Due to ever-increasing freight rates – and despite our best efforts to combat those higher rates — Bodyline has had to implement a two-region shipping cost model, effective immediately. Going forward, orders to be delivered to the Western region of the United States (Mountain and Pacific time zones) will be charged $3 per product ordered in addition to the $10 per order flat shipping rate. This is an increase of $1 per product ordered. Shipments to states in the Eastern region of the U.S. (Eastern and Central time zones) will continue to be charged $2 per product ordered in addition to the $10 per order flat shipping rate.
We were reluctant to implement this shipping increase because we know that your businesses, like ours, are battling inflationary pricing in all cost categories. Freight rates have become particularly troublesome for Bodyline, however, because we lose money on freight charges on virtually every order we ship out. In addition, Bodyline’s razor-thin profit margin on our manufactured products leaves us no room to absorb the increases in freight rates that we must pay, particularly on shipments to the western states.
We hope you’ll agree that Bodyline’s superior, “Made-In-The-USA” products are well worth the additional shipping cost some of our customers will be charged. Bodyline’s Back-Huggar line is considered medical grade, and the Back-Huggar is confidently recommended by chiropractors, ergonomics specialists, and other professionals around the world. In fact, one of our largest distributors is in Osaka Japan, and they have sold our Back-Huggar for more than 30 years. The Japanese are notorious for demanding top-quality in every respect, and we are proud to say that we meet their needs.
That the Bodyline brand is known for such high-quality is a reputation that we don’t take lightly. Over the 50 years Bodyline has been in business, we have firmly resisted the option of trading down in quality to obtain a lower price on our raw materials. That commitment has unfortunately resulted in significant price increases that our suppliers have passed onto Bodyline. (For example, the price we now pay for the best grade foam has increased more than 70% from pre-Covid times!)
We have approached our suppliers with requests for price adjustments, but we have been unilaterally turned down. In addition, Bodyline has lowered our employee headcount, through attrition only, and allowed those positions to remain unfilled to reduce costs. Even with those adjustments, we have had to implement relatively small price increases to remain profitable, but we do not foresee any additional increases to product or shipping charges for the remainder of 2023 or longer.
We greatly value your continuing commitment to Bodyline products, and we strive to live up to the highest quality standards for our products and customer service. If you would like to discuss our new shipping charges or any other concern, please feel free to call Don at (800) 874-7715.