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Once again, the reality of what we would like to offer our members and the reality of the market are beginning to diverge. We've located a supplier that offers quality merchandise in all the options we want, but they cannot offer web-based purchasing and their quote on shipping creates some issues. By not offering a web-based store, that places the burden on us once again to design and maintain the store front, something we were hoping to avoid. Additionally, the shipping situation poses some difficulties. We feel we have a reached a point where we need your input. Here are the options, which are reflected in the poll. Please give us your feedback.
Option A: We proceed with the company we have negotiated supply and price with to date. We will build the store front and ensure it is a seamless process from order, to payment, to creation, to shipping. The issue with this is that a $12 t-shirt will run you $7+ in shipping, pushing the total over $20. If you order more merchandise than can ship in the $7 baggie made available to us, it will be shipped in a $13 box. We feel the shipping rates are exorbitant, but that is the market and if we want to offer you the luxury of ordering at any time, this is the consequence. Beyond this, there is no way to predetermine the shipping costs and this in itself creates an issue we need to find a solution for. If you order several items, shipping could run over $20 if you need a box and a bag, or multiple boxes. We have checked USPS and UPS under the idea that we could place and order, then Dustin could handle shipping. That’s its own nightmare and we’re not going down that path again.
Below are the prices. Keep in mind there is no markup and we are not making ANY money on these. These prices reflect the convenience of being able to order what you want, when you want. If this sits well with the masses, we will find a solution for the shipping situation.
Option B: We use this supplier, but we order 3-4 times a year in conjunction with a TOO event. You would pay us through the site and Dustin/I will coordinate the order. Those of you attending the event where supply is aggregated will receive your goods. Those of you not attending the event, will pay a separate shipping fee once determined by Dustin or I. This is cumbersome, but it gets product to people and it saves you on shipping if you’re coming to an event. However you will lose the convenience of ordering when and where you want. For simplicity, we will probably limit options on a bulk order as well. This could however, result in a lower cost per item depending on aggregated quantities.
Option C: We continue to search for a full service firm willing to handle the store front, orders on demand and shipping. Costs will be what they’ll be and the entire deal will be structured around convenience for the members, as well as for Joe and I since we would not need to be involved on any level. Prices may be higher, but convenience and availability is the best for you all.
I’d like to reiterate our thanks to Dustin on this. He now sees why I have got pissed and walked away from this a few times now. There seems to be no vendors that act as full service firms. We are trying to make the product as available as possible, but at the same time, we feel $20+ for a t-shirt may be a little steep for our market. However if you all just want access to product and if it costs $1-10 more per order to have access to our products, then we will facilitate that setup.
Your feedback on this issue is sincerely appreciated.
Once again, the reality of what we would like to offer our members and the reality of the market are beginning to diverge. We've located a supplier that offers quality merchandise in all the options we want, but they cannot offer web-based purchasing and their quote on shipping creates some issues. By not offering a web-based store, that places the burden on us once again to design and maintain the store front, something we were hoping to avoid. Additionally, the shipping situation poses some difficulties. We feel we have a reached a point where we need your input. Here are the options, which are reflected in the poll. Please give us your feedback.
Option A: We proceed with the company we have negotiated supply and price with to date. We will build the store front and ensure it is a seamless process from order, to payment, to creation, to shipping. The issue with this is that a $12 t-shirt will run you $7+ in shipping, pushing the total over $20. If you order more merchandise than can ship in the $7 baggie made available to us, it will be shipped in a $13 box. We feel the shipping rates are exorbitant, but that is the market and if we want to offer you the luxury of ordering at any time, this is the consequence. Beyond this, there is no way to predetermine the shipping costs and this in itself creates an issue we need to find a solution for. If you order several items, shipping could run over $20 if you need a box and a bag, or multiple boxes. We have checked USPS and UPS under the idea that we could place and order, then Dustin could handle shipping. That’s its own nightmare and we’re not going down that path again.
Below are the prices. Keep in mind there is no markup and we are not making ANY money on these. These prices reflect the convenience of being able to order what you want, when you want. If this sits well with the masses, we will find a solution for the shipping situation.
Option B: We use this supplier, but we order 3-4 times a year in conjunction with a TOO event. You would pay us through the site and Dustin/I will coordinate the order. Those of you attending the event where supply is aggregated will receive your goods. Those of you not attending the event, will pay a separate shipping fee once determined by Dustin or I. This is cumbersome, but it gets product to people and it saves you on shipping if you’re coming to an event. However you will lose the convenience of ordering when and where you want. For simplicity, we will probably limit options on a bulk order as well. This could however, result in a lower cost per item depending on aggregated quantities.
Option C: We continue to search for a full service firm willing to handle the store front, orders on demand and shipping. Costs will be what they’ll be and the entire deal will be structured around convenience for the members, as well as for Joe and I since we would not need to be involved on any level. Prices may be higher, but convenience and availability is the best for you all.
I’d like to reiterate our thanks to Dustin on this. He now sees why I have got pissed and walked away from this a few times now. There seems to be no vendors that act as full service firms. We are trying to make the product as available as possible, but at the same time, we feel $20+ for a t-shirt may be a little steep for our market. However if you all just want access to product and if it costs $1-10 more per order to have access to our products, then we will facilitate that setup.
Your feedback on this issue is sincerely appreciated.