Is anyone finding themselves loading up a cart of fabric online at great prices and then when you get to checkout, the shipping cost causes you to walk away with nothing? I know shipping costs are up but it also seems that some sellers either:

1. make money on shipping by overestimating what it might cost and then keeping the difference or
2. send it by a higher cost shipping option than it really warrants with no other options.

For example, just this morning, it happened to me twice. I picked some fabrics that were a really good price (about 12 yards). The shipping cost was about $11. When I added an extra dollar to each yard, it wasn't as good a bargain. Then I wanted to order a pattern with the ruler included for about $15.00. The only shipping option was Priority for $8. I don't need it in two days - I'd rather wait a few more days and pay a little less.

Am I the only one frustrated by this trend?

I do this all the time. The shipping adds so much to the tab the good deal is no longer a good deal:<

I am totally with you, I have walked away numerous times because of sipping costs. I now do most of my ordering from Connecting threads and fabric.com. CT has free shipping over 50 bucks and fabric.com over thirty five bucks. I usually have NO problem spending that much! LOL
David

I have left many a shopping cart when I get to the final cost. I always add the shipping cost to see if it is still a good buy. Often I find that the cost is greater than the regular price of the fabric. I have many LQS close to me so it has to be a good buy for me to shop online. When I get an email for 10% off, I don't even go look because I know the shipping will eat that discount up. I ship a lot, so I know when I am being overcharged for shipping.

PS. buying from people on this board is also awesome!
David

You have to remember that when you are paying the shipping you are also paying for the person to box it up, the tape to close the box, the labels , etc...

When they ship only priority it could be because they can get delivery confirmation on the package to make sure it gets to where it is suppose to be.

what chaps me is when you order things that charge shipping according to how much money you spend, the more you spend the more it cost!, it can be a small lightweight item but cost $100 and $8-9 for shipping. I've paid $6 and when I get the itty bitty envelope it may have $2.34 postage but they sure don't give you a refund.

Sometimes the shipping is re-calculated before the CC is charged. I have contacted the shops to see if I could get a cheaper shipping if it was something I really wanted. If they would ship cheaper I would buy it, if they wouldn't I told them no thanks.

I also look at the shipping before I hit the 'buy' button. I live in a community with lots of LQS, Jo-Anns, Hobby Lobby, etc where I can probably get it the same price right here when I have added in the shipping and get it right now! I love it when they have 'free shipping'.....

I have won $10 prizes from the FabShop Hops and not used them because of the ridiculous shipping. I have also emailed a shop because they wanted some ridiculous shipping amount for a pattern and they adjusted the shipping manually. They have to put something in to calculate automatically but can make adjustments manually. It doesn't hurt to ask.

To me, it always seems that shops offer free shipping within continental USA. Not meeting that criteria often adds unreasonable amounts of money. I've managed to negotiate shipping by calling the vendor, since a problem always arises with some companies (such as FedEx) and not others (USPS). If there is no on-line option to choose shipping method, I always call. If shipping & handling seems just an exhorbitant 'extra', I'll find somewhere else to buy.
I understand why companies have preferred methods, and handling costs but don't understand when anything different becomes impossible.

Ditto!

I have found myself not ordering because of shipping cost more and more these days. I ordered 3 patterns and they wanted $12.00 for shipping. I found a different place to order them from. When I get packages a always check how much it cost to actually send and then how much they charged for shipping. Companies are consistent in over charging.

I won't buy frpm Clotilde for that very reason.

Lanny

i wanted to order a pattern the other day $4.50 and the shipping was $6.50!! To ship paper!
I really really wanted the pattern but i couldnt do it.

I won't spend the time to call to negotiate shipping price. I shop online for the convenience and having to make a call during their business hours (which incidentally are usually my business hours too) is too inconvenient. Charge the price you want for the item, charge the true price it costs to ship and offer a couple of options for those who can wait (slower is cheaper). That's all I'm asking.

But forcing us to buy more product than we want (in shipping), or offering low prices and then trying to pad the profit line through shipping is a sure way to lose customers.

I went to Cheryl Phillips' site to order a simple pattern and the shipping alone was $7. For a pattern.

I also get annoyed by the sites that make you fill out all your info BEFORE they let you know how much they're going to charge for shipping.

For me personally I look at it this way. My back cannot stand the ride to the fabric store. I cannot even think of shopping I might last 5 minutes. If it means I have to pay a little more for shipping it honestly for me and me only is worth the extra charge. There are times I will put in the comment section to see if they can ship it differently and 99% of the time they will. Sometimes it is just an option they set but can be changed.

I recently made an on-line purchase and as I was adding to the shopping cart I also was watching the shipping cost. It stayed the same until I reached the yardage amount that sent it to the next amount of an additional $5. USPS Priority FR. I knew there were a few items that were an impulse, so I started reducing by 1 yard at a time and only had to reduce 2 yards. It ended up to be 30 yards for 10.95 shipping, no handling charge. I made the sale work to my advantage.

I pretty much shop where shipping is free after a reasonable amount being spent (as in NOT $200.00!). Otherwise, I add the price of shipping onto the cost of the fabric and if it is not a good enough deal after that, I too just leave the site, cart and all.

I like the places that do the $35.00 or more... free shipping. Anything over $50.00 and I won't bother even trying to get my total that high.