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Here is the simple table for understanding FIXED SHIPPING
For the few of you that want the long story or full explanation, read below.
There are some items that 'must' ship freight due to their size, but we do have a lot of items that will fit within the girth guidelines for GROUND.
Tables, fully assembled pieces, and larger items over 165" in girth must still ship via freight. This is standard with any shipping company. Freight rates vary according to the item and are not easily calculated in the table above.
Easy Fixed Shipping
If you are one of the 95% that want to order a simple
• bench
• few chairs or a few benches
• bench and a side table
• or any mix of 1-5 items
then the fixed shipping method is for you. It's easy, economical, and not hard to calculate.
DIMENSIONAL WEIGHT (very important concept in shipping)
When calculating GROUND shipping, most items ship at their DIMENSIONAL WEIGHT. For the few of you that don't know about this concept, it is a shipping term for weight based on the size of the package. Shipping companies use whatever figure is higher - actual weight or dimensional weight.
Most of the teak items when boxed are actually 60-90% of the dimensional weight. This means the actual weight is only 60-90% of the dimensional weight. Consequently, UPS/FEDEX want the higher of the two....actual or dimensional (box size) weight. So, although an arm chair might weigh 45lbs, it will ship at the higher 65lb dimensional weight. This is one of the disadvantages of GROUND shipping.
In 2011, UPS/Fedex quietly hid an increase in dimensional weight by decreasing the calculation from 194 to 166. This has had a huge impact on our ground shipping rates. By decreasing this number, Fedex/UPS effectively moved more of their shipping packages from actual weight to dimensional weight. This trick was an egregious attempt at raising revenue without much press. In our effort to always provide value to our customers, we have not raised shipping rates for 2011 - and have absorbed this cost increase into profits.
This is not an issue with freight shipping.
We have attempted to provide fixed shipping costs based on the dimensional box weight covering the general population.
Issues with Fixed Shipping - and how to obtain a lower rate with freight
Anyone with a large order may still obtain discounted freight shipping cost versus a basic fixed cost by submiting this form. The cart is going to calculate your order based on the easy fixed shipping rates. If you feel this rate is too high due to a large order, it likely is. You need to let us manually review the rate based on your location. In all fairness, we already review large orders at processing for reasonable freight rates - and do issue refunds if your location/rate is high.
We reserve the right to use whatever method is cheaper - freight or ground....yet, you will only be charged the fixed shipping amount in your cart.
Pallet/Freight Sales
We still love pallet sales! If you are ordering more than 8+ pieces, then let us provide a freight shipping calculation versus our basic fixed shipping rate.
Currently, items that must ship via freight include:
• Dining Tables
° Fixed Shipping is $139
• Intan Lounger - it is too long and doesn't meet girth guidelines
° Fixed Shipping is $95
• Anything Fully Assembled
° Fixed Shipping Varies
• Any Set Combos
° Fixed Shipping Varies
Some folding chairs will be shipped in previous British Gardens boxes from 2002 if ordering odd-numbered of chairs (if they will fit). If we cannot fit the odd chair in a smaller separate box, then we must charge the full dimensional weight on a Teak Closeout box of $39.
2012 UPDATE - January
NO SHIPPING INCREASE. We haven't raised our shipping rates for nearly 4 years and 2012 will be no exception. In light of continued yearly GROUND/FREIGHT increases of 5-6%, we are holding the line again for 2012. We sincerely doubt this will be the case for 2013, but as the shipping department turns to red we are monitoring the loss closely. The dimensional weight change in 2011 was the biggest "increase" we've faced thus far (read above).
2013 UPDATE - January NO SHIPPING INCREASE. We haven't raised our shipping rates for nearly 5 years and although faced with a shipping department that is increasingly being attacked with rising rates and packaging increases, we have held the line again for 2013.
Also, in the end, we reserve the right to adjust shipping charges. This includes delivery to coastal islands and other non-standard destinations that typically incur additional delivery charges or present us with an extreme abnormal shipping cost/loss.
1Folding chairs are boxed in PAIRS. If you purchase an odd number of folding chairs, you will still be charged $39 per box (1 or 2 chairs). This is due to the dimensional weight of the box..it will still ship at the higher of the two. And although you have eliminated a chair, the package ships at the dimensional weight. We will adjust shipping after check-out for any odd number order of folding chairs.
2Excludes the Intan Lounger that must ship freight. Intan lounger shipping is $95
3The 60"+ benches are considerably higher due to the Oversize surcharge of $55 by Fedex. Some savings can be found by mixing the 60" benches with enough quantity to make a freight order. In all cases, we lose money at the $79 rate due to the OS Girth charge (every bill is over $100 to ship).
The Lutyen benches must ship freight and have a fixed $139 charge each (120-180cm). We have provided a discount of $79 if ordering (2) Lutyen's benches that helps adjust the shipping down to $199 for the pair. If ordering (2) benches, we can nest .
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