How Do You Handle Orders From Booths or Vendor Shows?

[barbara_anne]

How does everyone handle orders they get at a booth? Do you have it direct shipped to the customer or do you deliver the products? I have done two that were close to where I live and delivered the products to each person. I will be doing another about 20-25 miles from where I live and I am not fond of driving all over the state to deliver products to people that will likely live 25+ miles from me. Those that have driven over 25 mi to deliver products, did you set up 1 or 2 days to do all of your deliveries and gave customers a time window?

 

[ShellBeach]

Direct ship.
When I was new to PC I delivered and I had another job so didn't mind the cost of gas, but the TIME. It was not worth my time.

 

[ShellBeach]

Looking back I don't know how I managed it all (delivery of PC) with a small child working 2 jobs!

 

[raebates]

If they're close and I know I'll have time, I have them shipped to me. Otherwise, I charge them the standard $5.25 and pay the additional direct-ship charge myself. It's cheaper and less frustrating than driving all over. I advertise that at my booth (standard shipping $5.25--my gift to you is that I'll pay the extra to have it shipped right to your door).

 

[ShellBeach]

Ooooh, that's a great way to sell it, rae! They would pay $5.25 at a show anyway - so the extra for direct ship as a "consultant gift" is way better than past suggestions I've seen, to offer completely free direct shipping....and does not cut into precious TIME driving around delivering it! I remember one time, I got such bad directions from an online map, it took multiple calls to the customer and almost an hour driving around a weird pocket neighborhood.....ugh. Never again!

 

[Rhonda's Kitchenette]

I have evrything sent to me and tell the guest to meet me back at the same location of the fair a week later- they all come back at once and I deliver.