DIY Projects

  • 4 Cost-Saving Alternatives to 8-foot track

    As more and more states are lifting capacity restrictions, we are seeing an uptick in track lighting projects. Whether these businesses are remodeling or starting new, we know businesses have limited resources and time to get things up and running. For some time now, 8’ track has been the go-to length for many commercial track lighting projects. But what if there was a way to be under budget on your next project?  We have 4 reasons why you should consider using 6’, 4’, or even 2’ power track lengths in your next project. 

    The Takeaway

    1 - Using shorter lengths of track on your project is usually less expensive than using 8’ track

    2 - 6’ track suffers less damage when shipping and has a smaller minimum order requirement than 8’ track.

    3 - By using our 2’, 4’, and 6’  power track lengths, you can build almost any configuration

    4 - 6’ track uses the same number of hanging points if you are using our suspension system.

     

    Using 6’ power track saves money

     

    If you could save over $200 dollars on your project, would you? Of course! Let’s say you are installing a 48-foot track system. As per the graphic, eight pieces of 6’ track will cost approximately $300; whereas, six pieces of 8’ foot track will cost over $500. 

     

    48ft power track cost

    Since both systems come in a single box, why is the 8' track system more expensive? The simple answer: shipping. Because no one wants to ship a 101-inch long box, shipping carriers charge fees to discourage it. If you want more information on the intricacies of shipping, check out our “The True Costs of Free Shipping” video.

     

    Increase Shipping Damages

     

    damaged power track shipping boxHave you ever tried shipping a 101 inch tube weighing about 3 pounds? Well, it is not pretty. Due to the hardware needed to install the track, the 8’ track comes in a 101 inch long tube. A single piece of track doesn’t do well on the conveyor belt or transport trucks. For this reason we have a minimum quantity requirement. We found that six or more pieces of 8’ track transport better than one to five. 

     

    However, even with our special care to packing, the track can arrive damaged. Imagine getting a  box like this the day before installation. Nothing is more frustrating and costly than damaged materials.

    When Time is Money

     

    track lighting suspension system furniture storeMost 8’ foot track lighting projects can be configured using 6’, 4’, and even 2’ track sections. Why is this important? Besides the hundreds of dollars of savings from shipping and damages, shorter lengths are easier to install. Trying to manage an 8’ long wobbly track can get quite tiresome, believe me. What if you want to suspend your track? Well, we got you covered there too. 6’ track uses the same number of hanging points when using our track lighting suspension system. An easier and faster install can make all the difference when staying on budget.

     

    Here at Total Lighting Supply, we have over 30 years of experience designing all types of commercial projects, galleries, restaurants, and retail spaces. All of our track parts work together, are affordable, and all of them are H style. We know track lighting and track suspension.

     

    Thank you for dropping by our website. We are a small family business. No matter where you shop for your next track lighting project, we encourage you to consider buying from a small business. Have a blessed day!

    See our Power Track

    7 Fast & Easy Steps to a complete track lighting system

    Build your own track lighting kit here.

    Like us on Facebook

    Follow us on Twitter:

    Plus us on Google

    Follow us on LinkedIn

    Subscribe to our Youtube Channel

    Posted in:

    Tags: Track Suspension System, DIY Projects, Free Shipping, Saving Money, Small Business, Saving Time, Easy Instal, Shop Small

  • Two Shipping Myths Big Business Doesn’t Want You to Know

    Two Shipping Myths Big Business Doesn’t Want You to Know

    Who doesn’t like saving money? How many times have you left a website because they didn’t offer free shipping? As a small family-operated online retail company, we get hundreds of questions a day. However, the most popular questions we get are about shipping prices. Almost everyone wants free shipping.  Today we are going to share the top two myths big business doesn’t want you to know.

    Myth 1: Free Shipping Always Saves Me Money!

    The other guy offers free shipping, why don’t you?  We get this question every day, and every day we tell our customers the same thing. “Shipping isn’t Free.” In all our years of business, we haven't found a single carrier who is willing to ship our orders for free. In fact, every week, our shipping carrier sends us that pesky little invoice requesting payment for service. 

    Shipping CostSo how does that other guy get away with calling it free shipping then? Here is what they don’t tell you. Let’s say you order a recessed trim for $21.41 with free shipping, and live in a state with 10% sales tax. The cost of the trim is $2.41 and the shipping cost is $19.00. However, you are getting free shipping so these two costs are combined into 1 line item. The 10% sales tax on the $21.41 trim is $2.14, making your total order $23.55. It is only $2.14.”I can’t get a cup of coffee for that much.” “I am getting free shipping, so I don’t mind giving away my money.”

    What if the other guy decided to charge you shipping?  Let’s find out. Back to our favorite $2.41 recessed trim. Because they charge you shipping, the $19.00 is a separate line item. This means the 10% sales tax is only being applied to the $2.41 trim, making the order total $21.62 instead of $23.55. You just saved $1.93!! Still not a cup of coffee, but savings is savings.

    Now that we know sometimes free shipping isn’t always the best deal. I bet you are wondering “Why does it cost $19.00 to ship that $2.41 trim.” You are not alone. Let’s see why.

    Myth 2: The Cost Of Shipping Depends On The Cost Of The Order.  

    How could something so inexpensive, cost so much to ship? This recessed lighting trim has to go into a box so it gets to you undamaged. No one wants to delay their DIY project due to a cracked or dented trim. To prevent this mishap, the warehouse puts bubble wrap, air cushions, or paper inside the box to prevent movement. Then they tape, and label the box. We want to focus on the shipping cost, not the handling costs, right?  We use UPS to ship this trim; however, all the common carriers are about the same. 

    How are shipping costs determined? All the popular shipping carriers have a shipping calculator on their website. This calculator asks for the delivery location, the dimensions of the box ( Length, Width, and Height), and the weight of the box. With that information, they will tell you how long and how much it cost depending on when you want the package. We use ground service as it is the least expensive. In our $2.41 trim example, we enter the following information: Miami, Florida, 11” x 8” x 8”, and 1 pound. Why Miami? We have been shipping a lot of boxes there right now, but you can go to UPS.com to test this for your location. 

    UPS Billable WeightIf the box weighs 1 lb, why is the billable weight 5 lbs? All shipping carriers combine the weight and the size of the box to determine the actual cost to transport your package from us to you. The industry calls this “dimensional weight.” After plugging all this information in the shipping calculator, the cost to ship this trim ground from New Mexico to Miami, Florida is $19.00.

    What if I put a $5,000 diamond ring into the same box, would it cost more? The delivery location is the same, the box dimensions are the same, and it weighs less than a pound. Using the handy shipping calculator, we find that it still costs $19.00 to ship UPS ground from New Mexico to Miami, Florida. 

    If shipping isn’t free, why do we offer free shipping? First, we know that is what people want. Many times that is the first thing consumers seek out when buying online  Second, we need to stay competitive, and offering “free shipping” on some of our products helps us do that.  We are a small family business and we have to try to compete.  If you run a small business you know how hard this can be.

    Same Box Size

    Why do we still charge shipping on some items, if people want free shipping? Well, we want to give our customers the opportunity to find the best deal for their project. Many times a customer can save money having shipping as a separate line item, especially when buying larger quantities or heavier items.

    We know you have choices out there, and hopefully, after reading this you are a more informed consumer that will choose Total Lighting Supply for your next lighting project.

     

     

    Posted in:

    Tags: Big Business, Dimensional Weight, DIY Projects, Family Operated Business, Free Shipping, Getting a Deal, Myths, Saving Money, Savvy Shopper, Shop Local, Small Business

2 Item(s)