Rural Courier Costs Increase when address added.

Kia ora bikerchris, the shipping prices you see on Book a Courier are estimates. The final prices are based on:

• the delivery address (you can’t use PO boxes for delivery)
• your package size
• your package weight
• the courier’s availability on the day you choose for pick-up.

Hi Michelle,

Thanks for your response.

The problem is that buyers take the "estimate" as gospel, and pay accordingly.  They are not about to pay extra later, so you may have to consider changing things so the final total to pay is not shown until AFTER the "book a courier" step has been taken.

In my case, the delivery address was not a PO Box.

The size was "small (11 x 9 x 25 cm's) and light (under 3 kg's)

Courier availability - well, I have 3 shipments ready, one was supposed to be collected 20 April - (what is special about that day?) one today (not going to happen now...) and tomorrow (again, what is special about tomorrow??)  I have submitted enquiries concerning the delay in collection but not heard anything yet.

Thank you,

Chris

It was the same courier company - NZ Post.
All parcels were collected last night well after 6.00 pm....

Was the original quote from NZ post?

Kia ora bikerchris, thanks for the feedback, I've passed it on to the team. Unfortunately it's not possible to give an exact shipping cost up front as it depends on knowing the buyers delivery address as well as variances due to courier availability. Sometimes shipping will be less than the estimated price. We find buyers are generally OK with paying the difference when asked. Some sellers will refund the difference when shipping is less than the estimate, others take the approach that it evens out when taking the higher costs of shipping into consideration. 

All good, thanks for your responses.

Some sellers recommend adding a dollar or 2 to your estimated shipping costs when you set them. It covers these situations, and packaging materials, printer ink, etc etc.

Then if your moral compass swings the other way, and you don't have any real extra shipping costs you can give your buyer a little refund if it turns out to be less. Easy to do with Ping. And makes for glowing customers. 

Thanks for the comments.
Am happy to close this issue.

Hi bikerchris
I know you now have your answer but I just wanted to add that if you’re in this situation again, try ishipping.
I had to send a rural delivery parcel yesterday and the cheapest BAC quote was more than my buyer had paid. I was going to be out of pocket so I checked with ishipping and it was $3 cheaper. Booked a pickup with NZ Post around 11am and it was picked up the same day.

Thanks for the tip!! I'll certainly will be investigating that for sure!!
Many thanks!!