Best Timing for Free Shipping Offers

Ecobunga! conducted a survey of our readers last winter to find out what they considered a "good deal".  The results were discussed the results in an earlier post.

One of the questions we asked was whether readers considered free shipping a good deal.  A majority said "yes", but a sizable number (43%) said that free shipping was a deal only when the product was also on sale.

Ouch.  As if making a buck on green products wasn't hard enough!

We suggested that when possible merchants add free shipping to their promotions in order to sweeten their sales.  Meaning -- if you can afford to cover shipping costs while also offering a product discount (i.e., your profit margins allow it), give it a try.

But are there times when free shipping deals have more punch? ... Likely so.

Truth be told, listings for free shipping deals typically don't get much notice on our site.  But when we include them in our special holiday listings, like our round-up of Mother's Day deals, then they get more traction.

Why's that?

Think about how many people today live far away from friends and family.  And let's face it, just because mom lives 1000 miles away doesn't mean you're not going to get her a Mother's Day present!

As a result, shoppers have a greater need to ship gifts to recipients.  We'd venture to guess that free shipping deals may have a better chance of incentivizing shoppers during gift-giving holidays.

So time your free shipping offers judiciously -- Mother's Day, Father's Day, Wedding and Graduation Season, the December Holidays, Valentine's Day are all good bets.  As they say, 'tis better to give then receive, especially when you can ship it for free!