22” Blue Weber Kettle with SnS insert
Kamado Joe Jr with Kick Ash Basket
Char-Broil Smartchef Tru Infrared Gasser
Anovo Hot Tub Time Machine with Custom Hot Tub
I am wanting to restock a few items and went to SJUfeller to pick out some product. I quickly emptied my cart and signed out. It would have cost me over $100 to ship about $90 worth of product. Too rich for my blood. And it stinks, because I really enjoy Fellers!
was that a fluke or just sign of the times, SJUfeller ?
I am in the same boat. I’ve said a few times here that I planned to order but paying extremely high shipping costs on top of premium prices for meat was just too much. At this point, I am hoping they can scale the business enough to offer free shipping with $x order which I think the majority of us can make it work then. I feel pretty bad about it but also frustrated.
If you’re lucky enough to live near a good meat market, always check out that option first. By the time you pay shipping costs, this could be a very good option for you. And don’t forget Costco or Sam’s Club!
Lonestar Grillz 24x36 offset smoker, grill, w/ main chamber charcoal grate and 3 tel-tru thermometers - left, right and center
Yoke Up custom charcoal basket and a Grill Wraps cover.
22.5 copper kettle w/ SnS, DnG, BBQ vortex, gasket and stainless steel hinge kit.
Napoleon gas grill (soon to go bye bye) rotting out.
1 maverick et-733 digital thermometer - black
1 maverick et-733 - gray
1 new standard grilling remote digital thermometer
1 thermoworks thermopen mk4 - red
1 thermoworks thermopop - red
Pre Miala flavor injector
taylor digital scale
TSM meat grinder
chefs choice food slicer
cuisinhart food processor
food saver vacuum sealer
TSM harvest food dehydrator
That free shipping option sure is nice while it lasts! I bet they do so much volume they have special contracts with FedEx that smaller outfits can't do.
As a company we have 97% shipping discount. It's a game as old as time. When you are shipping million of lbs in freight with them every year, they give you a "deal" HuskeeSteve B
Shipping costs are a huge piece of the puzzle, which we have been working on ever since we started our business. As we grow, we will have more leverage to negotiate better rates . . . and we are increasing our harvest numbers this spring and summer.
We are also looking at reducing our free shipping threshold from $300 to something in the $150 range. And we run promotions from time to time.
We are also considering adding some locations to be covered by our own delivery van. Right now, we deliver in the TwinCities metro area, but we are discussing adding some additional locations. (We Realize that that does not help most people . . . but it will benefit some.)
We also try to get word our that we are located in a pretty convenient location for anyone traveling through southern Minnesota. (Crossroads of I-35 and I-90.) We have had people stop in from many different parts of the country . . . which leads to many great discussions between customers and our butcher/partner. There is no better sales tool than having people see where our cattle come from and is processed, and meet the guy that grades and butchers the product.
Our most important item with shipping is making sure that the product arrives when scheduled and in excellent condition. Not all carriers allow use of dry ice, and when we first did shipping we had some issues with product not being fully frozen upon arrival. Thus, we decided we had to go with someone that allows dry ice. . . which is a bit more expensive.
we continue to work on the shipping challenge . . . and appreciate any and all suggestions!
I think it says a lot that you are responsive. Everyone wants to eat well and knowing the source is a big bonus. Of course, economics will drive most decisions.
Thank you SJUfeller for being so transparent and acknowledging us! Shiipping is a beast. If you are able to get around to that $150 threshold that would be great. While I have no problem ordering $300 worth of product, I ain’t got nowhere’s to put it!! 😝
Maybe offer the $150 threshold to your loyal AR members?
SJUfeller Thanks for the reminder of where you are located! I am planning to take the family to the Black Hills this summer, and could easily make a stop on my way home. No better time to try Wagyu beef for the first time than with a MN Grown business and active AR member.
I had a beer (or a few) last night at the Conger Bar & Grill with our partner that does the butchering and oversees packaging/shipping of on-line orders.
We were standing with some locals who (of course) had several "brilliant" ideas on how to deal with shipping issues. Most involved our hiring them to make deliveries to Florida, California, Montana, etc. -- we pay airline tickets and a couple nights lodging at the destination, and they would not charge us a dime for delivery! 🤣 (We are idiots for having not thought of that before, of course.)
The bar owner has an even better idea: customers from over 500 miles away get a "free" meal and drinks at his fine establishment . . . which would certainly make the drive from the west coast worthwhile!!
I said we really appreciate the advice and offers, and that we will get back to them . . .
More seriously, Jeremy (butcher/partner) feels we could lower shipping cost a bit by limiting the range of products we ship.
An example is briskets. We get lots of requests for different sizes of briskets, which we try to accommodate. However, briskets -- in general -- don't fit neatly into boxes, like steaks do. Briskets require more dry ice and inventorying more box and insulation sizes. They also take more time to properly package. Allowing shipment of a large range of sizes increases the challenge.
Maybe we need to standardize things more. Or maybe do a better job of explaining to customers (in the ordering process), what the cost of shipping different products is.
For example, if a customer were to see broken down shipping costs, would they maybe get more of one product and less of another?
Hypothetical customer: wants to order 4 ribeyes and a brisket, but they see shipping cost of $70 . . . so they decide not to order anything.
If that person saw that $45 of that $70 total was because of the brisket, would they still order the ribeyes? (I don't know if those numbers are at all accurate . . . but you get the concept.)
We will have this on the Agenda for our next meeting. Thanks again for all ideas and suggestions!
the breakdown idea is great, always happy to support Pit Members business but there's a line and shipping cost was it for me. Like your example in the past I've thrown some steaks and a brisket in the cart and then didn't buy anything, if I'd known it was the big muscle doing it I would have adjusted my order and proceeded with the purchase.
I think the breakdown would be helpful but it might be really hard to implement software wise, but maybe not. To use your example, if I knew the brisket was driving $45 of shipping costs out of a $70 shipping cost, then yeah, I’d probably drop it and keep the ribeyes.
That said, what happens to shipping costs if you only ship say a standard identical 13 pound brisket? Trimmed the same way etc. and leave the rest of the briskets for the locals.
The better idea is to try and offer a box at a flat rate. All of the meat you can fit in this box shipped for $25. Offer a selection of meats and at a certain pound limit, and if exceeded, move up a size. A larger box shipped for $35. Then you can standardize packaging and handling costs and ideally make a “standard” box for the “standard” brisket plus a few ribeyes. I am just thinking an area of the box designated for brisket and another for ribeyes.
I think a free shipping at $150 would be easier for sure, but maybe the above lets you manage costs while you work on the $150 free shipping deal.
STEbbq The standard size for briskets would certainly help . . . and we do hold back the largest and smallest for local customers. Narrowing the bracket for shipping is something we have in the hopper for discussion.
Johnny Booth. I like the pooling idea. Similar concepts work for seed and equipment purchases, and it is is common for small livestock ranchers to pool their cattle for sale . . . So they have more leverage. I will do some checking on that idea.
Did some research on your idea . . . but I have not found a really good fit yet.
The freight industry has all sorts of pooled shipping options for partial loads, but finding a model that works for small, independent meat purveyors is a challenge. Frozen product needed overnight delivery eliminates a number of options.
If we wanted to turn things over to a distributor or coop-type deal, it would certainly be possible to reduce freight. However, we want to control our own product and continue to be direct to consumers and restaurants.
I will do some more research . . .as it seems there have to be some companies that have found a solution.
If you can get the shipping down to $150 order I'll definetly buy something. Your responses and transparency aee very refreshing SJUfeller. I can't get up to the $300 order though. Just a little to rich for my blood.
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