Special SNOW sale!!!

[M. A. C. Newsome]

A little more than half an hour to go....

[Fit2BKilted]

Hi, guys!

From a few emails I have received there seems to be some confusion over just where I'm asking you to input the word "SNOW" to receive the rebate.

Some folks are attempting to enter this in as a promotional code or coupon. That is not what this is. (I'm not that tech savy - yet!).

I'm asking you to enter this in as "special instructions." When we receive the order on our end, part of the order details shows whatever you input in as special instructions to us. If I see the word "SNOW" on an order, I'll know to give it the rebate on Monday.

Just so we are clear, here is a screen shot of what the typical order check-out page will look like, before you select your payment method to check out. I've circled in red where you need to click to add the word "SNOW".


Once again, this rebate will be in the form of a partial refund to your order that I will issue myself on Monday. Only orders received on-line by 5pm Eastern Time on Monday (when we close) will get the rebate. And this is for on -line orders only, not applicable to phone orders or in-store purchases.

Lastly, if anyone has any issues with this and can't figure out where to input the word "SNOW" or you just clicked through too fast and missed it, don't worry. Just email the museum at tartans@scottishtartans.org and identify the order and say you'd like the SNOW rebate before 5pm on Monday.

Thanks!

I am quite familiar with the PayPal interface, but, your system did not present me with the option I knew to look for (which you indicated above)... I was also not given any payment options (Credit Card, PayPal Balance, or eCheck), and my payment was automatically processed from my PayPal balance when I clicked "Pay Now" to purchase my Kilt-Raffle Tickets---it's very strange. I really wanted to get some Traditional Garter Ties, too; but, I couldn't justify paying $44 for a pair (even after the SNOW rebate $24+$5+$25[shipping]-$10=$44.00) I guess I'll just have to wait until I finally scrape up the quid for a Box-pleated Newsome, and get the Ties thrown in the same box ;-)

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I am quite familiar with the PayPal interface, but, your system did not present me with the option I knew to look for (which you indicated above)... I was also not given any payment options (Credit Card, PayPal Balance, or eCheck), and my payment was automatically processed from my PayPal balance when I clicked "Pay Now" to purchase my Kilt-Raffle Tickets---it's very strange. I really wanted to get some Traditional Garter Ties, too; but, I couldn't justify paying $44 for a pair (even after the SNOW rebate $24+$5+$25[shipping]-$10=$44.00) I guess I'll just have to wait until I finally scrape up the quid for a Box-pleated Newsome, and get the Ties thrown in the same box ;-)

If all you were getting was the raffle ticket then you might have seen a different screen, because that's set up as a donation, not an item to purchase. That may be it.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Sale over -- thanks, guys!

[Fit2BKilted]

If all you were getting was the raffle ticket then you might have seen a different screen, because that's set up as a donation, not an item to purchase. That may be it.

Actually, I had almost $100 of merchandise in my shopping-cart while I was ruminating the pros and cons, and checking where the shipping-fee thresholds were, even considering having the stuff sent to my great-aunt's Florida condo to save on costs, and I didn't see the Merchant Instructions (micro-print link) on any of the pages, and that's another reason why I was so surprised, because I was careful to avoid confirming payment, and then after removing everything except the Tickets, I go no options whatsoever, just a Thanks for Paying screen... I had to login to PayPal to find out where the money was drawn from! PayPal has screwed me in many sundry ways before over the years; but, I've never had an experience like that, i.e., no option to back-out of a purchase before completing the transaction, before---quite surreal.

[Nighthawk]

I now have a nice new pair of tartan red Lewis Rich hose on the way to me. Thanks, Matt! My piggies are cold...

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Actually, I had almost $100 of merchandise in my shopping-cart while I was ruminating the pros and cons, and checking where the shipping-fee thresholds were, even considering having the stuff sent to my great-aunt's Florida condo to save on costs, and I didn't see the Merchant Instructions (micro-print link) on any of the pages, and that's another reason why I was so surprised, because I was careful to avoid confirming payment, and then after removing everything except the Tickets, I go no options whatsoever, just a Thanks for Paying screen... I had to login to PayPal to find out where the money was drawn from! PayPal has screwed me in many sundry ways before over the years; but, I've never had an experience like that, i.e., no option to back-out of a purchase before completing the transaction, before---quite surreal.

Sorry to hear about your experience. I honestly cannot say why you were not given a payment option before you checked out. One of the reasons why we use PayPal as our primary means of accepting online payments is because it allows the customer a wide variety of payment options, including most all major credit cards, echecks, paypal balance, or direct bank account withdrawal.

Try as I might, I cannot seem to duplicate the results of your attempted purchase. Each time I go through a test order, I am given the option to change my payment method.

In any case, if you or anyone else ever has difficulty using the PayPal shopping cart system, please feel free to call our toll free number and place the order over the phone.
1-866-898-1192

Some folks even prefer to simply print out their order page and mail us a check or money order.

We are happy to accept your order by whatever means you feel most comfortable with.

[thescot]

Well, pshaw! I guess I missed the SNOW deadline for the discount. I thought it was still on when I ordered this morning, but it doesn't look like it.

I, too, missed the "comment" button as well. And I must confess that I thought 9.50 for a small book and a pair of garter ties a little high as well. I don't think Ron was out of line or overly whiny; shipping charges tend to rub me wrong in general, but I have noted that when I sell something on eby it really does, as Matt pointed out, cost a bit more than the actualy postage.

But, so much for a' that an' a' that. I look forward to getting the ties in the mail and the book for a friend.

[seanachie]

Well, I don't think Ron was out of line or overly whiny; shipping charges tend to rub me wrong in general, but I have noted that when I sell something on eby it really does, as Matt pointed out, cost a bit more than the actualy postage.

I am not speaking to any specific merchant, certainly, but as I handle shipping for my company I have to scratch my head at times. I appreciate that it can be expensive to implement a system by weight on a web site. However, sometime pick with a random merchant 2 heavier items and then a small item like a kilt pin and then remove the kilt pin the difference can be substantial. My company is not a "heavy" shipper so I know our UPS rates are higher than places that do a lot of shipping. Then when you look at Priority Mail as an alternative, which several suppliers I work with use to ship. Wow! Anything that fits in the box ships flat rate:
Priority Mail Flat Rate Options
Price Size
Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope $4.90 12-1/2" x 9-1/2"
Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box $4.95 8-5/8" x 5-3/8" x 1-5/8"
Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box (FRB1) $10.70 11" x 8-1/2" x 5-1/2"
Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box (FRB2) $10.70 13-5/8" x 11-7/8" x 3-3/8"
Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box (Domestic Addresses) $14.50 12" x 12" x 5-1/2"
Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box (APO/FPO Destinations) $12.50 12" x 12" x 5-1/2"

[M. A. C. Newsome]

We don't use USPS Priority Mail for our standard shipping method for a few reasons, chief among them:
1) We wouldn't have the ability to track a package en route, which is something we really like to be able to do for our customers, and...
2) The USPS web site is really a PITA to use.

We are not the only ones who feel this way. I recently purchased a single spiral bound book from a publisher and my shipping options started at $7.50 for UPS Ground, went up from there for 2nd Day or Overnight through UPS, then finally my last option was for USPS Priority Mail for $25.95. They must have really wanted to discourage their customers from choosing USPS and it worked!

For the record, we do ship USPS for international shipments and shipments to a PO Box, but for all other shipments our standard method is FedEx Ground or Home Delivery. We have a few reasons for this, chiefly being:
1) For only slightly more than Priority Mail we get much better tracking ability for the package and automatic insurance on anything up to $100.
2) Much easier to use web interface.
3) Pretty darned good customer service in our experience.

Now I know some people have had bad customer service experience with FedEx, as people have had with USPS and UPS and DHL and just about any other shipping one might name.

But then again this thread was not really intended to be a sounding board for complaints about shipping companies or shipping costs. If someone wants to open a seperate thread for that, please feel free to do so in the Off Topic section.

As I started this thread to extend a special sale offer to our friends at X Marks, and that sale is now over, I hereby ask the moderators to close the thread.

Once again, thanks everyone for shopping with us and being supporters of our museum!