Are you sometimes finding your order too small to be justified for the shipping cost? I sometimes wish to buy a pair of socks or a single HDMI cable, and find shipping cost a lot higher than the goods.
I posted my test online store that never charges delivery fee, and sell all kinds of goods in envelop size (bulk parcel delivery comes later in the year).†
1 out of 10 visitors to the test site wrote feedback. Amazing. Thank you. I also learned that I cannot satisfy the OZ Bargain community the way you want me to. You want domestic delivery and bargain price of only 2 dollars above Chinese ebay sellers, which leaves an Aussie domestic business at loss. I learned that I will have no business if I only target OZBargainers.
But I think I can satisfy you (more or less), bargainers! If you would help me too! I need your help to reach the common consumers - you know, the less diligent, mind-absent, impatient, and loving Aussies who made you feel so lonely as a Bargainer!
The idea is to issue OZ Bargainer's License.
- It gives you the rock-bottom price on any products I sell, the price that I make zero profit with.‡
- It's a one-time issue. You can't buy it and it is only issued for free to OZBargain users before the store opens to the public.
- You also get the promise that the website never shows the rock-bottom price to those who don't have the Bargainer's License.
- It allows you to buy up to 15 items per 3 month at rock-bottom-price (please feedback: how many do you need?), for you or gifting to friends.
- We listen to you on what new products to stock.
- It expires. To renew, gift a friend. The license gets renewed whe your friend register and fill in his/her address to receive it.
- It is NOT viral! Your friend will not get a Bargainer's license just because gifted him, and unless you tell, they don't know how cheap you get them! You win friends!
This is how to get an OZ Bargainer's License (plan):
(Don't do it yet, I'm not ready):
You, as ozbargain user, go to the store, choose what you like, don't worry about the price.
You will receive a message with your OZ Bargainer's Licence, together with the rock-bottom cost of the product. In the meantime I will stock.
Your Licence will become effective when I finish stocking and open the store to the public.
On gifting others to renew your licence:
You will have to cover the cost of the gift. The cheapest items is $2 with Bargainer's Licence. Not charged if gift not accepted.
Now, I wish to discuss this idea with you before putting it to execution. How do you think?
† The test site is http://w.enveloped.com.au. The goods are embrassingly limited: only 60 products, but they are all commonly needed items and I'll expand it to 500+ goods in half a year.
‡ About Rock Bottom Price: the price at which the store make no profit. It includes import duty, GST, delivery, paypal fee etc. So it should be the best lawful domestic price possible. Domestic = around 4 day in waiting for delivery.
There is an acronym/saying in the English language. K.I.S.S
You may want to look it up.
This is no means a simple plan, for both the business and the consumer.