The shipping charge was 85.00. I got pretty mad. 85.00 would buy me at least 2 Linguisystem books, 7 card decks or 42 Super Duper card deck apps. So I called the company to ask why the shipping rates were so outrageous.
The man on the other end of the phone insisted that their shipping charges were reasonable. We got a price break because we spent over 500.00. If I wanted to spend 2500.00, I could get an additional price break on shipping and handling.
I waited until the packages came so I could see the weight and compare based on the actual shipping cost. It came in 3 packages. There may be some slight variations based on size but I think this is a pretty accurate estimate of what it should cost to send a package via UPS ground shipping:
Package 1: 17 pounds: 16.00
Page 2: 13 pounds: 15.00
Page 3: 13 pounds: 15.00
So this company could have legitimately paid 46.00 to ship the assessments. Media mail might have been an even cheaper option. But instead they charged an additional 39.00 for handling fees.
In the past, I've always bulked up my orders to this site thinking that I was saving on shipping and handling. It turns out I was throwing money away. It got me thinking and I started looking at all of their assessment protocols and where I could purchase them for cheaper shipping and handling. Some are only available through them-but a lot were available through companies which offered free shipping.
Apraxia Profile
|
Pearson
|
Auditory Skills
Assessment (ASA)
|
Pearson
|
Boehm Basic
Concepts
|
Pearson
|
Bracken
|
Pearson
|
CELF Preschool, 4,
5
|
Pearson
|
CCC-2
|
Pearson
|
Cognitive
linguistic Quick Test: CLQT
|
Pearson
|
Comprehensive
Assessment of Spoken Language (CASL)
|
Super Duper ,
Linguisystems, Janelle Publications, Mayer-Johnson
|
CREVT
|
Janelle
Publications
|
CTOPP-2
|
Super Duper ,
Linguisystems
|
EOWPVT
|
Super Duper,
Linguisystems, Mayer-Johnson
|
ROWPVT
|
Super Duper , Linguisystems,
Mayer-Johnson
|
EVT
|
Pearson
|
Fluharty
|
Super Duper ,
Linguisystems, Mayer-Johnson
|
Goldman Fristoe
test of Articulation (GFTA)
|
Pearson
|
KLPA-2
|
Pearson
|
OWLS-2
|
Super Duper ,
Linguisystems
|
PPVT-4
|
Pearson
|
Pediatric
Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI)
|
Pearson
|
Peabody
Developmental Motor Scales (OT test)
|
Super Duper
|
PLS-5
|
Pearson
|
REEL-3
|
Super Duper ,
Linguisystems, Janelle Publications, Mayer-Johnson
|
Scan C
|
Pearson
|
SPELT-3
|
Janelle
Publications Super Duper
|
SSI-4
|
Super Duper,
Linguisystems
|
Test of Word
Finding
|
Super Duper ;
Linguisystems
|
TACL-3
|
Linguisystems ,
Janelle Publications, Mayer-Johnson
|
TOAL-4
|
Linguisystems
|
TELD-3
|
Super Duper ,
Linguisystems, Mayer-Johnson
|
TOLD-P4/I4
|
Super Duper ;
Linguisystems, Mayer-Johnson
|
VMPAC
|
Pearson
|
After I researched that, I started to wonder about other shipping and handling charges. It pains me to say this, but the company was right. When you compare their shipping and handling charges to similar companies, they are a lot cheaper. I found companies that charge up to 15% of your total order for shipping and handling.
Academic
Communication Associates
Speech and Language, ESL
and Special Education books and materials.
|
Free Shipping over
75.00
|
Academic Therapy
Publications
Publications related to
learning disabilities and special education
|
10% on all orders
|
Achievement
Products
Special Needs products
|
15% on all orders
|
Ark Therapeutics
Z-vibe, Oral motor and
feeding products.
|
Free shipping over
100.00
|
ASHA
Speech
and language books, videos, and promotional materials, also carries outside
vendors products. Typically for 10%
off the list price.
|
·
24.99
or less 5.00 shipping
·
25-79.99
8.00
·
80-159.99 12.00
·
160-299.99
16.00
·
300.00-
499.999 20.00
·
500.00+ 30.00
|
Autism Shop
Tons
of books on Autism and related disabilities including books for kids, plus
learning toys for children with Autism.
|
Free shipping over
100.00
|
Beyond Play
Lots
of products for early intervention and special needs including feeding
products.
|
·
0-50.00 5.00 shipping
·
50-200.00
10% shipping
·
500-1500.00 10%
·
1500-2500.00 5%
·
2500 +
FREE
|
Discount School
Supply
Craft
supplies, Dramatic play materials, teaching materials Carries a lot of
products found at Lakeshore learning.
|
Free shipping over
79.00 with fuel surcharge. (extra
charges may apply for larger equipment.)
|
Great Ideas for
Teaching
www.greatideasforteaching.com
Speech
therapy books and games
|
·
0-50.00 7.95 shipping
·
50-500.00
15% shipping
·
500-1500 10%
|
Janelle
Publications
Speech therapy books, games
and activities
|
Free shipping on
assessments
10% shipping for
all other products
|
Lakeshore Learning
www.lakeshorelearning.com
Educational Products/games
|
15% of total order
|
Linguisystems
Speech and Language books,
materials and assesments
|
FREE shipping
|
Mayer-Johnson
www.mayer-johnson.com
Special Education products
and Boardmaker.
|
FREE shipping over
50.00
|
Pearson
www.pearson.com
Speech and Occupational
therapy assessments and textbooks
|
·
0-500.00
6% shipping
·
500-2,499
5% shipping
·
2500 + 4% shipping
|
Pro-Ed
www.proedinc.com
Books, materials and
assessments for Special Education and Speech Pathology-took over Thinking
Publications products.
|
10% on all orders
|
Say It Right
Speech and language books
and materials, carries the Entire World of /r/ Series
|
5.50 base charge +
.99 per additional item.
|
School Specialty
Carries Special Education
products, Early childhood products and Occupational therapy products. Specialty catalogs include:
Speech Bin
Integrations
Abilitations
Childcraft
|
Free shipping over
49.00 (extra charges may apply for larger equipment.)
|
Southpaw
Enterprises
Sensory integration and
neurodevelopmental products. Carries
some oral motor products and early intervention toys.
|
8.00 OR 14%
whichever is greater
|
Super Duper
Publications
www.superduperinc.com
Speech therapy materials,
games, and assessments
|
FREE SHIPPING
|
Thera-Pro
Speech, Occupational and
Physical therapy products
|
FREE Shipping over
35.00
|
Therapy Shoppe
Sensory and Occupational
Therapy products and games for kids.
Some social skills and speech products as well.
|
·
0-35.00
7.49
·
35.01-50.00 7.99
·
50.01-75.00 8.99
·
75.00-100.00
9.99
·
100+ 10% of order
|
Western
Publications
Speech and Occupational
therapy assessments
|
10% on all orders
|
I think it pays to shop around a little bit on shipping and handling. If you would like a printable copy of this information please click HERE. If you find some of these shipping and handling rates outrageous-please take the time to contact these companies and let them know your thoughts. Together we can make changes that would be difficult alone.
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3 comments:
It definitely pays to shop around! When I bought my EET, I was going to go directly through their website...then I noticed the shipping charges! I knew that Northern Speech also offered the EET, so I opened another browser tab and added the same items to my cart. The shipping costs were so much less, that I ended up adding the EETCHY steppers and STILL paid a little less than if I had ordered through the company itself!
Thank you for all of the awesome research. My district deals with our testing supplies, but I often end up getting my own therapy materials.
Carrie-I did the same thing when I wanted to get a bunch of student strands for EET. And I think I got it when Northern Speech Services was having a sale.
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