Cost-Saving Shipping Tricks
I found an excellent article on some of the challenges book sellers face when trying to squeeze the most out of their margins on the Top Affiliate Program blog - click to read
Some of you may already have incorporated the following ideas, or may even have better ones (in which case, please share! 
), but this is what I do:
I buy 1 sized box big enough for multiple books in bulk to get the lowest prices (about 75¢ per shipment), then I pad the box with popcorn in ziplock bags to make sure the book gets to the customer safely (add another 2¢ or so for the bag and 0.00005¢ for the popcorn).
It sounds strange, but I then take advantage of that by including a postcard explaining the popcorn to the customer - how it is environmentally friendly, easily biodegradable, and give a little blurb about what a sensitive company we are by shipping in environmentally sensitive packaging.
I feel it is a good way to leave the customer with a positive feeling from the experience, even after they’ve received their book. Of course, my intentions are less than pure - I want ‘em to buy more from me!
As always, your comments are strongly encouraged, please email them to paul [a. t. ] booksellingonlineblog DoT com
