What's up with duck shipping costs?

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

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Have to agree with ya there too. Good point, a box is a box, they have to lable it, handle it, BUY the box, liner, pack it, and get it addressed and off to you, and in most cases guarentee them to arrive alive or they replace them for free or refund the cost. Not to mention the office work, taking the order, contacting you about the order etc. all this is labor and someone has to pay for it in the long run.
Off a handful, they make virtually nothing for all this, so yes, the extra cost is justifiable for all the effort.

 

[redsoxs]

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If that were true there were be a minimum order on everything you ever ordered from any catalog.

 

[Wifezilla]

Many times there IS a minimum order. OR, there is a fee built in to the shipping or the cost of the product to cover that cost. Catalog companies do NOT pay the same price the average person to ship a package. Their cost to fedex or ups is discounted because of the volume. That is where they make up the money. Some companies just charge you a "handling" or "processing" fee. They are making their money somewhere because nobody can work for free and remain in business.

I worked for a company that ran a catalog fulfillment center. I also worked as a QA auditor for a catalog company AND now I own a copy shop that, as part of my business, offeres FEDEX shipping. So yeah. I do know what I am talking about here.

 

[redsoxs]

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. I've found a reputable hatchery that, while there is a minuimum $ amount (just $25), I can order the 4 ducks I want without being spanked for the additional $40 handling fee. And the actual shipping cost are in line with others.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

yes, sounds like Ideal
good luck with them, bantams dont do too well for me from them, hope your ducks do

 

[TLWR]

My shipping charges for my small order was the actual shipping charges. I paid extra for the required heat pack (didn't want my ducklings freezing at night on their travels) and then a min order fee. I knew up front about the min order and I was fine with it. I basically paid $20 per duckling (which DH thought was nuts lol), but I also paid more than that for all of our dogs, so what's $20 each for a duck when I only ordered a few for pets?

If you found a cheaper option, great

 

[bayyjayy]

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What are roos?

 

[Kevin565]

Roosters.

 

[bayyjayy]

Wonder why I couldn't figure that out! Duh. Thanks!

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

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very well said.
It's a risk to ship a small order in the first place, and since an order was placed, well you want them alive right, so why not do what you can to get them there safe in the first place.
Priority and small orders just do not mix. As I said earlier, you can always do like I did and buy adults and pay $130+ a box for the shipping plus a $25- $45 box fee.
After all, whats $20 for a pet anywy, pretty good if you ask me.
If they can be found shipped cheaper, good luck to you. Goes back to the old says of, you get what you pay for.