How much should I charge my customers to ship their order of my book or DVD?
I have noticed many small publishers add just a small amount of money above postage for shipping & handling fees on their publications. This is a mistake. These fees need to cover not only postage but a variety of other expenses that the time-consuming fulfillment process entails. What about packing materials, overhead, labor for invoicing and payment processing,pick and pack and customer service, plus a profit margin. All these items need to be taken into consideration when establishing the shipping and handling fees you will charge your customer. In other words, let your customer bear at least a portion of the fulfillment costs. Your overall profit margin will benefit.
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All Things Fulfilling 
Great information and well built. Congratulations! Randy
Hi Randy – Thanks, I appreciate the support! This stuff does not come easy to me being of the “other
generation.” But, as I keep telling myself “Just do it!”
Just to share my big excitement for the day. I contacted the Independent Book Publishers Assoc
(national and parent organization to each state publishing org) about running an article in their
monthly newsletter on order fulfillment. They have accepted and the editor and I just came up
with something we are happy with! Onward…
I would agree with your comments regarding covering cost on S&H, but do not agree that S&H should be viewed as a profit center. Many customers are turned away by overly expensive processing charges, especially on low value orders. You can read my “counterpoint” article on this topic here – http://conformerinc.wordpress.com/2009/12/29/hall-of-shame-5-sh/
Hi Bob, Thanks for your comment. I agree there is a very fine line as to what will be tolerated by the consumer for
S & H on orders. It is very important that much consideration needs to go into what is charged for S & H.