Terms and Conditions
Shipping, Handling, and Insurance Calculations
At the end of every quote and every invoice is an entry for "SHI", or
otherwise known as "shipping, handling, and insurance".
While these are not normally the kinds of figures that are looked at with
close scrutiny by many customers, we do, as a matter of business principle,
want to disclose all aspects of these calculations. The final figure is the
sum of these three elements that go into the making up of that final number.
Shipping:
For all shipments within the continental United States, we ship via
Federal Express Ground or
UPS Ground (our choice of carrier)
unless otherwise instructed or unless the shipment includes materials
that are classified as dangerous goods for shipping purposes in quantities
that cannot be shipped by the 
method. We charge a flat $12.50 SHI
for all such shipments. Backorders are charged $9.00 SHI per
shipment.
For all other shipments, including other carriers when specified by the
customer, shipments including dangerous goods that cannot be shipped by the
method, air shipments and shipments outside
the continental United States, it is our policy to be charging the customer
the actual shipping charges for a specific shipment. This means that when
issuing a quote, the component due to the actual shipping charges is an
estimate only and will be adjusted to the actual charges as recorded on the
date of shipment. So for example, when issuing a quote, since it is
impossible to know exactly the shipping weight until the shipment is
actually packed up and ready for shipment, we issue a good faith estimate
of the shipping weight and therefore the shipping charges. But what the
customer is ultimately charged is based on the actual charges which could
be slightly more or slightly less. We have found that when shipping via
one of the courier services, or the US Postal Service, 90% of the time,
the actual shipping charges are slightly less than estimated and in that
10% of the time when the charges are higher, rarely would they be more
than 5% higher.
Insurance:
Actual insurance charges are billed to the customer as part of the SHI fee.
In the case of the courier services (e.g. FedEx, UPS, etc.), the courier
charge includes an automatic insurance coverage of up to a value of $100.
Hence orders less than $100 have no insurance fees. For orders shipped
via the US Postal Service, insurance charges are always additional.
Handling:
This is the same customary fee used by most vendors supplying the scientific and laboratory market,
and at the present time, this fee from SPI Supplies is fixed at $3.50 for any domestic order,
irrespective of the size of the order or how it is being funded, if Federal Express or
United Parcel Service is used for shipping. For export shipments via Federal Express or
United Parcel Service and domestic orders shipped via the US Postal Service, the handling
fee is $15.00. It is charged once per order and is not charged when shipments are made from a
back order list. For domestic or export orders using courier services other than Federal
Express or United Parcel Service, or air freight shipments made freight collect, the
handling fee is $15.00, and it is charged for each shipment.
Again, our point is not to confuse but to disclose, so that our customers
know in advance the basis of all charges and can then make their buy
decisions accordingly. We are always seeking new ways to clarify the way
we do business with our customers and if you see areas that are still not
clear, please don't be hesitant to tell us your thoughts.
To Ask a Question or Make a Comment
To Place an Order or Request a Quote
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Friday July 04, 2008
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Contacting SPI Supplies and Structure Probe, Inc.
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