Shipping Help for Website? Getting Confused!

[CallumHaynes]

Hi guys, first time being on this site so I would like to say 'Hi' with a very warm Merry Christmas.

My question for today is very simple, I am trying to provide the best shipping options to customers who order from my site - mugs, t-shirts, photo slates etc. - however I am struggling with sorting out shipping rates and combined items as well as quantity too. I've just about got my head around packaging so there's no need to bring that up. I am using a open-source software called Wordpress with WooCommerce. This allows me to freely customize to my preferred needs. I am trying to setup shipping methods for customers who are buying my products but struggling with what to put down.

For example; if a customer were to buy 1 Mug (roughly 500g - including the dimension) and 1 Photo Slate (roughly 1kg - including the dimension), how am I supposed to charge them? Is there a formula or correct method? I'm currently using a table-rate shipping method that uses classes and of course price/weight methods too.

Another example where I am currently confused with is; if a customer were to buy 5 Mugs and 2 Photo Slates, where am I supposed to go from there? Its getting really confusing and I don't want to start overcharging customers nor do I want to lose profit margins.

My USP is based solely around 'cheap shipping' but quality products which most customers prefer when spending time online. VistaPrint do £3.99 cheapest (12 day) but also a £6.99 for standard which is far too expensive if you were buying 1 product.

Any ideas guys?
Much appreciated,
Kindest regards,
Callum Haynes.

[pisquee]

For us, every product includes its own shipping, if someone buys multiple items, we then make more profit, or have the option to ship them individually, which is sometimes easier in terms of packaging.
Doing this means no surprises at checkout with an extra charge for standard shipping (RM24). We do offer an upgrade to Special Delivery for extra.

[mrs maggot]

I'm with Pisquee on this, all my prices include shipping, and i always look for inclusive prices when shopping myself

[FBW]

Hmm I like the answers!! Makes sense

[CallumHaynes]

For us, every product includes its own shipping, if someone buys multiple items, we then make more profit, or have the option to ship them individually, which is sometimes easier in terms of packaging.
Doing this means no surprises at checkout with an extra charge for standard shipping (RM24). We do offer an upgrade to Special Delivery for extra.

So what you're saying is that you offer Free Delivery but really your postage is within the price tag hidden beneath the product?

[FutureProject]

We do stuff by weight, so customers get the best deal, although we offer hundreds of products they boil down to 4 or5 base products so weighing everything isn't an issue. Doing it this way is more difficult to advertise to the customer but rather than paying a hidden £6-7 in postage for 2 mugs they pay a visible £3.50 I can also see roughly how much money I take for the sale as postage takes a big chunk out of my turnover.

[FutureProject]

So what you're saying is that you offer Free Delivery but really your postage is within the price tag hidden beneath the product?

that's what free shipping is, no company would foot the bill for shipping if it wasn't making more than that in profit.

[pisquee]

So what you're saying is that you offer Free Delivery but really your postage is within the price tag hidden beneath the product?

Exactly, it was easier to set up the website this way.
The web development company we used told us that customers are more likely to buy if there are no additional charges at checkout, even if the price is the price is actually a little more - they're more likely to buy something which is stated as £40 right from the start, and less likely to buy something with is advertised as £35, but £3.75 shipping is added at checkout.
We've seen no ill effects or complaints with doing things this way. Our stockists list is on the website if they want to go to one of the many shops across the UK selling our products and buy at the RRP, or they can pay a little more and have it sent to them.

[CallumHaynes]

Exactly, it was easier to set up the website this way.
The web development company we used told us that customers are more likely to buy if there are no additional charges at checkout, even if the price is the price is actually a little more - they're more likely to buy something which is stated as £40 right from the start, and less likely to buy something with is advertised as £35, but £3.75 shipping is added at checkout.
We've seen no ill effects or complaints with doing things this way. Our stockists list is on the website if they want to go to one of the many shops across the UK selling our products and buy at the RRP, or they can pay a little more and have it sent to them.

Problem is with including delivery costs within prices is that it'll affect profit margins when offering a commission service that Spreadshirt and Zazzle do. It seems that for me the only way that making it fairer for both the seller and buyer that they get the best deal out of cheap shipping if its based on weight. Plus, our prices go all the way down when we leave the shipping till the end, its still the same price eitherway with the shipping included in the price or not. The customer will still want quality service and the only way they're going to get that is by paying for shipping too.

I've seen a lot of articles posting whether you should include 'free postage' on everything. Most of them say no because its not effective, so I'll go with that But thank you all for the advisory its hugely appreciated Such a wonderful community ^^

** EDIT **
In fact, no, I don't know what to do...whether including postage within prices or leaving it till the checkout. I don't want to make it difficult when offering a commission service that lets vendors within the UK to sell their own designs on mugs and we provide them, a bit like Zazzle. I honestly am in such a sticky decisive moment here.

[CallumHaynes]

We do stuff by weight, so customers get the best deal, although we offer hundreds of products they boil down to 4 or5 base products so weighing everything isn't an issue. Doing it this way is more difficult to advertise to the customer but rather than paying a hidden £6-7 in postage for 2 mugs they pay a visible £3.50 I can also see roughly how much money I take for the sale as postage takes a big chunk out of my turnover.

I think your idea with charging by weight is good. However, this can get me confused too because if a customer orders a product that is within 'small parcel' 2kg, and another product that is within 'medium parcel' 2kg, what am I supposed to charge them? Because that'll mean I will need to charge the person both prices for both parcels :/