Shipping Glass Bottles of Maple Syrup is Expensive - USA

[OrangeAgain]

Shipping Glass 1/2 and one gallon bottles of Maple Syrup is costly in a retail sale.

Does your shipping cost cover 100% of the shipping/packaging cost?

What's the best way to ship so that you don't lose money on the shipping cost?

[DougM]

Our local equipment supplier has his glass shipped on pallets, so shipping is a lot less than having small lots shipped directly to us. We work with him to make sure he knows how much we expect to need for the season and can have it included in the order. And we always say glass never goes bad, so having extra on hand doesn't hurt.

[DMF]

I think the OP was asking about shipping finished bottled product. If so, I always included 100% shipping costs. That being said, I try as hard as possible to not ship syrup anywhere.

[TapTapTap]

We don't ship in glass containers, just plastic jugs. I'm surprised that the plastic jugs survive seeing the way I see the PO handle them. I don't know if other people ship in glass but I'd be afraid that buyer will get quite a sticky mess if something breaks. My advice is to stick with plastic. I think most people do the flat rate box from the post office at a very reasonable rate. I know I can't deliver a box across the country for under $15.

Ken

[sugarman3]

You tell customers that they pay for shipping cost,that what i have done for 25 yrs ,never had one complain about paying,just complain like me about the cost ,crazy

[craigwade2005]

I don't ship glass. I guess if someone wanted it bad enough I would take the time to try, but generally its pretty cost prohibitive.
A medium flat rate box fits 3 or 4 plastic quarts and a few more pints so I usually try and talk them into ordering more even if they need to get a friend to buy a couple. $16 divided among 3 or 4 quarts is much easier to swallow than doubling the price of a single quart.

[maple flats]

The only syrup I ship in glass is bourbon barrel aged maple syrup. I ship them in USPS flat rate boxes, either medium or large as dictated by the size of the order. My customers pay all of the shipping cost except the labels, tape and packing paper I use, but I buy the label thru a service which saves me enough to essentially cover those costs (except my time to pack it). For packing paper I use 18" wide craft paper that I have in a 2000' roll on a dispenser, I just pull off the appropriate amount, crumble it and pad the contents. Doing this for about 12-14 years so far, only had one shipment get damaged, USPS paid the claim. That was 2 jugs of half gal in plastic about 7-8 years ago.

[TapTapTap]

I assume Dave's bourbon maple syrup is sold in smaller glass. I can't imagine enough packing to protect a whole gallon. And I don't think the larger glass containers are built as well as the smaller considering the weight difference.
Ken

[maple flats]

Yes my bourbon barrel aged maple syrup is in smaller bottles, specifically 100ML, 200ML and 37ML, all in flask style glass.
I suggest your fixation on packing in glass for everything is mis-guided. There is a good reason so much plastic is sold annually, it ships well.

[OrangeAgain]

I suggest your fixation on packing in glass for everything is mis-guided. There is a good reason so much plastic is sold annually, it ships well.

Dave; It's NOT my "fixation". I'm trying to advise my maple syrup products website client. There are many online retailers who offer maple syrup in glass and plastic. I agree shipping in plastic jugs is safer and less costly.

[maple flats]

I have a rather healthy online sales record and I only offer syrup in glass in my bourbon barrel aged syrup mentioned above. I've never had a single customer in my 22 years of selling online ask if I had syrup in glass, I doubt it's a big demand item.
If others want to argue it, go ahead, it's just my opinion.