Andy wrote:
"Palindrome" wrote in message
m...
wrote:
On Mon, 2 Apr 2007 17:50:19 +0100, "Andy" wrote:


I just don't get this system. They wait until the last day then ship
it on a next day delivery :/




This is not my experience. I have had stuff delivered several days
earlier than advertised.

Yes, the shipping is usually "next day" but that is because the
couriers don't offer a choice. I suspect that they charge less if they
are not required to deliver within 24 hours.
I reckon that ebuyer only has "next day" contracts for outgoing orders.

It's all to do with "just in time" ordering and stock levels. If they have
a few days before they need to ship, it gives them time to get goods in to
meet the orders. If it has to ship immediately on order, it has to be met
from existing stock. So, the more customers that take supersaver, the
lower they can keep their stock levels and the lower the amount of money
they have tied up in inventory.

Plus, of course, the extra that people are willing to pay for immediate
shippping more than offsets the cost of having to have some stock.

If they already have more stock than required to meet the immediate
shipping demands that are forecast, they may as well ship it immediately.
Otherwise it just needs to be stored, at a cost. Hence why some orders are
shipped early.


--
Sue


Strangely i hadn't considered JIT and the fact they may well indeed only
order the items in for supersaver on receipt of the order.


You're almost correct, eBuyer's stock levels are correct or at least
should be at the time of order. However they do use multiple dropship
vendors who's stock levels are also shown. If the dropship vendors
despatch the goods directly to you then there is a charge, however if
they deliver to eBuyer which is free, they then consolidate the order
inhouse. By having supersaver long delivery times this is possible. It
also opens the opportunity to manage worksflow, typically Monday &
Wednesday are big shipping days for them, having lots of orders that
they can ship when they want to means they can bring orders forward &
keep the staff busy.