SFR, Inc.

[ddicerc]

I went to the SFR site to place a small order (just to see how fast Cliff is at filling them -that and I don't have the cash for a case of Treefolk at the moment). When I went to check out, PayPal added $10 shipping to the order. The web site says US shipping is $8. Either there's an error on the PayPal shopping cart, or SFR needs to update their shipping costs. (And at $10, I'll wait for a larger order.)

[chuckpint]

Sorry about that, the website was wrong. I've updated the website with the correct information....

[cliffwiggs]

[deputyfife]

I just wanted to comment on the shipping.
It shouldn't take 3 weeks to fulfill an order, unless some very cheap, slow shipping is chosen to keep costs down. (Which in turn should be passed on to customers.) This doesn't seem to be the case. I placed an order on Feb. 3, and have received two notices of intent to ship on Feb. 8 and Feb. 11 (meaning the sender intended to take the order to the post office on those two days.) I have no idea if it was sent on the second time, but apparently my order is going to take so long because of a delay in sending, not because of long transit time.
I buy on ebay enough to be relatively aware of shipping prices, and sometimes, especially on heavier packages, UPS is actually cheaper. This in addition to automatically insuring up to $100, being faster and more reliable. No, I'm not affiliated with UPS. I've just noticed that people I buy from who use UPS get their shipments to me faster, and in general charge less for them.
I just wanted to bring this up, since UPS will pick up a package, which would greatly reduce the shipping time.
That should relate to at least faster and better service to your customers. We already have fairly large shipping prices compared to the cost and weight of the dice. (Yes, I know that dice are heavy, but not THAT heavy. I'm paying the same in shipping for 2 cases of kickers and a couple assorted other kicker packs that I have paid for 8 sealed booster/starter boxes of CCGs! The weight isn't even comparable.) And the bulk of any package containing starter and kicker packs is going to be air and cardboard, by volume.
I don't say this as a customer so much as someone who hopes your business is successful (because I like the product): offering free shipping on large orders can induce larger orders.

[chuckpint]

I guess the email I sent to you didn't explain well enough. It's quite simple. We have one unpaid volunteer that ships out product. We know that sometimes it takes a week for him to get the package packed up, and get it sent out. The Post Office advises everyone to allow 1-2 weeks for Priority Mail. So we post quite truthfully on our website that it may take up to 2-3 weeks for you to receive your order.

As for UPS, it can be quite cheap if you ship a lot, and you have a storefront. We don't have either. So for the few packages that get sent out, USPS is the cheapest option. Yes there may be more air in our packages, but dice have 5 times the density of paper. So they are heavy. Can you ship enough cards to make a heavier package than dice? Sure. But in general, for the same product cost, our packages are heavier and therefore cost more to send.

As Cliff (who does all the shipping) says, for the average we lose money on shipping. You're asking us to lose even more money on shipping? Not going to happen. And BTW, the larger orders are the ones that we tend to end up paying more for shipping than it actually costs. So in effect, we are offering cheaper shipping for large orders.

[cliffwiggs]

Thanks for the defense.
The emails he refered to come from the USPS website. We print our shipping labels there because we get free delivery confirmation that way. USPS automatically sends him an email when I print the label. I printed his label when his order first came in and then when I got ready to mail the package discovered that my girls had used them for art paper, so I printed them again (thus the 2nd email)

BTW - the girl at the USPS showed me some new boxes thay have for flat rate shipping. Its about $1.70 than the boxes I've bene using, so I'm going to order some of them.

If you have any suggestions on how to make shipping cheaper/faster please let me know. I'm sure there are better ways than I've been doing it.

[Darth Macho]

I just want to say that USPS is the cheapest option for these sized packages, and the myth of long waits is just that, a myth. I did, however, wait three months for my one order of Dragon Dice, but in defense of the sellers, the matter was settled and I DO plan on making future purchases. I am encouraged by the responses and good communication on these boards.

[deputyfife]

Okay, I just wanted to clarify, so that no one thinks I was being belligerent or attacking.

Chuckpint,

I posted this message before reading your email to me. I understand what happened now, and I'm cool with that. And I do fully understand the business model SFR has chosen to take with their online orders. I also understand the problem with shipping, and it is a leap of faith for any business to take that bulk will override lost profit margins. It very well may not apply to something like Dragon Dice, especially with limited business activity right now.

To Cliffwiggs,

I hope you don't think I was attacking you. I was confused by the two emails usps sent me, which essentially made it look like you had set up a date for shipping, not made it, and set up a second date. After reading other's problems with shipping, it just looked like something that could continue happening. Obviously, that wasn't the case. But when I initially sent the emails and posted my message above, that is the impression I was operating with, and it was frustrating.

I really do want you guys to succeed with Dragon Dice, so my suggestions, while they may not apply to your business well, were made in the honest attempt to raise what may be a better business model that had not been considered.
SFR may even want to consider outsourcing the shipping aspect to a company that solely handles that type of thing, if the lower shipping costs they pass on to you would result in more savings than the fees they would charge(doubtful, but a possibility.)

[cliffwiggs]

[deputyfife]

[deputyfife]

I just wanted to say, for anyone still reading this thread and deciding whether to order or not, I am VERY satisfied with the answers to my questions, and to how quickly I did in fact receive my order. I have it here right now, 11 days(I believe) after ordering, which easily beat the maximum of 3 weeks. And that was after an unavoidable delay and some goofiness on the part of Paypal and USPS(which SFR had nothing to do with.) Cliff Wiggs (who handles all shipping, I believe) was very professional about my questions and worries, and I will be ordering again in the future. (When I have enough money for a decent-sized order.)

And Cliff, I sent you a PM with a question I was hoping you could answer at your first opportunity.

Thanks again, and I encourage anyone else to order with SFR and support their efforts to fully rejuvenate Dragon Dice.

[Deeghter]

Just visited the SFR purchase page (again and I'm seriously planning a bigger purchase in the near future.

As far as shipping is concerned, Cliff:

It says "foreign buyers add 10$ to listed shipping costs"!
But you relate those listed shipping costs to the $-amount of the order, not to the weight!!

1. If I order the really expensive stuff, I would end up paying too much regarding to the actual weight (right??) in comparison to cheap (and therefore much more) dice.

2. If I would agree with longer shipment time without insisting on the mentioned 2-3 weeks delivery time, would you then look for a cheaper way (surface mail)?? Of course I know that you already have enough to do with all the other orders and that you just might not have the time to search for individual shipping variants for each customer! I would understand that!

If cheaper surface mail, what happens to the automatically payed +10$ (without which I won't be able to continue with the shopping program, I guess)??

I'm not asking this because I doubt your delivery system but because as an overseas buyer I always have to pay more than others (due to far shipping) AND additionally have to pay customs fees! That requires a thorough thinking and calculating in advance to have an acceptable cost/use effect as you might understand!?
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www.dragondicer.com
SFR's German electro-punk-bluegrass artist Deeghter @@ My S&JW Memorial Space! Tanx, Steve!

[cliffwiggs]

[Deeghter]

Thanks for your answer, Cliff! I get the point and I understand the fact that in this case you haven't got any alternative!

As far as paypal is concerned I don't understand why they can't offer you (respective: us) the option of entering any specific amount for shipping!? It works pretty fine with ebay, where the seller decides about shipping costs!!
This is not addressed to your statement but to paypal itself!

Well, I guess we have to live with this and it won't keep me from ordering in the near future! (But customs might do so )

I'm already used to the fact that I usually end up paying as much (or even more) for shipment as for the item itself, but customs really sucks!!!

Cliff, let me assure you that I (and I bet, all the others, too) honestly appreciate your efforts to make shipment a fair deal to both sides!!

(Even Mr. Green honestly agrees with that, with a seldom seen friendly smile (not mean grin as usual) on his face! So that should mean something to you, Cliff
_________________
Mr. Green Fan Club President

Forum Games Record: W 5 / L 10

www.dragondicer.com
SFR's German electro-punk-bluegrass artist Deeghter @@ My S&JW Memorial Space! Tanx, Steve!