Shipping with Omar

There has been a lot of controversy between buyers and sellers regarding shipping costs. i know I get a number of questions from potential customers as to why some of my items have such a high shipping cost. Believe me, If I could ship for less I would do it because I would attract more customers and enhance my bottom line. So here's the deal:

I ship almost exclusively with the US Postal Service. Fo me this makes the most sense. The type of items I sell ship better this way and frankly the overall service has been better. When I ship over seas I use USPS priority mail international. When I ship MM's, Reese's Mini peanut butter cups, or Reese's Pieces I use the flat rate envelope. I can ship up to 4 pounds of goods in this envelope worldwide for $11.75. That is what the postal service charges and that's what i charge my customers. If it is an item like mugs or globes or plates etc..., I ship either USPS parcel post or priority mail. I use the E-bay postage calculator on all of my aucions and store items. The price of shipping on each auction is dependent on the weight of the item being shipped and the size of the box. I also charge a one dollar handling fee foe domestic shipping and a $2.00 fee for international. The handling fee covers the cost of the box, packing tape, bubble wrap, packing peanuts and address label. If insurance is required then that cost is also factored in according to the USPS guide lines.

I realize that there are some sellers out there that charge high prices for shipping. many of them are legitimate costs but some are just padding their profit margin. Take the time to compare items and see what different sellers are charging for shipping. They may charge a low preice for the item but a high price for shipping or vice-versa to balance the price. Take all charges into consideration before making a decision and then decide if the item is worth it. Don't just base your decision on the cost of the item alone. Omar@omarstent.com

Hershey's Kisses. Not to be overlooked!

There are things in life that we see every day and end up taking them for granted. Or we pass them by because familiarity breeds contempt. In the case of chocolate I think we tend to focus on Belgian or Swiss fine chocolates or the day to day chocolates of Britain such as Cadbury. I know I have certainly fallen into this trap. But, as I have recently discovered, Hershey's is not to be overlooked. Over the last year I have noticed that Hershey has been placing on the market a number of flavored kisses to quiet fanfare. Unlike the heralded presence of M&M's, Hershey's kisses have no sexy mascot or striking alternate colors. What they do have is a stable of unusual flavored chocolate drops that are worth more than a passing glance. What I have come across so far are Cookies 'n' Creme, Cherry Cordial Creme, Vanilla Yogurt Creme, Almond, Special Dark Chocolate and Caramel. They are all quite tasty. The Cookies 'n' Creme are my favorite with Special Dark a close second. Probably the only one that misses the mark is the Cherry Cordial Creme. That flavor just doesn't do it for me. If you are looking for a change or the price of European chocolate is becoming more than your wallet can bear then you may want to take a look at these fine confections. They are well worth your time and investment. Jim Thomasson, Omar's Tent