The (international) shipping forecast
It never ceases to amaze me: the parochiality of merkans when it comes to international shipping charges. I guess that it doesn't matter if it's outside the fifty states of the union.
I recently tried to buy an item from a US small business, the type that manufactures to a specialised market. Cost of item, $15; cost of shipping, $55; result, no sale. It's only $15, so I guess they simply cannot be arsed.
Ex-marine and current comic book writer, Richard Meyer, claims not to be a mathematician, but he does claim small business expertise. He brought this expertise to bear when commenting on About Comics' The Jam Non-Starter Campaign, specifically its distributed retail model via Amazon:
…you can order the [sic] from Amazon, which you'll get at Amazon's amazing speed. (And look at all those worldwide sales links! You're not going to have to pay for international shipping.)
About Comics, The Jam Non-Starter Campaign
Links are given to Amazon's sites based in Australia; Canada; France; Germany; Italy; Japan; Spain; UK; and US. And Meyer seized upon this.
I can order it in the US or eight other countries. So, yeah, there's 195 countries in the world, and you are selling to [counting] one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine of them. You're not even selling to ten percent of the countries in the world.
Richard Meyer, NON-STARTER- SJW Comic Pros Shoot Themselves In BOTH Feet By Demonizing Indiegogo AND Kickstarter, Comics MATTER w/Ya Boi Zack
I'm no small business expert, so I'm kinda out of my league facing up to Meyer here. But I'm going to have a go nonetheless.
Firstly, I'll assume that About Comics know their market, and where their greatest sales are likely to be made: North America; Europe; and Asia-Pacific.
Secondly, I'll assume that their Amazon retailers ship regionally. Living in Switzerland, which doesn't even have an Amazon store, I can purchase from the other European stores, with shipping costs far lower than buying from the US. Here, Meyer has confused stores' location with their market coverage at regional postage rates.
Therefore, although About Comics are only selling through less than 10% of the world's countries, they're selling to a much larger potential market.
But at least Meyer can count up to nine without resorting to his fingers. So there's hope for his basic maths skills after all. (nod)
The Shipping Forecast is an enthralling service from BBC Radio, accompanying the weather forecast. Back in the day when I listened to British radio, it was delivered in a dry, almost soporific, tone. Mind you, the announcer could've been wearing a clown's costume or a ballgown and high-heels for all I know.