspapers, and classified ads, for local pickup only etc.. It will also be much easier on you, to take smaller packages to the post office. You don't want to be in line at the post office with something the size of a desk! Its hard enough to keep packing materials and boxes around for your shipping, without having to ship large items like that. So, remember.... size does matter!
open an online store

open an online store and be selling 24 hours a day, worldwide. Article and website, by Diane Palmer, who has over 15 years in the crafts business