Increased Costs In 2021
We're in our 12th year of business thanks to our wonderful customers like you!
Over the last week, we have been notified by nearly every wholesale partner that currently supplies our goods that due to increased raw goods costs, production costs, and transportation costs, a sharp rise in wholesale pricing as well as higher shipping costs is inevitable. While our suppliers are holding back and absorbing as much of the additional temporary costs as possible, an average increase of 5-7% has been passed on to online and brick-and-mortar retailers like us.
Products made of raw wood, steel, aluminum, silver, glass, and injection molded poly resin materials are among a few of the categories of products that have proven to be the most affected by these increased costs. These increases are three-fold for us as a small business since we are not only absorbing higher incoming shipping costs (since the 4-7% increases in January 2021 with all major shipping carriers) but also the higher cost of the goods, higher minimums required by our suppliers, and increased outgoing shipping costs to our customers. While we have continued passing our discounted shipping rates to our customers, we have not increased our tiered shipping rates for the past three years and at this point, we do not plan to increase shipping rates, however, this may have to happen down the road as our current shipping rates barely cover shipping costs in most instances, even for smaller packages of less than 3 lbs. to most delivery areas. Costs of packing materials, tape, and shipping boxes have also seen sharp increases in costs. However, for customer shipping that creates a loss of less than $5.00, we absorb the difference in higher shipping from our profit margin rather than raising shipping rates or even higher product prices. We only bill our customers for larger or heavier items that require over-sized rates or when shipped to an obscure delivery location that dictates much higher costs. We will continue this practice for a long as is feasible.
We have been ensured by many of our suppliers that these price increases due to hyper-inflation in a post-COVID economy will be temporary and lower prices may come back when the "new normal" has settled things back down with the economy and foreign trade. And, of course, the geo-political atmosphere we are currently experiencing is also causing increased concern for the cost of goods globally in an unfair trading market with much market insecurity and concerns of higher risks.
We are currently adjusting prices for products with all our suppliers and in the coming weeks will be eliminating a few more of our current suppliers while adjusting available product lines for some items that we feel may no longer be practical for us to carry that are creating high-cost overhead on incoming merchandise as well as utilizing precious warehouse space. With much regret, many of our most popular items may no longer be available after these adjustments have been made.
As we remain a small, family-owned and operated business, we try to make these decisions with our customers' best interests at heart. We want to continue offering a wide variety of goods at fair prices with the lowest possible shipping costs. While shopping with us, keep in mind that while we can no longer offer free shipping because search engines like Google and Yahoo penalize us by restricting relevancy and viewership on search results when we offer "FREE" anything. This hurts us and other small businesses in lieu of "big tech" helping their biggest paid ads customers Amazon, eBay, and other big box stores that can afford to absorb these costs and whom receive much larger shipping discounts due to volume than we do. We are trying our best to prevent being squeezed out of the online marketplace to continue offering our customers fair and honorable pricing and policies without deceptive offers where the added costs are tacked onto the cost of products just for the sake of offering "free" anything. Many of our products are already priced at 20-25% below the manufacturer's retail suggested price to help our customers defray anticipated increased shipping costs. So, while we do not offer free shipping any longer, we do offer lower prices and our fairest shipping rates possible.
As a reminder, our products are sourced from American based companies providing American jobs and we plan to continue supporting American owned and operated businesses only. We believe that we can help keep costs down by being the solution rather than contributing to the problem.
We appreciate your business and look forward to continuing to serve our customers.
Buffalo Trader Online Owners & Staff
Winter Sale is going on NOW!
For a limited time, save 20% on select Kitchen & Dining Room decor. Choose from our large selection of canisters, drinkware, salt and pepper shaker sets, paper towel holders, wall decor, napkin holders, signs, and more.
From our family to yours, we wish you a safe and healthy winter season!
Click here to shop our Sales Event now!
Fall Sales Event
It's that time again! The weather has cooled down and Fall is upon us. The trees are shedding their summer leaves and color abounds. It's an awesome time of year to spruce up your home decor to prepare for the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. We can help you with decorating, gift selection, and even help cover the cost of shipping gifts straight to your recipients. Our gift wrap service is going strong and we can help make this sometimes stressful time of year much easier on you and on your wallet. Just let us know you would like gifts wrapped during Checkout. Choose from our wide range of Fall merchandise and gifts that will help you decorate your home for Fall from Halloween right into Thanksgiving and right on up to Christmastime.
Here are few of our best-selling featured products and if you order now, you'll save 20% OFF. Hurry! Check out our Signs of Autumn Wreath, the ever-popular Harvest Pumpkin Slat Welcome Plaque (a Best-Seller!), or our beautiful Fall Leaves 16 Pc Dinnerware Set (by Wild Wings) to decorate your Fall dinner table.
Our annual Fall Savings Event ends soon so take advantage of these great values now!
Click here to start shopping now!
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Please note: Some of our SALE products have limited availability so order quickly.
“Spruce” Up Your Home For The Holidays With Our New Pine Cone Decor
The holidays are a time for family gatherings, celebrating, and adding holiday cheer. Home decorating trends show that most shoppers prefer to re-decorate during the holidays. Our latest line of pine cone home decor, exclusively available from Wild Wings, offers the complete package in home decor from the holidays and on into the New Year. Our Pine Cone 16 Pc Ceramic Dinnerware Set will set the stage for a beautifully decorated Christmas breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. Our Pine Cone Drinkware will complete the looks with just the right sparkle of woodland charm. Accessory Pine Cone Serveware will complete your transformation. Our Pine cone holiday decor will take you from Christmas to New Years and right on into Spring fashionably. Be sure to check out this entire new line of gifts, home decor, and holiday necessities featuring artwork by Persis Clayton Weirs.
From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving from the Buffalo Trader Online Staff!
Struttin' his stuff!
The rooster isn't just another pretty beak... he actually holds a special place in the hearts of many in varying cultures. The Spanish, for example believe that a rooster crowing at sunset foretells bad weather and that you should never kill a white rooster as they bring good luck. They also believe that roosters are associated with the sun and protect humankind. The Japanese, on the other hand, believe that the rooster is a sacred animal. They're allowed to roam freely and enter Shinto Temples where it gives the morning call to the goddess Amaterasu. Also respected for its fighting ability, the rooster is revered as a symbol of courage. Here in the States, we have a more practical use for these showy creatures. In addition to his assistance in growing America's egg industry, it is also the rooster's instinct to protect its hens and other livestock from harmful predators. And then there's the fact that he's plain handsome!
Buffalo Trader Online offers several charming options for the rooster collector in your life and just in time for Mother's Day! To help welcome the sights of spring, Buffalo Trader Online's Cowboy Rooster Bird House is particularly charming. Or consider the Antiqued Wrought Iron Sculpted Rooster for the more artistic collector. If the sky's the limit, cozy up your high-ceiling kitchen with the Country Rooster Kitchen Pot Rack. Happy Spring, y'all... Cock-a-doodle-doo!
