International Shipping Woes

Today has been one of those days.  It started way too early, with a fund raising breakfast, and since then, things have piled on.  One of the big stressors today is the news that our Christmas order of Technivorm's is doomed to delivery after Christmas, if we ship by way of ocean freight.  The production run from Technivorm in Holland was scheduled a tad bit late (this week) and when you are not shipping full containers, the freight forwarders take up to 10 days to consolidate.  The bottom line is a shipment that won't come before Christmas, unless I employ an airplane, which guarantees that the shipping cost per unit doubles.  Have I said how much I hate international shipping.

So, we are proposing to ship a minimum of 100 brewers via air freight, and unfortunately pass this cost onto our customers.  It will likely mean an increase in shipping costs of $20 to guarantee delivery for Christmas.  Apart from this solution, I am not sure what else to do, other than buy my own boat and start to row.