SHIPPING QUESTIONS PLEASE I NEED YOUR INPT

[AlohaSandy]

I live in Hawaii and lately my little quilting business is beginning to take off a little but I am frustrated because I can't find a cheap way to send my quilts to the mainland. I know that the post office has a flat rate but even then it is a chunk taken out. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I would appreciate your input. Mahalo

[nyscpa2be]

Are you charging for shipping on top of the selling price on the quilt? You shouldn't be absorbing shipping costs into your margin. So if the sale is $100, and flat rate is $15, you should be charging $115 total.

[Hulamoon]

Unfortunately that's the best way from here. I was selling dresses and used garment bags to keep the cost down. I have a scale to see what I will charge for shipping. But for the weight of the quilt and to keep it safe I don't see any other way.

[classynsassy]

I agree, you should be charging for shipping!! I think most people expect to pay shipping, and with priority mail the customer gets tracking. Having lived on Kauai for 20 years, I know the pain of being isolated and getting things to and from the islands. That being said, there are items that I still covet and am only able to find there, I order and pay the shipping charges, for me it is worth it for fresh Poi.

[Hulamoon]

I agree, you should be charging for shipping!! I think most people expect to pay shipping, and with priority mail the customer gets tracking. Having lived on Kauai for 20 years, I know the pain of being isolated and getting things to and from the islands. That being said, there are items that I still covet and am only able to find there, I order and pay the shipping charges, for me it is worth it for fresh Poi.

You need some poi? My Dh's cousin has a poi company. I have been here since '79. Where did you live?

[kensington]

When I ship to my quilter, I pay to ship it to her, and she charges me shipping to ship it back. It's gotten more expensive over the years, but I pay it. She doesn't.

[Hulamoon]

Kensi Or Gloria brings up a point. are you sending off finished quilts or for a service to quilt it. Finished you need to charge shipping to the buyer.

Are you afraid the shipping charge will deter from sales?

[classynsassy]

You need some poi? My Dh's cousin has a poi company. I have been here since '79. Where did you live?

Small world!! I lived on Kauai and moved there in 1980, graduated high school there and have 3 wonderful hapa haole keikis......of course they are all grown up and on their own!!! I moved back to the mainland in 2000. I miss the people and the weather and the food!!!!! I would love to have some fresh poki for of dinner!! My best friend is on a plane as we speak moving back to be closer to her daughter, perhaps I need to plan a trip back just for a fix!!! Are you on Oahu or an outer island?

[Hulamoon]

Well poki I can't send. lol I live in the Wailua homesteads. That's after Kalaheo, Koloa, Omao. I wonder if we ever met? That would be funny to see if we did.

[classynsassy]

Oh my goodness......such a small small world.......my dear friend Cathy Peters and her late husband Buddy owned Wailua Kayak......and I was a police officer there as well, I apologize in advance if I ever gave you a ticket!!! I worked in Wailua quite a bit, but was stationed out of Princeville.