One of the most common questions we hear is, “Why don’t you offer free shipping?”
It’s a fair question. With so many online retailers advertising free shipping, it’s easy to wonder why marching band companies don’t do the same.
The short answer is simple: shipping isn’t actually free.
At Band Shoppe, we believe in keeping our product prices as low as possible and charging a fair shipping rate based on the size and value of your order. Instead of building shipping costs into every item we sell, we separate those costs so customers know exactly what they’re paying for.
When comparing prices online, we always recommend looking at the total cost of your order, not just the shipping charge. A company offering “free shipping” may simply have higher product prices to cover those costs behind the scenes.
The Marching Band Industry Is Different
For decades, most marching band products were purchased directly by schools. A band director might place an order for 50 pairs of marching shoes, dozens of gloves, and an entire season’s worth of accessories all at once.
Large orders are much more efficient to ship than individual items. The cost of shipping can be spread across dozens of products, making the shipping cost per item very low.
Today, more parents and students are ordering products individually. Shipping a single pair of marching shoes or a small order costs significantly more per item than shipping a large school order. That’s one of the biggest reasons why “free shipping” is difficult in the marching arts industry.
Why Not Just Build Shipping Into the Price?
Many retailers do exactly that.
For example, a pair of marching shoes may cost $35.00 with a residential shipping charge of $16.95. The total cost is $51.95.
Another retailer might advertise free shipping but simply sell the same shoes for a higher price. The shipping cost is still there, it’s just included in the product price.
Rather than building shipping costs into every item we sell, we calculate shipping separately based on your order total before tax. The chart below shows the estimated shipping charge for most orders shipped within the continental United States.
| ORDER TOTAL | STANDARD SCHOOL SERVICE* | STANDARD RESIDENTIAL SERVICE* |
|---|---|---|
| UP TO $15 | $10.95 | $15.95 |
| $16 – $30 | $11.95 | $16.95 |
| $31 – $75 | $15.95 | $19.95 |
| $76 – $100 | $20.95 | $23.95 |
| $101 – $150 | $22.95 | $26.95 |
| $151 – $200 | $24.95 | $29.95 |
| $201 – $300 | $29.95 | $35.95 |
| $301 – $400 | $34.95 | $37.95 |
| $401 – $500 | $40.95 | $48.95 |
| $501 – $600 | $47.95 | $56.95 |
For orders $600.00+, please use our shipping calculator.
*Applies to orders in the contiguous 48 states. Orders shipping to Alaska and Hawaii should contact our Sales Team for a shipping quote.
Why Have Shipping Costs Increased?
If you’ve shipped anything recently, you’ve probably noticed that shipping rates have gone up everywhere.
Carriers now factor in fuel costs, residential deliveries, rural area surcharges, address corrections, oversized packages, and other fees that didn’t have as much impact years ago.
Most of these charges are already built into Band Shoppe’s shipping rates. For larger freight items, such as podiums and ladders, we provide custom freight quotes so customers receive the most accurate shipping cost possible.
What Is Dimensional Weight?
This is one of the least understood parts of shipping.
Most people assume shipping charges are based only on weight, but shipping companies also look at the amount of space a package takes up.
For example, a large box of feather plumes may not weigh very much, but it still takes up a significant amount of room on a truck. Because that space has value, carriers often charge based on the size of the box rather than its actual weight. This is called dimensional weight.
It’s one of the reasons lightweight items can sometimes cost more to ship than customers expect.
Our Goal
Whether you’re ordering for an entire marching band or buying a single item for yourself, we understand that shipping costs matter.
We’re constantly reviewing our shipping programs, packaging methods, and carrier options to help keep costs as reasonable as possible while continuing to provide dependable service and competitive pricing.
Our goal is simple: offer great products at fair prices and charge only what it takes to get them safely to your door.
Band Shoppe is committed to providing competitive product pricing, fair shipping rates, and dependable delivery service. We continually review our shipping programs and carrier partnerships to help keep costs as low as possible while maintaining the level of service our customers expect. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at (800) 457-3501 or visit our contact page.