Shipping (USPS) price increases, and some GOOD news.

Hi all,

I'm sure you've all heard about the USPS price increases that are effective starting today 1/23/12 - If you haven't, HERE is a link with some information.

How has this affected Happy Button Soap Co?

Well, I've had to adjust my shipping rates, which are still broken down into zones 1-8 for domestic Regional Rate shipping, in addition to the small and Medium flat rates...all shipping rates are calculated based on two things: Zip code, to determine your zone for regional rate, and also Dollar amount spent, which would determine the size box needed. The overall impact of the price increase was very minimal for all domestic shipping...less than a .50 cent increase...in some cases, only 10 or 15 cents. Not much to worry about.

I have already adjust the prices in paypal, so when you check out, the shipping rates are the new shipping rates.

Now, As I've had an ongoing problem with International shipping prices, this price increase REALLY made things worse...in some cases, as much as $3.00 More! I was very upset about this, so I have made a decision which I think, will be a WELCOME relief to those who are international, and would like to order, but don't want to pay the ridiculous prices - I've decided to accept International orders by EMAIL and to ship those orders in PADDED Flat Rate Envelopes. Yes, this is exactly what I have mentioned several times that I did not wish to do, BUT, I care about my customers more than some stupid price increase, that will make it less likely for them to want to order - so I've decided to offer this for INTERNATIONAL customers ONLY. The Domestic shipping is cheap enough, and most of my orders are coming from the USA, so I would prefer to keep the integrity of the boxes used for shipping in 90% of the orders. Since I receive very few international orders, this is only a small risk I am taking on, and one I feel will benefit them to order more product which would make the cost of shipping worth it. Down the line, it is still my hope to be able to offer First Class shipping through the post office.

The padded envelope shipping cost is:

$12.95 for Canada and Mexico, and $16.95 for anywhere else in the world (obviously excluding USA).

What will fit in a padded envelope:

• Up to 5 full size scrubs, a sample pack (included in every order) and some smaller items such as lip balms or solid perfumes. 

• Or  4 full size scrubs, and a shampoo and conditioner. 
• If you're not sure if it will fit - Just email me and ask :) I can make sure before you commit to the order.

So, international customers can email me at happybuttonsoap@gmail.com with your order request, and I will send an invoice with the padded envelope shipping cost.  Once payment is received, Order will be packed and shipped.

Again, this option is for International customers only!

(**USA customers ordering a single scrub will also receive the padded envelope, rather then a small flat rate box, due to the size of the scrubs containers which I had mentioned in a previous Facebook post: The low profile containers were out of stock, so I had to order the taller ones. They are still 8oz, as usual - Cost is still the same as small flat rate.)

I hope this Helps - Even though small flat rate also went up a bit, better to be able to order more products than what would typically be able to fit into a small flat rate box to make it worthwhile, at lease in my opinion!

Thanks for your understanding!

xoxo
~Bree

1 more shipping update for internationals, and sampler packs are coming!

Hi all,

Just wanted to update for anyone who is international, and still having difficulty with the shipping. The new shipping profiles should have made it easier to get most things for the small flat rate shipping, but there is one combination that actually CAN fit in a small flat rate box, but because the shipping cut off is based on amount spent, I couldn't get this one in under the cut off. A shampoo and conditioner together, CAN fit in small flat rate. Since the cost of each is $10, I couldn't make the cut off $20.00, simply because the scrubs are the same price, and 2 scrubs cannot fit into small flat rate.

If you are international, and just want to order a shampoo & conditioner, please email me your scent choice for each according to what is available on the website, and your shipping address to: happybuttonsoap@gmail.com 


I will then generate an invoice for you that includes small flat rate shipping (either $11.35 or $13.25 depending on your country). This invoice will be through paypal, so you can log into paypal once you recieve it, and pay for it that way, and I will ship it out to you. 

I realize that shipping is expensive if international, and I'm doing everything I can to get that down, but at this point, the only thing cheaper would be padded envelopes, and I will not ship using those because they do not offer enough protection. I do not charge anything extra for shipping (no handling fees), only the actual cost to ship.

Another option that you all, whether domestic OR international will be able to benefit from, are sampler packs I am putting together. There will be a sampler pack for each collection, showcasing different products in each scent available. This way, you will get to try all scents in that particular collection, and all of the different forms those scents can come in (i.e., scrubs, lotions, shampoo & conditioner). I will not be doing them mix and match, because to make each sampler to order for every different scent, and product combination would be too time consuming, and I just can't do it. I will be making these up in advance, and that is the most efficient way for me to do it, since I work alone. These samplers will contain

1oz shampoo
1oz conditioner
2.9oz lotion
2 x 2.9oz sugar scrubs (2 different scents)

Since the Sinful collection only comes in scrubs, that one will be:
5 x 2.9oz scrubs in each available sinful scents.

The sampler packs will all ship small flat rate, and will be $10 each (with a total of 10.7oz product ) and the sinful sampler will be $12 each with a total of 14.5oz product.

It will take me a few weeks to get in the packaging and also to start making them up, so once I get everything going, I will list them on the site for sale. I hope this will encourage some of you who are thinking about trying my products to give it a go!

Shipping Update!

Hi all,

just a couple quick shipping updates...I further addressed the shipping issue, because I just wasn't happy with Big Cartel's settings, and I hated to discourage international people from even making a small order, due to 1 set shipping rate, so I changed that!!

I decided to use Paypal's shipping profiles instead of Bigcartel's, so now when you click the check out button, you will be re-directed to Paypal. It will ask you to enter your Zipcode, if within the US, or click on "Outside of the US" just next to that if you are International.

For Domestic shipping, I was able to break up all the states into Zones 2-8, with the regional rate pricing. So automatically, when you place an order, it will give you the appropriate regional rate for your zip/state. Some states were half in one zone, and half in another, so I went the the majority - there's only a very small difference, like maybe up to 50 cents per zone, and if it's significant at all, which it shouldn't be, I will still refund shipping.

Also, I broke it down by Dollar amount spent - so if you are only placing a small order, for $16.50 or less (which would be for one scrub, and a smaller *coming soon* item, 2 lotions, or a shampoo) it will automatically defualt to the small flat rate shipping of $5.00 ANYWHERE in the US. anything over $16.50 up to $50.00 would be Regional rate A shipping for your state, and if it's over $50.00, it would either go Regional Rate B if in Zones 1-4, or Medium flat rate ($10.50) from zones 5-8 (MFR in these zones is cheaper than regional rate. )

As for internationals - I still only have small, medium, and large flat rate, BUT, as I did for the domestic shipping, I also broke the international orders down by amount - so if you spend $16.50 or less, and are in Canada and Mexico, it will automatically default to Small flat rate which is $11.35, and anything over that amount will default to Medium flat rate, which is $26.55

For any other Country aside from Canada and Mexico, The same holds true - If you place an order for $16.50 or less, the shipping will default to small flat rate at $13.25, and anything over that amount will default to Medium Flat Rate shipping for $43.22  (this will hold up to 12 scrubs! so it's a good size box.)

I hope this helps you all when placing orders, so you wont have to put down more that what it will cost, also if I spend less time refunding shipping on every order, I can be making more product!


Have a very safe and Happy Thanksgiving Holiday!!

xoxo
~Bree