Readers of a certain age may remember the inflationary 70′s, when President Ford sported a button that read, “Whip Inflation Now!” Like his ‘diss’ to New York City — crime-ridden and teetering on bankruptcy — to “Drop Dead”, this slogan will be remembered as another one of Ford’s sorry misteps. He figured, if we wore the W.I.N. button and wished hard enough, we’d magically halt the dangerous inflationary spiral.
Well, we certainly can’t magically wish away our current economic woes, but here at SurpieGirl I am doing my best to trim my operating costs and keep my selling and shipping prices low. Let me tell you what I’m doing…
TRIM WAREHOUSE COSTS: Throughout the past month I’ve been consolidating my inventory, moving merchandise off pallets, out of a costly warehouse, into my ratty old station wagon, and into my home. It’s not a lot of fun living in my apartment these days, and I don’t know how we’ll manage Thanksgiving dinner, but I’m saving money.
RECYCLE SHIPPING SUPPLIES: I’ve always maintained a professional shipping operation, and that has included using new cartons and padding. I’ve always believed that the package my customer receives should reflect the quality of the merchandise within. But shipping supplies are expensive, so lately I’ve begun collecting used cartons and old newspapers from my neighbors, and re-using them. Of course, I NEVER compromise the safety or cleanliness of merchandise. Your valuable purchases continue to be packed securely. Items such as pillowcases are sealed in plastic, just in case the shipping carton sits out on a rainy doorstep while you are at work. All box seams are sealed with plastic tape — again, for waterproofing as well as strength. And printed newspaper is never placed directly against merchandise where ink rubbing off might be an issue. But if you receive a shipment from SurpieGirl and it has … well … a ‘homespun’ look, please be assured that it’s a cost-saving measure and NOT a reduction in service!
GOOD-BYE HANDLING FEES! Before I list an item, I pack and weigh a sample and compare shipping costs from my office here in Manhattan to ‘sample’ locations in the US and worldwide, via USPS, UPS and Fed Ex Ground. Like most sellers, I used to add $1 to $3 handling to cover packing materials, but over the past few months I’ve decided to eliminate handling fees almost entirely. My motto is, “We weigh it, you pay it!” Unless I am packing something very fragile — like crystal — and using loads of bubble wrap, or packing something very large — like my 28 and 32 inch dolls — which requires customized heavyweight cartons, I charge my buyers shipping at my cost or rounded up to the nearest dollar. And while Ebay offers only USPS and UPS, I’ve negotiated favorable rates with Fed Ex Ground, and I now use them for larger parcels. Fed Ex Ground delivers my shipments to the West Coast within 5 days; buyers in Massachusetts or Washington DC may receive theirs the next day.
These are tough times, and no slogan or lapel pin or fancy advertising can disguise that. But if you are a discerning buyer, in the market for top quality holiday gifts at discount prices and reasonable shipping charges, take a look at The SurpieGirl Store.
