Shipping Charges with Online Store
 

I haven't had much experience with shopping online. But with my recent move to a less expensive apt, I have a little more money to spend on fabric. I had a recent experience with 1,000 Bolt and I thought I would share what occurred. I put about a dozen remnants in my cart but was shocked when the shipping charge was over $10.00. I totaled up the yardage and it was 4.5 yards which should fit easily into a Priority flat envelope. They were very quick to reply to my concern. It seems since they only sell fabric by the yard, the shipping charges are calculated on the basis that each purchase is a yard of fabric. I had deleted some items from my cart and it would have helped me to know this bit of information so I would have held on to what I had selected. I received notification that the fabrics have been shipped promptly along with the tracking number.

Also, I wanted everyone to know that within the USA, the Fabric Shack is pricing a flat Rate envelope for the shipping charge of only $3.00. That is half off!! Check their website for International orders. I also recently received an update from Hancock of Paducah:

Flat Rate $5.00: Please allow 10 business days; limit 1 batt per order
Over $100.00 FREE: limit 2 batts per order.
All oversize restrictions apply.

I am delighted to see these offer made!!

Yes, Thousand of Bolts does have what I consider a high shipping charge. I only order from them when I get a special notice that the shipping is being discounted, which only happens once or twice a year. I only live an hour from where they are located, so paying $11 is way too much when I can order from hundreds if not a thousand miles away and get shipping for less.

Most shipping charges also have a handling charge included. You are paying for a person to get it ready for shipping. I don't think they try to use the cheapest way to ship things. After all the customer is paying for shipping and handling, not them. I try to spend a certain amount to get free shipping. Not all have that. I don't buy much this way. I try to get stuff at a store.

I just placed an order with Thousands of Bolts earlier this week for 5 yards of 1930's repros. My shipping was only $5.65 or so. It is coming via flat rate priority today.

You didn't exactly say this, but I think it was implied, that thousandsofbolts.com charges actual shipping, not the price quoted in the shopping cart? I couldn't find anywhere on the web site that says that, but I **hope** it is true.

Priority Mail is different than shipping. If it fits it ships but you will still pay for the postage since it is still weighed. The package is not suppose to bulge. 4.5 yards would make the envelope bulge and that is cause for the package to burst open upon handling.

You need to shop around for the best combined price, fabric + shipping. Fabric.com is free shipping on orders of $35, and Connecting Threads is free for $50 and over.

I agree, Thousand of Bolts charge way to much for shipping - I calculated the rate to be around 14.5% - they have fabric that I want, well over $100. - but I can't pay their shipping rate - so I do without.

Hmmm, this is intriguing. I may have to look into possibly ordering from them again.

I was going to order an embroidery Cd on sale $29 and found the shipping from Texas was about the same cost. cancelled my order

That's the same problem I'm finding here lately. I wonder if some of it is Canada Post's fault. I found the fabric I wanted to ship from the US, $40 in shipping! It was under 10 yards. I'm quite sure they weren't "thoughtfully" including the duty and brokerage for me either. Then I realized that what I'm reasonably sure was under $10 to ship to BC from AB not long ago cost me $12.22. It was -just- over the thickness of a letter (she actually crammed it through the slot then said nope, too big... uh,.. what?) and smaller than a regular letter sized envelope and less than 200g. Canada Post seems to have forgotten that many businesses need reasonable shipping rates to be able to continue to do business.

I found this out when I was going to order a bunch of Singer motor lube and make it available to people who needed it, but the price of shipping a single tube is 3 - 4 times the cost of the lube.

I guess what I'm saying is that the people in the US are getting -way- better shipping prices than we get, even within our own country.

Some stores will quote a charge for postage and then change it when they ship, because that is how the website is set up. The store then has to change it manually.

I love fabric.com. Free shipping on orders over $35 and they have coupon codes a lot. Plus they cut very generously.

I've ordered a lot of stuff from Thousands of Bolts and I've always gotten a pop-up that would tell me I could order X amount of additional fabric for the same shipping fee. Mind you, I don't go there and order a yard of fabric. I'm more inclined to order several yards of a solid and if I get the pop-up I will probably go back and add some smaller items since they will ship for the same price.

Priority Mail is boon to quilters because you can stuff a lot of fabric in those boxes. I've never ordered from Thousand Bolts and from what I've just read I probably never will. Fabric.com, Favorite Fabric, Missouri Star Quilt, Connecting Threads and equilter are my favorites; for their fabric and their shipping charges. Take a look.

Shipping is a big thing with me if I am purchasing fabric online. Especially if it is on sale. If the shipping goes up with each item it doesn't give you much of a bargain. I really like those sites that offer free shipping if you buy a certain amount. My favorites are MQC, Connecting Threads, Amazon, and when I can't live without a new series or so Fat Quarter Shop. I buy most of my templates on line if I can't get them from JoAnn's.

shipping period has gone crazy. When standard rate and priority is the same price I have to raise an eyebrow.. I just shipped a toy sewing machine from GA to FL and it was $10 .. I only charged 7 which meant I lost 3 between shipping and paypal and etsy charges I dont' think I made very much . I haven't figured it out yet. But I did have to go back and raise all my shipping charges. I really hated to do that and I think it lost me sales. I had someone ask me if I would ship to Australia and another to Canada.. The shipping was between 2x and 6x the cost of the toy.. Crazy just crazy and what kills me is they come half the time looking like they got run over or at least bounced around a lot. I sure wouldn't want to figure shipping for a bunch of fabric. Although I do know businesses get a cut rate. If a box cost me 30 + to ship my daughter could ship it from work for about half the cost.

If it's actual shipping costs-I used to sell on ebay and a lot of the time, depending on where the recipient lived, parcel post was higher than priority. So it can happen but usually shops don't charge actual shipping.

damaquilts-can you pm me with your etsy shop address? I always love looking at new shops there.