Gimme! Coffee: A Leftist with wide voter appeal - Page 2

[Mike White]

UPS charges by weight.

Yes but there are minimums.

[zin1953]

Mike,

You obviously know (and run) your business the way you do, and that's fine. However, if I go to UPS.com, and input for UPS Ground delivery the following: 1) a 1.5 lb. package (one pound of coffee + the weight of the package); 2) a 2.5 lb. package (two pound of coffee + box), and 3) a 6 lb. package (five pounds of coffee + package), I get the the following results . . .

FROM 10012 zip code to Cambridge, MA:

1. UPS charges $7.25 commercial address/$9.38 residential address (billable weight 2 lbs.; est. delivery 1 day)
2. $7.59/$9.72 (billable weight 3 lbs.; est. delivery 1 day)
3. $8.26/$10.39 (billable weight 6 lbs; est. delivery 1 day).

FROM 10012 zip code to Chicago, IL:

1. UPS charges $8.11 commercial address/$10.25 residential address (billable weight 2 lbs.; est. delivery 2 days)
2. $8.66/$10.80 (billable weight 3 lbs.; est. delivery 2 days)
3. $9.95/$12.09 (billable weight 6 lbs; est. delivery 2 days)

FROM 10012 zip code to Berkeley, CA:

1. UPS charges $9.34 commercial address/$11.48 residential address (billable weight 2 lbs.; est. delivery 5 days)
2. $10.38/$12.52 (billable weight 3 lbs.; est. delivery 5 days)
3. $12.12/$14.26 (billable weight 6 lbs; est. delivery 5 days).

Now this is for shipping ONE package; UPS offers volume discounts.

For USPS Priority Mail, commercial or residential delivery is the same price; shipping charges for a 1.5 lb., 2.5 lb., and 6.0 lb. package, with a 2-day delivery, are: to Cambridge, $5.05, $5.95, and $8.65; to Chicago, $6.80, $8.75, and $13.95; to Berkeley: $8.25, $11.50, and $17.65. These rates are for bringing your package to the post office; rates go down if you print the postage online, and they will come to pick up your packages . . . [EDIT: they also have flat-rate boxes that are the same to ship regardless of actual weight.]

Cheers,
Jason

[Mike White]

Jason, I don't understand. Those figures seem to validate exactly what I was saying. UPS has an expensive minimum and it's more cost effective to order multiple pounds.

If you're suggesting that our production department (in zip code 14850) should utilize a different carrier (USPS) for smaller packages, I can't really argue with that. I know that in years past they did use USPS for certain packages, but i think the logistics of operating a fairly large delivery system with more than one carrier led to additional problems over time.

I'm not personally involved in the sales and delivery of web orders (I just operate our NYC stores), but i can happily recommend that you visit our website and fill out the feedback form (http://www.gimmecoffee.com/static/contact_feedback.aspx). They'll likely explain the policy to you much better than I can.

I know that they also provide (substantial) discount codes through the newsletter to help offset shipping charges.

[zin1953]

No, Mike -- shipping is a nightmare, and while there may be ways of shipping cheaper or over distances (e.g.: USPS may be more than UPS from NY to CA, for a five-pound order, but it arives in two days rather than five; which is better), the complications and permutations are mind-boggling . . .

Maybe you can go to their website and let me know what it shows the cheapest price to be to ship one pound to zip 03082 in NH.

What I don't understand is why UPS charges less to ship to 94708 than to 03082?

But it ALWAYS makes more sense to order two pounds at a time (at least) than one . . .

[Mike White]

What I don't understand is why UPS charges less to ship to 94708 than to 03082?

I suspect it's for the same reason that it's cheaper for me to fly from NYC to Chicago (800 miles) than from NYC to Ithaca (230 miles).

[Marshall]

I especially recommend Gimme! Coffee to anyone who thinks you can't roast great coffee in an air roaster.

[NewEnglandCliff]

But it ALWAYS makes more sense to order two pounds at a time (at least) than one . . .

Not ALWAYS so.

I was dealt a poor set of genes, at least where caffeine is concerned, in that I have a low tolerance of it. My doctor has advised me to stay away from caffeine, but being the espresso lover that I am I'm not adhering to his advice entirely. It's tough to give up a passion. Instead, I have one cup (usually straight espresso) a day most days of the week. No other caffeine whatsoever besides occasional chocolate or craft beer. When it gets to a point where I have to steady my pulse I have to take one or two days off, but I usually get to have 6 drinks/week. This is largely because of fish oil (trust me, it works like nothing I know). You have no idea what drinking 3 doubles (mentioned in the previous Caffe ArtJava post) does, but when graciously offered some of the best I find I'm willing to risk life!

I make about 4 or 5 of those at home so a one pound bag will last me a month. Longer if I have any other coffees at hand for variety during the month. Considering how little I get to drink, I'd like them be as fresh as well made as possible. This means having good brewing equipment, mastering preparation, and ordering small batches or roasting my own small batches. If I'm at a good roaster and can buy less than a pound, I do - perhaps half a pound.

You can argue freezing, vacuum packing...whatever but the best coffee will be freshly roasted. Nobody ever preferred a bag that's been in the freezer a month over beans fresh from the roaster.

I've ordered single bags of coffee from several roasters nationally but never have paid as much as what Gimme! charge's for a bag, regardless of how much further away they are in the country;

Intelligetsia charges $6.25 via UPS Ground to my NH zip from Chicago,

Stumptown charges $8.25 via USPS Priority from Portland, OR to NH,

The USPS will ship a 2 pound bag from Gimme!'s NY zip to my NH zip for $5.05 for Priority or $4.85 via Parcel Post,

Gimme! charges $9.63 via UPS Ground. That's virtually double the USPS rate.

Why it costs them more to ship the short distance to me than it costs others to ship from the west coast is a mystery. I've asked them to ship via USPS but they won't. So I don't deem it worth it.

Fortunately I can order several pounds of green beens from anywhere and save on shipping, and roast them at my leisure.

[VS_DoubleShot]

I have a lot of experience working for companies that manufacture and ship anything from pens to office furniture and I can tell you that there is very little rhyme or reason to the rates BECAUSE every shipper has an account with rates that are based on the business they do, the deal they have made, and the way things are packaged. It depends on how the things can be stacked in a truck or not, how much space they take up in a truck, the weight and where the item is going. It depends on the relationship the shipper has with the company (UPS, FEDeX). It depends on how much they want to profit and how much of a deal they are getting in the first place. You can do math all day and check rates but it'll never add up how you think it should.

Fortunately I live 5 minutes from a Gimme! shop.

[JohnB.]

You can argue freezing, vacuum packing...whatever but the best coffee will be freshly roasted. Nobody ever preferred a bag that's been in the freezer a month over beans fresh from the roaster.

That may be your experience but it isn't mine. I find many Espresso blends don't hit their peak until 5-10 days after roasting. A month frozen in a vacuum bag at 0*F or less is similar to properly storing the beans at room temp for 4-6 days post roast. I wait 2-3 days after roasting before I use any Espresso.

[NewEnglandCliff]

... Espresso blends don't hit their peak until 5-10 days after roasting.... I wait 2-3 days after roasting before I use any Espresso.

Pretty much in agreement there. I wait at least 3 days when I roast. By the time a package arrives it's about prime.