International Shipping is Hard…
TL;DR: International shipping is no joke; while what I am doing sending small parcels through DHL is a lot simpler than what my friends who move coffee have to do… it is taking its toll.
This is a personal post and does not have anything to do with solutions or suggestions for people moving coffee in containers or via air freight all over the world. I have had a fantastic time sending boxed sets from the Iteration.Coffee worldwide and will continue to offer that in the future. Though I have some difficulties with the entire process, many of you have been incredibly patient and understanding as I go through this steep learning curve.
I have yet to release a single boxed set from the Iteration.Coffee project where I did not lose money on international shipping. That is just my reality, and I am not coming on here asking for sympathy; instead, I am seeking to explain a change in the way I will do it. I’ve tried researching and averaging the cost of sending parcels to particular countries and zones. I’ve taken data from previous sets and attempted to set regionally appropriate rates, and I’ve even said, “forget all this… flat $40 worldwide….” All of these attempts have been costly to me and have taken a lot of time to arrange.
This is my 4th or 5th Iteration (see what I did there) of International shipping. Taking the data from all international shipments from all the boxed sets I have sent out, I average $80 per parcel. Some are more ($120-$150), and some are less ($50-$60). I will be setting my rate at $70 worldwide. It isn’t a perfect solution, and I would understand if someone did not want to pay for it (after all, depending on your discounts, it could cost as much as I charge for the box set or more). We do have free shipping in the USA. So if there is a parcel forwarding service (or friend/family member) you use, it will be free to send to them… several international orders are already doing this.
I am also changing up some other elements in the boxed sets so that they will be less frequent and more information-rich. For one, I will be including a small book with each one that is the writeup… but more detailed than I have done in the past. I will roast and include data from 7 Iterations I do in my lab and then send out the most relevant 5 for your tasting pleasure. There will still be slack for questions and a zoom meeting too.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to comment here or email me at rob@hoos.coffee
