Re: Fuel surcharge on plant orders

All very short-sighted, Kitty.
She could do the extra fee for fuel on web site, but can not go back for an area they did not originally cover. Everyone who has ever mailed out a catalog in the nursery business has been caught like this at one time or another. Usually to some degree each year, just after the catalog is printed and mailed. WWF has spent over the $2.50 in employee time and telephone expense just talking to an irate customer... irate customer is the key word here..... not a 'good thing'. we have not called UPS as yet to kick in our account for this year. We will ask about the fuel surcharge before we open for pick up.... thanks for the heads up. Postal Service changed all their definitions and charges last year. We actually cut our handling fees in this year's catalog... and now if we use UPS looks as though they will be taking another cut. These costs go all the way back up the line, you know. Out suppliers charge us surcharges on deliveries... all the items they deliver are up in costs for their suppliers upped wholesale costs to the resellers. Bottom line is everything costs more. Be interesting to see where this season ends up at the bank. 
Gene E. Bush
Munchkin Nursery & Gardens, llc
www.munchkinnursery.com
genebush@munchkinnursery.com
Zone 6/5  Southern Indiana
----- Original Message ----- From: "Kitty" <kmrsy@comcast.net> 
Subject: [CHAT] Fuel surcharge on plant orders
I've placed over 20 orders for plants this spring, mostly for MGs. The MG orders have to be mailed in becuase they have to pay by check, so where possible, I used their catalog order forms.
I used the catalog form for White Flower Farm, followed instructions and double-checked my aritmetic. The email confirmation came yesterday showing I owed $2.50. ??? I rechecked the copy I'd saved of my order, then went online to see if anything was different, and it turns out that online they are passing on a $2.50 UPS fuel surcharge. I called and told her their was no mention of this in the catalog and she replied that it occurred after the book went out. Right, I understand, but I don't think I can submit a request for another $2.50 check. (oh, I could, but I don't WANT to) She didn't back down, said they HAD to pass on the charge. I said, puh-leeze - our plant total was $85, you are charging $8.00 for fennel and single Maverick pelargoniums!, you can't absorb the $2.50? She agreed but her hands were tied....then she said there was a way to fix it. She'd give us a $5.00 credit for "referring a friend"; it was the only option she had. So now we're getting $2.50 back. Does this make a lot of sense?
I filled up yesterday at $3.29 gallon. That's nearly $50 for a tank of gas. The price of cat litter is climbing fast, I assume because it's so heavy to transport. Target was discontinuing the Tidy Cat line so I "scooped" up 4 pails at a nice discount.
I could understand smaller, privately owned nurseries passing on the fuel surcharge, but the smaller ones I know of mostly use the post office and so far I haven't heard of any surcharge at USPS. I know stamps are going up in May, but has anyone heard of other rate increases or surcharges at the PO? 

Kitty
neIN, Zone 5
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