Shipping & Handling ??

I get angry every time I see this on an invoice. To me it's just a scam to get more money out of the people. Think about it ! If you are selling a product and responsible for shipping how will you get it to the customer w/o handling the merchandise ? The quoted price includes all expences ? I'ts just an unethical, dirty scheme to get more money from the consumer. (My opinion)

Well, handling also involves packaging the product as well. The packaging material isn't free, either. I agree that many times the charges are inflated, though.

As a general rule, handling fee should be about 25% of the postage fee unless it's a low value item which then means the packaging can cost almost as much as the item itself.

Most places don't even charge a quarter of the labour charge for packing and packing materials are a significant cost to any business let alone the time consumed. I've spent up to an hour packing up parcels and have to give my labour for nothing or lose the customer on a larger order.

Yes some people do use S&H to bump up their sales price, ebay is famous for it, but there are real costs involved and it is a valid request should you want something packed well for transit. However, if you have made a very large order some companies might waive some of the charge if you ask nicely.

Why not include the handling charge with the cost of the product like it used to be and then add postage ? This was a general comment and not meant to insult you. I was in business and would not charge seperate prices for handling. I explained this to my customers prior to shipping. Baa, sorry you took this personally. Wish all shippers had your integrity......

Because with the high street's hard competition and the internet's 'seemingly' low pricing, customers, particularly those over the internet will go to the person who offers the cheapest price on the product (hence ebay sellers bumping up S&H charges to fill in) only the wary bother to look at the S&H charges before pressing that send button.

I didn't take it personally.

If I remember correctly (big if now and laws might have changed), handling is considered a service, and shipping cannot be marked up, and neither is taxable so sellers and vendors might be required to list them separately from the price of the items.

If you notice on TV they do not list seperatly. Now if there was a law that would show postage and handling seperatly, now that might put a stop to this ???

Kinda reminds me of when i went to waffle house the other night.
My son, his girlfriend and myself stopped in for a late night breakfast, the other one was home. We ordered ours and at the same time i ordered one "to go" for brandon.
Ate our food and put the tip on the table. When i was looking at the bills i noticed that there was a tip added to the "to go" check. I hit the roof. The waitress, who looks like shes seen her better days, gave me a song and dance about it being company policy, blah blah. She didnt "care" to see my point until i told her to give me $1.00 of what i had already given her back. I didnt feel a need to double tip and i had already given her $5.00.
Sorry for rambling, this just kinda reminded me of it, lol
jen

Tthat's another good point ! And how about the resraurants that include a tip in with your check w/o your permission ? Why should the waiter take extra care when serving you ? This takes away the iniative to be an exceptional waiter and give you good service.

I don't mean they have to be listed separately from each other, but separately from the item. When something is on TV, s/h is usually separated from the product price. For example, it'll be $9.99 plus shipping & handling.