Internet Retailer is reporting that 60% of their Top 100 online retailers offered some form of free shipping during the week of November 10th.  Free shipping has always been the biggest lure and continues to be with 93% of women and 87% of men saying they would spend more online this holiday, according to the article.

It goes without saying that consumers still look at “shipping and handling” as a profit center for merchants, partly due to lack of education on shipping rates.  I remember when I first started in business back in 1994, a 5lb package from PA to CA cost around $4 for ground service.  Today, the cost more than doubled as the carriers raise their rates an average of 5% each year and tack on residential and fuel surcharges.  But when all is said and done, consumers don’t care what you pay to get their order to them, they just want it delivered to their door.

If you’re going to offer free shipping this holiday, you need to keep a very close eye on your shipping costs so that your orders don’t become unprofitable once they hit the tailgate of that brown truck.  Solid Cactus can help!  If you have a Yahoo! Store, we have a replacement for the built-in shipping manager that has been a huge money saver for hundreds of satisfied users.

Items shipping from different zip codes, multiple boxes per shipment, oversize packages and other “headaches” are now NON-ISSUES with Shipping Manager from Solid Cactus.  Plus, you’re no longer stuck with using UPS - our Shipping Manager gives you access to realtime rates from FedEx and the USPS opening up a new window of shipping method opportunities for you and your customers.

Believe me, Shipping Manager is a must-have add-on for any Yahoo! Store owner, so read more about it, sign up for it, and start saving today.  I’m so confident that Shipping Manager is going to have a positive impact on your bottom line, I’m offering a special deal for our blog readers: Sign up for Shipping Manager today, and enter coupon code “scottsblog” and I’ll discount the $279 setup fee by 50%.  This offer expires November 21, 2008, so act now!