Hey, SAC/BC.COM PEOPLES!!!!

**rideit** · 11-01-2006, 01:17 AM

I have an Idea.

First, I have to say that you guys are doing a GREAT job. That being said, I pretty much never purchase anything, regardless of the price/discount, due to the fact that shipping and handling usually kills the lure of the desireable price. I can say that I have NOT pulled the trigger on at least ten items in the last few weeks as a result of this fact.
My IDEA:
What would the feasability be of keeping a customer 'shopping cart', and only ship when a certain weight or shipping total is reached?
Or do y'all operate like Amazon, with many potential shipping origination locations? (and handling fee structures)
If you are under one roof, holding inventory, I would propose that you hold on to a pre-determined amount of sold product for the customer, until the shipping cost becomes a reasonable component to the transaction. I cannot even begin to stress how much more I would personally buy if shipping was not a prohibitive (?) cost factor. And I don't mean $100 more in personal buys, I am talking $1000's in personal sales over time.

If my Idea is naive, please ignore, and deride. If it is possible, please research the possibility.
And if any other mags feel the same, PLEASE chime in!

**Fatty** · 11-01-2006, 01:32 AM

you'd have to leave it up to the customer, that being said it would be an interesting idea.

On top of that, there's the issue of people not placing a second order, and excess inventory stacking up. Not sure what kind of warehouse they're operating from, but holding excess, sold, inventory isn't always the best use of space.

.02

**doublediamond223** · 11-01-2006, 01:37 AM

Backcountry beats the hell out of REI in that regard. REI charged me a total of 8 dollars shipping for this thing, which weighs 1 ounce and is the size of a stack of silver dollars:

Unfortunately, it was the only place to buy it on the internet, I checked backcountry first. A climbing buddy of mine let me use his when I separated the skin on one of my fingers, great stuff. Anyway, backcountry has always been pretty fair to me with their shipping, compared to their competitors. Better than REI, anyway.

Sorry for the 'jack.

**rideit** · 11-01-2006, 01:40 AM

Understood,Fatty... however, unsold inventory (hard to sell!) is a less valuable use of available space than paid for inventory...(with the heightened potential of repeat sales to a proven customer, those are the most reliable kind) There could obviously be a pre-arranged ship date default, set either by time or dollar amount. The technology out there now is simple, IMO. If setting up a model like this could generate 40-50% greater sell-through, then the available space issue would become secondary to the increased liquidity. Or some such nonsense.

And DD, not a 'jack, that is solid input...but from my experience, a $14.00 item often has a $7.00 shipping charge...enough of an overall percentage to dissuade me to purchase.

**ecobrad** · 11-01-2006, 01:58 AM

I always wait until I have at least $50 of goods to purchase...then shipping's free. Not to mention no sales tax here in California (unlike REI).

That being said, I gave up buying SAC stuff because of expensive shipping. I usually don't NEED the item, like an altimeter watch, but because it was such a good deal I bought it anyways. Well, after paying the SAC shipping charges it wasn't such a good deal anymore and I didn't have enought cash to a month or so later to buy what I did need. I do regret not pulling the trigger on the Winterstick ST though--but I degress.

**Rasputin** · 11-01-2006, 02:11 AM

Well, I did bail on the Scott Goggles (G-6?) the other day partially because the shipping made them go from a ridiculously low price (13 somthing), to an extremely low price (19 something). I don't need goggles (but I'd like some with a low light lense), but almost pulled the trigger until I saw the shipping, which was almost 50% of the price of the item. Even though it was still a sizzling bargain, my mind got hung up on the price expansion the shipping caused. That, and there are Smith goggles at a local store for $13 with a lense color I am sure of.

Now what was I talking about?

**rip** · 11-01-2006, 02:40 AM

Just brainstorming here...

But how about something like a shipping "season pass"? where a flat fee could be paid up front(month/year/etc), and then for the allotted time period all SAC items ship free?

**Rasputin** · 11-01-2006, 02:47 AM

Originally Posted by rip

Just brainstorming here...

But how about something like a shipping "season pass"? where a flat fee could be paid up front(month/year/etc), and then for the allotted time period all SAC items ship free?

Brilliant!!!

Oh shit! If they did that I'd be in real trouble.

**rideit** · 11-01-2006, 03:00 AM

That is the kind of suggestion that I was hoping to solicit (or promulgate).
Excellent Idea.
Kudos, keep em' coming!

**Incompetent Boob** · 11-01-2006, 04:27 AM

Don't Amazon do that already?

Anyway, add me to the list of people who don't buy because of shipping. You reckon the domestic rates are bad, you should see the international ones. In the past backcountry.com has helped find a better deal, but you don't have time or the live-help with sac to do this.

**bklyn** · 11-01-2006, 05:00 AM

Yes, it's called Amazon Prime. I order more often, because I don't have to pay for shipping. I'd like that for SAC also.

**blissard** · 11-01-2006, 05:06 AM

I would certainly be interested, and order more often from e.g. SAC if shipping (overseas

) wasn't so expensive.
I've ordered a couple of times from SAC, and both times the shipping made up a big part of the total cost. Still cheaper than I could find locally though, and those were items I needed anyway.

**setjo** · 11-01-2006, 07:03 AM

Being in Aus, international shipping rates suck balls...I wish there were some alternative perhaps slower shipping options for international customers.

Would definitely buy more if shipping was cheaper. Still cheaper sometimes than the ski shops in Aus thou. Some of the prices in Aus just seem ridiculous.

**smmokan** · 11-01-2006, 07:56 AM

You're right... it certainly kills the deal when you go to buy something for $15 and the shipping is $7. I'm pretty sure I can priority mail a shirt for about $3.

**Arno** · 11-01-2006, 07:57 AM

also (for us foreigners) if a number of items are all put in one package, presumably we only pay UPS's brokerage charge once. shipping plus brokerage often costs as much as the item itself

**Brock Landers** · 11-01-2006, 08:29 AM

Yeah Amazon Prime is the shipping thing- something like 100 or 150 bucks for free shipping all year. Not sure how Amazon's fee structure is with the shipping moguls (DHL/FEDEX etc) but it seems like just in the past few hours, there have been a few of us who would certainly take the free shipping and buy a lot more from SAC. Seems like a good idea. As for the inventory thing, inventory is inventory until paid for and delivered (in the accounting world) and it is ridiculous how much holding inventory costs. Thats why places have clearance sales- new stuff coming in and no place to put the old stuff. So, holding your inventory until meeting a certain point may generate more sales, but theyd "spend" a ton on inventory in rental costs of the warehoue(es) and they couldnt hold new equipment which they make more money on. Clearance sales just recover some of the costs they already spent while creating space.

**doublediamond223** · 11-01-2006, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by bklyntrayc

Yes, it's called Amazon Prime. I order more often, because I don't have to pay for shipping. I'd like that for SAC also.

That was nice during my 3-month trial, but 80 bucks a year? I don't use amazon that much. SAC, though, hmmm...

**Big Blue** · 11-01-2006, 08:49 AM

It's really funny that you posted this. I was thinking of the exact same thing a few days ago. I was thinking along the same lines of holding onto the stuff you buy until you get enough together to make it worth shipping. I know with Amazon for example if you're ordering multiple items and one item you order is out of stock, you can select whether you want them to hold onto everything until the one item is in stock so that you only pay shipping once. If they can manage to hold onto the stuff for you SAC should be able to do the same. I agree you should have some sort of default shipping time limit if needed. Maybe items automatically ship after 3-5 days, but each new item you buy resets the clock. You could choose to ship any time sooner than that either when you purchase an item or simply by logging into your account and requesting your stuff to ship.

ps Amazon prime is only $70/year I think.

**RootSkier** · 11-01-2006, 09:00 AM

Yeah, well Moen wanted $19 to ship me a tiny plastic part for a shower valve yesterday.

be · 11-01-2006, 09:37 AM

The catch is that they make their money on SAC via a mark up on the shipping. They are barely covering their cost and making some minor margin on the product at that steep of a discount, so they need to make money somewhere and that's on shipping. The stuff you are balking at paying shipping for is still selling out, so why would they bother discounting?

I like the idea of an Amazon-like shipping club, though its probably more feasible for BC.com than SAC...b

**cj001f** · 11-01-2006, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by be

The catch is that they make their money on SAC via a mark up on the shipping. They are barely covering their cost and making some minor margin on the product at that steep of a discount, so they need to make money somewhere and that's on shipping. The stuff you are balking at paying shipping for is still selling out, so why would they bother discounting?

Huh? I doubt the $5.15 I paid to have a pair of Sandals shipped covers postage, a box, and someone to put that together. Apparently we have people here who can ship things personally for less than the posted rates.

**mntlion** · 11-01-2006, 10:16 AM

even a USPS option is good for us canuks, but the 2-3 week storage/bulk idea is great

I know that you just charge the UPS rates, but I didn;t buy sunglasses as the shipping was $17, and I've had them mailed for $3.

**wren** · 11-01-2006, 10:25 AM

I agree with the USPS option for canada. I don't really care if it takes twice as long to get here if it saves me half the shipping rate (not to mention brokerage fees).

**funkendrenchman** · 11-01-2006, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by Lloyd Christmas

You're right... it certainly kills the deal when you go to buy something for $15 and the shipping is $7. I'm pretty sure I can priority mail a shirt for about $3.

I just bought shoes and shipping was $4.50. On skis shipping was $17. The jacket I bought cost $4.67 to ship. That really doesn't seem that expensive especially when the item is 70% off.

Although, the idea does sound reasonable.

**Tippster** · 11-01-2006, 10:41 AM

Wait a second - you mean someone would be stupid enough NOT to buy something at half price (or less) because of shipping? Bottom line is if it's cheaper (including shipping) than any other way (other websites w/free shipping but full price/Brick & Mortar store) then why the hell would you NOT buy from S&C? Leaping dollars to pick up pennies n'shit....