Why I've Decided Not to Use TikTok Shop for Our Business
I just wanted to update you on a decision I've recently made regarding a potential change in the way we do business.
You might've heard of the new TikTok Shop feature that's been making waves. It's a new function that lets businesses sell their stuff right on the TikTok app. Now, on the surface, it might seem like a trendy and fresh approach, but after giving it some serious thought, I've decided it's not the best fit for us right now.
The main reason is that moving to this new platform would mean a pretty substantial shift for both you, my valued customers, and me. We have a great thing going with my current website, and I know many of you enjoy the easy, hassle-free shopping experience it provides.
One of the big selling points of the TikTok Shop feature is the idea of "free shipping". But here's the kicker - it's not exactly "free". When I first started my business, I included the shipping cost in the product price. But I soon realized that this system was making customers pay more than necessary, especially when buying multiple items. I want to be as transparent and fair as possible, so I quickly changed this.
In a 'free shipping' model, the costs of shipping are often baked into the price of the product itself. This might not be immediately obvious to customers, but it can make a significant difference to the final cost, especially when buying multiple items.
Let's use my candles as an example, priced at $17 for a small soy candle. In a 'free shipping' setup, to cover shipping costs, I'd have to raise the price of each candle to something like $22. That’s an extra $5 that’s invisibly tied up in each and every candle price to cover the 'free' shipping.
Now, imagine a customer wants to buy 5 candles. With 'free shipping', the cost becomes $110 ($22 per candle). But in reality, it doesn't cost 5 times the price to ship 5 candles. It's more efficient to ship in bulk, and the actual shipping might only cost me $15 for the 5 candles.
Under the current model without 'free shipping', the customer would pay $85 for the candles ($17 each) and a transparent shipping cost of $15, totaling $100. This is $10 less than with the 'free shipping' model.
That’s why 'free shipping', though it might sound attractive, can end up costing customers more, especially when buying multiple items. It’s not as 'free' as it sounds!
The solution proposed by TikTok was to hike up my product costs by a whopping 30% to accommodate this "free shipping". But here's the thing - I don't want to charge you more, especially not to pad TikTok's pocket. That's not how I operate.
So, after all this consideration, I've decided to stick with the status quo. I want to ensure that I continue to offer you the best value and service, just as I've always done. My commitment to you is not just about fair prices, but also about honesty and maintaining a positive shopping experience.
As always, thank you so much for your understanding and your continuous support. You are the reason I do what I do, and I'm always here to answer any questions or concerns you might have.