What's the best way to handle booth orders and deliveries?

[pamperedcheermom]

I need to know who delivers all the orders from their booths or do you have the orders shipped directly to the customers. When my friend and I do booths we offer free shipping and combine the orders into one or two orders and we split the shipping cost. We made a sign for our table saying the shipping is free and we will deliver if it's in the local area. We had a girl at a booth a few weeks ago to place a $130 order and the sign was right in front of her. I wrote up the order, gave her a total and she wrote a check. Then I noticed on her check that she lives about 30 miles away in another city. Her's was the biggest order we had because the booth was a flop for all the vendors so I hated to tell her we couldn't order. And I knew she wouldn't pay the $6 or $7 for direct shipping (I don't blame her). Now I have this box in the back of my car and have to find time to take it to her. I was taking it back before Thanksgiving but when I finally got in touch with her she was out of town. I work 40 hours a week and don't get off till 4:30, then pick up kids, supper, etc. I've delivered all the others but still working on this one.

How do the rest of you do with booth orders. We don't have cash & carry so we rely on orders. If they're local we don't mind but if we start telling people they have to pay the extra shipping and we'll have it sent directly to them we'll lose the orders.

Need advice!

 

[Sheila]

On a $130 order, I'd have done the direct shipping and written it off as a Consultant Gift. To me it would have been worth not having to arrange the 1 or more hour out of my day to drive the order to her. I'm on a military base in Japan and "ship to host" is not an option here. It violates military regulations for us to accept mail for others. Everyone (and I do mean EVERYONE) pays direct shipping. A few fuss about it, but very few, like maybe 0.5% will actually change their mind & not order.

 

[wadesgirl]

If they live locally I deliver but they still pay the $4.25 shipping. If they are out of town they pay the direct shipping price. I've never had anyone complain.

 

[Chef Kearns]

When I do booths I charge the Direct Shipping rates. That's one of the things I love about my business, I do not have to make deliveries!! I will usually split the Direct shipping with the customer though.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I direct ship everything too. I'm like Sandra - I love that I don't have to make deliveries!

At booths, I always charge the show shipping price of $4.25 for direct shipping, and then make the remaining cost a consultant gift.

 

[nldavis321]

I direct ship everything too. I'm like Sandra - I love that I don't have to make deliveries!

At booths, I always charge the show shipping price of $4.25 for direct shipping, and then make the remaining cost a consultant gift.

This is great! I am doing a booth in 2 weeks and didn't even think of this!

 

[DebbieJ]

I need to know who delivers all the orders from their booths or do you have the orders shipped directly to the customers. When my friend and I do booths we offer free shipping and combine the orders into one or two orders and we split the shipping cost. We made a sign for our table saying the shipping is free and we will deliver if it's in the local area. We had a girl at a booth a few weeks ago to place a $130 order and the sign was right in front of her. I wrote up the order, gave her a total and she wrote a check. Then I noticed on her check that she lives about 30 miles away in another city. Her's was the biggest order we had because the booth was a flop for all the vendors so I hated to tell her we couldn't order. And I knew she wouldn't pay the $6 or $7 for direct shipping (I don't blame her). Now I have this box in the back of my car and have to find time to take it to her. I was taking it back before Thanksgiving but when I finally got in touch with her she was out of town. I work 40 hours a week and don't get off till 4:30, then pick up kids, supper, etc. I've delivered all the others but still working on this one.

have you called and asked if maybe she could meet you halfway or if she is ever in your area? I did that with a recent order and she ended up picking it up from me--it was nice that I didn't have to drive the 15 miles out to her place!Oh, and at booths I always do direct shipping unless they live nearby or I know I will be going near them. I don't even give them an option.

 

[pamperedcheermom]

I made the delivery today, finally. I emailed her and didn't get a response.......called and didn't get an answer. I wanted the box out of the back of my car and I didn't want her to complain to the Church where the booth was held that I hadn't delivered her order. So I left work and went to find her house. It was no where near where she said it was........it was on some back roads in the country and MapQuest had the directions completely wrong. I finally found it and she was home so I gave her the order and thanked her and left.I'll rethink the booths for next year. We had a sign up saying we only deliver locally and I guess she ignored it. I didn't know where she lived till I got the check and she had walked away. And no, she wouldn't offer to meet me halfway. I had suggested it last week when I called her but she was out of town. I told her if she could meet me somewhere in between that would be great. She said to just call and let her know when I was coming. OK, I called, she didn't answer, so I took the order. Good thing she was home because I wasn't bringing it back with me.

 

[chefann]

Different people have different definitions of "local," so even putting such a sign up at a booth won't necessarily help. If the customer really lives out in the middle of nowhere, then she might consider a 30 mile drive to be local.FWIW, I do the same as Becky, and cover the difference between the show shipping and direct shipping. But I also make sure I mention that "I pay the difference as my gift to you."

 

[cheflorraine]

I've just found that because so many other vendors are cash & carry, and don't charge any shipping, people are reluctant to buy a $15-20 item if they have to pay shipping. What I did this year (my first) is to offer free shipping, then I combined orders where possible and did deliveries (I still have a few to do).
Some of the deliveries were fun to do - I got to chat a little more with my customers, discuss bookings with those that were interested...
It's just the time factor that makes it difficult - finding a block of time to fit it into!
I think I would consider the direct shipping option for next year...