*FOREMOST JEWELRY & GIFTS
SHIPPING BULLETIN
Longer Shipping Times
We are all feeling the effects of the current ressession. Both individuals and
small businesses are having to economize to the point, in many cases, of pain. Each
time a business lays off an employee to cut costs, it experiences a reduction in
it's ability to compete in the marketplace in other ways. Each employee, laid off,
faces the prospect of being unable to provide for themselves and their families.
They cannot shop for all but necessities, further reducing demand for many commodities,
leading to further economic trouble.
At Foremost, we are no longer able to stock any of the gold items that we had readily
available, in the past. Our domestic gold jewelry suppliers are reducing their costs
by eliminating their stock of gold jewelry items, as well. Beside reducing their
staff and hours, they are generally only manufacting jewelry that is already ordered.
What does this mean to our customers? Gold jewelry stocked at Foremost normally shipped
the next business day after the order was placed. If we had to order it from the
manufacturer, normal shipping time was 10 to 18 days. Now, however, gold jewelry
orders are averging another 7 to 10 days because the merchandise is being made to
order. So, now, our average
gold jewelry order is taking 18 to 28 days from
the date of order to the date of delivery.
What can be done to hasten delivery? Not very much. Recently we have asked our suppliers
to drop ship our orders for us. For the most part, they have been willing to do so
and this saves some time as the items are not shipped to us to be reshipped to our
customers.
The new reality is that our customers must plan ahead. Our gold jewelry, still priced
below our competitors and with shipping the costs built into the price, has to be
ordered well in advance of a birthday, anniversary or other event to make sure it
arrives on time.
Foremost Jewelry & Gifts has had over 10 wonderful years online and we hope to
have many more. Together we will get through the current tough times. For our part,
we will be looking for a broader merchandise line up at the lowest prices we can
offer. We hope that you will support us, in part, by planning ahead and ordering
early.
Thank you!
Don Mead
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