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Might be time for a change

M

Murph

Sport Tourer
Industry Vendor
Greetings all,
One of the cornerstones of Murphskits has been free shipping. In the beginning it was pretty easy, we only had six products. As it became kind of a novel features of our company we somehow managed to keep it through growth . Its becoming impossible to manage now that the Post Office has went to zone pricing, coupled with their unreliable delivery performance of late..Im going to have to explore other options. As theres a lot of back office changes that would to be made it would take some time to make a transition. As of this moment its at the thinking out loud stage, up from simply thinking about it... Drop you thoughts and suggestions..thanks

Murph
 
Murph, the way things are going here in Wyoming, folks are surprised if any mail/package/item makes it to destination.
Over night delivery and on time shipping no longer works here anymore. Most items go through hubs that can send an item back and forth across the country, plus we may lose our local sorting station as the mail goes yet again into some other location based on a computer algorithm.

We also have our share of thieves either delivering the mail, or intercepting it at some hub.

I have lost faith in the USPS for on time delivery and would prefer FEDEX or UPS Ground. I don't mind paying a little bit more if I know I have a chance in hell of receiving it.

All the mom and pop shops have left town and it seems the mail order is the only way to find and get what I need.

Sometimes I get email for something I ordered and it says your item has been delayed. The next day it arrives. Other times, I get a firm delivery date and it shows up two or more weeks late. I've learned to ignore delivery dates.

Do what you have to do to survive buddy. We are still in hard times I believe, and the only constant is change.
 
Negotiate with FedEx / UPS. There is a whole host of reasons why they are hungry for business.

Whomever gives you a better deal for your combined inbound and outbound volume. go with them. Both are very capable domestic, import, export and with a healthy discount you may be surprised at the result for your bottom line and improved customer experience.

If your suppliers are stateside drop-shipments direct to customer can also be a huge cost saver. Bill freight third party to you, (have 3rd party in your negotiations as well). Residential fees add up for UPS / FedEx, these are also highly negotiable.

USPS, we can discuss separately.

Call me if needed.

Wayne
 
I've enjoyed the free ride for 19 years now and appreciated it. The world changes, and we all have to adapt to it. Do what you need to do to continue operating a profitable business, and I will continue looking at your website first any time I need parts.
 
Thanks Charlie!
Yep...we have never presented ourselves as a charity organization. As much good will as I enjoy from the business at the end of the day the juice has to be worth the squeeze . I practice capitalism based on nurturing beneficial relationships from suppliers to end users. Its not about rob, rape and plunder .
 
Since I started the purge of the mountain of parts and materials I have, Pirateship.com has done me well with discounted shipping and zero issues to this point. UPS and USPS are the options and I tend to favor UPS for convenient drop at UPS store.
 
I've been pushing pirate ship for quite a while. It's not hard and it saves money.
 
Things are a bit more complicated with an online store, meaning Id have some work to do...L..... but ya got to do what ya got to do.. Im considering a time out....park it for a bit. Might even hire the rewrite out.
 
Main thing is stay with supplying the dinosaur parts! Other suppliers charge for shipping the off piste stuff. As others stated, do what you have to do to stay with it. Your parts are a cut above many others who supply them, worth a little more.
 
Been sliding around in the back office, have some offers on the table...and we have just took a deal with UPS for our exports.. Kinda painful sliding around in the back office,,,,,
 
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