We sell brand name products on the Internet using the Drop Shipping method. We have genuine Wholesale Suppliers who will fill our single-item orders by wending the products we sell DIRECTLY to our customers from the warehouse, with our business name on the package. Very low cost and effective.
BUT…they still have to charge us shipping, which means we still have to charge our CUSTOMERS shipping.
Normally, that’s just fine. Internet customers understand shipping charges, and with most products, it’s not even an issue.
However, what happens when you have a site that sells an “accessory” type product that goes along with your general product line, but only costs about $5 retail? A customer comes along and wants to buy that inexpensive accessory, but during the process of completing the order, they realize they are going to have to pay about $7 in shipping.
Ouch! $12 for a $5 accessory? Don’t think so.
So what do you do? Are you going to deprive your customers of the “accessories” that go along with your general product line, and possible lose that customer’s attention for good?
Not your first choice, is it?
There’s a way around this problem for many types of products.
Suppose your site sells those cool Velcro-type dart boards that parents love to give their kids, because Velcro tips won’t put holes in the walls, or in the other kids either, for that matter. The dart boards come with a supply of plastic darts.

However, we’re talking about KIDS here. Plastic darts break. They disappear. They go running off down the road taped to the tail of the neighbor’s cat. Someday, little Johnny is going to want to play darts with a Dart Set that has no darts. There will be crying involved; I have three kids and a grandson, and I know that sound.
Some parents will think ahead and buy some extra darts from you when they order the Set in the first place. Most will not.
Ok, someone comes back to your site and wants to order another set of three plastic Velcro darts. You sell them for $5. The shipping cost is $7.
$12 for three plastic Velcro-tipped darts? Guess what…Johnny’s Mom or Dad is going to decide to spend some time convincing Johnny that the Dart Set was never any fun anyway. It won’t be easy, and Mom or Dad will probably blame YOU for that, whether they should or not. :o)
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