topic Re: QUESTION ABOUT USPS SHIPPING CHARGES TO QVC in Community Chat

QUESTION ABOUT USPS SHIPPING CHARGES TO QVC

Puppy Lips — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 16:53:50 GMT

Since we are talking about shipping charges, here is what I have been wondering. So QVC charges us $3.50 or $5.50 or $7.50, or more, for shipping and "handling." Of course the "handling" part is supposed to pay for their QVC employee, so whatever. Does QVC have a set rate with the USPS for say the $3.50 bags/boxes, no matter what they weigh and cost? Same for the higher charges? Would QVC pay the same amount to the postal service for postage on similar items, even given they weigh different amounts and are packaged differently? Or do you think they are all weighed individually and QVC is charged accordingly?

And on the reverse for returns, same thing? I know I have stuffed 4 clothing items in one bag for a return that I know would cost me more than $6.95 if I were to pay for my own postage.

Wondering if anyone has some insight on this.

Re: QUESTION ABOUT USPS SHIPPING CHARGES TO QVC

reviewer from sc — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 17:01:10 GMT

From what I understand, big companies like QVC have a contract with different shipping companies, like the USPS, for bulk shipping. Since they have so many packages going in and out every day, shipping companies offer them a special bulk rate. This is something I was told by a UPS employee many years ago.

Re: QUESTION ABOUT USPS SHIPPING CHARGES TO QVC

Imaoldhippie — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 17:27:09 GMT

Its called bulk rate, at least back in the day, dont know if it has a new fancy updated name now.

Re: QUESTION ABOUT USPS SHIPPING CHARGES TO QVC

shopqvcless — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 17:43:17 GMT

@Puppy Lips, so if you are mailing back 4 items, did you use the pre pay postage of $6.50? Someone told me once that they would charge $6.50 per item if I did that so I always pay for the postage if I'm sending back 2 or more items in same package.

Thanks!

Re: QUESTION ABOUT USPS SHIPPING CHARGES TO QVC

Puppy Lips — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 18:19:45 GMT

@shopqvcless wrote:
@Puppy Lips, so if you are mailing back 4 items, did you use the pre pay postage of $6.50? Someone told me once that they would charge $6.50 per item if I did that so I always pay for the postage if I'm sending back 2 or more items in same package.

Thanks!

@shopqvcless Yes, I used the QVC return label and that $6.95 was deducted from just one of the four items, in the refund. Of course all had the $3.50 deducted. I always watch though and do the math to make sure I was not cheated. I have two pairs of pants to send back, if the second color ever gets to me. They are going back together too. I think I am done with QVC for awhile, for many reasons.

Re: QUESTION ABOUT USPS SHIPPING CHARGES TO QVC

shopqvcless — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 18:28:25 GMT

Oh geez I'm going to have to try that because I have always paid a lot more thean $6.95 when I've sent back multiple items. I've never understood why they charge another $3.50 for a return. I'm starting to wean off things too......prices plus returns are just getting to high. I noticed today that if you order for the first time you get free shipping until January!!! How about doing that for their long time customers!!

Re: QUESTION ABOUT USPS SHIPPING CHARGES TO QVC

RespectLife — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 19:21:14 GMT

@shopqvcless wrote:
Oh geez I'm going to have to try that because I have always paid a lot more thean $6.95 when I've sent back multiple items. I've never understood why they charge another $3.50 for a return. I'm starting to wean off things too......prices plus returns are just getting to high. I noticed today that if you order for the first time you get free shipping until January!!! How about doing that for their long time customers!!

@shopqvcless

I have seen the same posts as you...that $6.50 was deducted from EACH item in the one bag.

I guess it depends on if you are lucky getting someone nice in the Returns Dept!

They do Not charge you another $3.50 for a return.

You lose your ORIGINAL $3.50 shipping/handling fee AND the cost of the label.

Re: QUESTION ABOUT USPS SHIPPING CHARGES TO QVC

Bookplate — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 23:15:33 GMT

If you are sending back more than one item and they are not heavy, it might be cheaper to pay the return postage yourself than use the prepaid label. I know from experience that those returns get there much faster than ones using the prepaid label. However, I think postage rates recently went up again, so as I said this would only be an advantage for light weight items.

Re: QUESTION ABOUT USPS SHIPPING CHARGES TO QVC

CalminHeart — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 11:53:35 GMT

One of the depts I ran at a huge corporation was the incoming and outgoing mail dept. Corporations have contracts with UPS, USPS, and FedEx. They paid about 25% of what you and I pay for USPS. They paid about 20% of what UPS typically charges.

Re: QUESTION ABOUT USPS SHIPPING CHARGES TO QVC

RespectLife — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 12:02:46 GMT

@Bookplate wrote:
If you are sending back more than one item and they are not heavy, it might be cheaper to pay the return postage yourself than use the prepaid label. I know from experience that those returns get there much faster than ones using the prepaid label. However, I think postage rates recently went up again, so as I said this would only be an advantage for light weight items.

@Bookplate

I returned a bra and paid $2 MORE than the return label fee.

Can't get much lighter than that! LOL

However, it DID get there much faster...BUT now w/ EZ returns, I get my exchange or refund in a couple days so I don't care how long it takes to get back!

Re: QUESTION ABOUT USPS SHIPPING CHARGES TO QVC

Puppy Lips — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 15:10:39 GMT

@CalminHeart wrote:
One of the depts I ran at a huge corporation was the incoming and outgoing mail dept. Corporations have contracts with UPS, USPS, and FedEx. They paid about 25% of what you and I pay for USPS. They paid about 20% of what UPS typically charges.

@CalminHeart Oh wow. Thank you - that is the kind of information I was looking for. I imagine that UPS, USPS, and Fed Ex all bid for the contract. I am a bit shocked that QVC and big shippers pay so much less. So that leads me to two thoughts. 1) Now I see how QVC makes money on postage. 2) I wonder if the rest of the population, us lowly people, are paying MORE to ship our stuff because they give such a huge discount to the big shippers. Something just not seem fair about this, but that should not surprise me. Nothing seems fair to me anymore. Thanks for the info.

Re: QUESTION ABOUT USPS SHIPPING CHARGES TO QVC

RespectLife — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 19:44:44 GMT

I can't mail an 8.5 x 11 envelope of paperwork for my company for $3.50 just to get across town, let alone a box across country.

If I have to pay a shipping fee, I'll take $3.50.

Many items are coming across country from the Ontario, CA warehouse to me.

You think $3.50 covers that? I sure don't. It's almost 3000 miles....realize how many employees and HOW MUCH FUEL it cost to get that to me!

Sure it is built into the cost of the item, but $3.50 is a bargain.

Re: QUESTION ABOUT USPS SHIPPING CHARGES TO QVC

CalminHeart — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 11:34:27 GMT

@Puppy Lips wrote:
@CalminHeart wrote:
One of the depts I ran at a huge corporation was the incoming and outgoing mail dept. Corporations have contracts with UPS, USPS, and FedEx. They paid about 25% of what you and I pay for USPS. They paid about 20% of what UPS typically charges.

@CalminHeart Oh wow. Thank you - that is the kind of information I was looking for. I imagine that UPS, USPS, and Fed Ex all bid for the contract. I am a bit shocked that QVC and big shippers pay so much less. So that leads me to two thoughts. 1) Now I see how QVC makes money on postage. 2) I wonder if the rest of the population, us lowly people, are paying MORE to ship our stuff because they give such a huge discount to the big shippers. Something just not seem fair about this, but that should not surprise me. Nothing seems fair to me anymore. Thanks for the info.

One more thought. So much of what Q and vendors ship is sent by parcel post. That's a whole lot cheaper than 1st class. It's also the slowest and lowest priority mail. Many retailers use 3rd parties to move parcel post mail from place to place. Those 3rd parties aren't going to make a trip if it isn't profitable so things can sit a while.

Re: QUESTION ABOUT USPS SHIPPING CHARGES TO QVC

Puppy Lips — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 15:49:50 GMT

@RespectLife wrote:
I can't mail an 8.5 x 11 envelope of paperwork for my company for $3.50 just to get across town, let alone a box across country.

If I have to pay a shipping fee, I'll take $3.50.

Many items are coming across country from the Ontario, CA warehouse to me.

You think $3.50 covers that? I sure don't. It's almost 3000 miles....realize how many employees and HOW MUCH FUEL it cost to get that to me!

Sure it is built into the cost of the item, but $3.50 is a bargain.

@RespectLife I agree with you. But......as you can read in the post above yours, QVC does not pay the same shipping that the general public does. They pay a LOT less than that. So apparently, they do make money on shipping charges, probably both the shipping going out and the shipping on the returns as well.

Re: QUESTION ABOUT USPS SHIPPING CHARGES TO QVC

RespectLife — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 20:00:53 GMT

Oh of course they do @Puppy Lips !

A big discount. My previous company we negotiated our shipping deals UPS vs FEDex etc every year and signed contracts.

But it wasn't like we were getting it for free....less than Mrs. Smith, but still a fee by weight AND distance.

$3.50 to me may only be a buck to them, but they are still paying shipping. I just received an item that shipped from Oregon (direct from the vendor not Q itself)

That is a LONG way to come across the entire country....even at a drastic discount from the $3.50 ...it still would NOT have covered the true cost of the shipping.

Plus, I ordered on free ship days, so even the smaller amount they are charged by the carrier is still a loss for them since none of my items have gone up in price...and some went on sale.