Supplier postage

[mrs maggot]

mattie whats the weight of the paper ?? and what would the postage work out at ??? i argued recently with a supplier that i did not need some transfers on overnight, and they could just post them, the charged me £3.50 post, in a normal envelope (transfers are cap sized) i weighed them, and queried the postage, and they said £3.50 was their minimum postal charge to account for the costs of the packaging, so i asked them to post me out the missing packaging !!!! as i had paid for it, my account is now £10 in credit - so it was worth kicking up a fuss for it.

[Scotty@BMS]

Does anyone else think that some suppliers are charging to much for postage.

I placed a small order with a supplier on monday and was charged what i thought to be far to much for what i ordered and it's not even here yet, for the price i paid i would expect next day delivery.

Of course, the phrase 'small order' is subjective. Weight is usually the dependent factor in terms of how goods are dispatched. We have a 1 KG weight limit on postal items as our franking machine won't accept packages much above that weight. So a pack of paper would just squeeze in as a postal item, but should there be additional items in that order, that postage would rise to the price of a 1-2 day tracked and insured courier service. It's a bummer alright, but thems the breaks I'm afraid.

[Mattie]

i've just weighed my order and including the extra item it onlys weighs 398g so way under the 1kg limit

and i ordered a pack of paper back in may and was charged £4.50 postage according to my scales that should come under "royal mail packet 0-750g" at £2.70 or £2.36 if using franking
even with the packaging which was only a A4 bubble envelope my order should not of cost £4.50 last time or £7.00 this time.

[Charlie_]

Well I'd say as your unhappy, don't use them again then...........

[Mattie]

Just realised they charged me VAT on delivery so for a pack of a4 sub paper and 50 replacement magnets (the sticky back magnets that you stick on back of magnets) i've been charged £8.40

[logobear]

I see this from both sides.
Your supplier must charge vat on post even thou they don't pay it when they buy the stamps, so they have to mark that up to stay even.
Packaging is always more of a cost than you would like, and is bulky to buy and store.
Anything that is not handed straight to the client needs tracking and managing, - things can get 'lost', there may be follow up, or even dis-honesty.....
and there is the time to do it all, maybe queue at the PO, manage labels and all that extra stuff you just don't have to do face2face.
Logobear don't get involved in P&P for these reasons. I guess that if it was just a few a week/month it is a lot of hassle, but if you do dozens or hundreds, it just becomes part of your business system.
I have mentioned before the cost of each 'transaction' - the admin to process an order, - which in many models is the same regardless of if the sale is £5 or £400
While I might not like it, these invisible costs must be covered for a business to be a 'business.'
If you 'make' 100% - or 500% markup on the product (mug) - why shouldn't you make a margin on the other services you offer (P&P)
Every cost has to be covered somehow, - either hide it in the cost of the stuff, or be upfront and honest about it.
The very small business has many obsticles to overcome in order to grow, - and one of those challenges is dealing with small orders, - both as a buyer and as a seller!
It is by managing these cost/services well that you can grow, - and avoid them in the future!
IMHO - the cost you have been charged is a 'small order tax' - but the supplier would prefere large orders without this 'tax' any day!

[Charlie_]

Just realised they charged me VAT on delivery so for a pack of a4 sub paper and 50 replacement magnets (the sticky back magnets that you stick on back of magnets) i've been charged £8.40

Cant say that I know a supplier that doesnt charge vat on carriage charges, they have to pay it dont they.....

[Mattie]

Not if they sent it via royal mail packet (which they have before numerous times) as it states prices are excempt from VAT not sure about other royal mail services.

I still think it shouldn't matter what you order £8.40 delivery for what i ordered is just simply a rip off.

Thats like saying if a customer orders one mug from me i'll charge them £8.00 postage but if they order more i'll charge them correct rate.

[Charlie_]

but you have the option to not purchase from them, would any where else be cheaper on delivery?, i doubt it......

[bigj2552]

end of day mattie -
add it into the cost of your product/s or
dont use company again if you feel so bad about it

i have had similar gripes on here when i was at the very begining,i had never heard of a company charging VAT on the bloody delivery:rolleyes: and i moaned like buggery about it, but most suppliers work this way - do the rounds bud. check out others before you throw the towel in with the one you think (know) is expensive for postage.....
I did and most have the same postage policys.....its a case of suck it up bud and lose it somewhere in your business..