Two big changes are happening at 200 Nipples.
- Flat pricing – starting Monday, April 12th we’re charging $29/shirt.
- Free shipping worldwide.
Much to my chagrin (I’m actually getting to be more and more OK with it as we’ve been discussing the future of the brand internally) we’re going to flat pricing model. This is due to two factors. Firstly, I kind of have to or I won’t be able to afford to do this for a whole lot longer, and I really like doing it. It doesn’t pay my mortgage or even pay for my lunch at this point, but it is a lot of fun. Secondly, and this was the big one, we had a lot of our users (almost 100) respond to the customer survey we put up a few months back. One of the most requested features was flat pricing. I think people often see a shirt they like, but once the price gets over $30 (a price point mentioned often) they just can’t justify it. Another added bonus is people can now buy the number they want instead of the number they can afford.
As for the free shipping, it’s effective immediately and it is exactly what it says it is. We aren’t charging for shipping to anyone, ever. I HATE paying for shipping when buying online. We’ve always wanted to offer free shipping, and now we’re be able to. Free shipping is effective immediately.
19 Comments
I’m all for a flat-fee model, but since most designer shirt companies are doing that, how do you expect to compete with others who price as low as $9-11 a shirt? $29 is a huge jump, even if you consider free shipping (which is really low in the US for a tee anyway).
Good luck.
PS The newest shirt is the second shirt from this site I thought I would try to buy, but $29 is not in my budget. It’s a thoughtful design with good, attractive execution. Kudos.
Alright, never buying from 200Nipples again. $29? This shirt isn’t encouraging either. Can we have attractive designs and not designs that have to *mean* something?
Thanks for the free shipping!
I’ll admit, here in Europe it was easier for me to swoop in just after midnight Central U.S. time for the designs I liked, but this model seems fair and sustainable — and I still get the perk of free shipping, even to Germany.
“We All Have Needs” #26
Puck,
Thanks for the encouraging words, I’m glad you like the shirt, sorry it’s not in your budget. The short answer about competing with other sites selling shirts for $9-$11 is that we just won’t. They make several hundred of their shirts, if not thousands, and to be honest-a lot of them are lacking a bit in the quality department. And none of them offer the customer service we do by keeping our customer base small. For instance I’ve called people personally to double check sizing and addresses when something seems amiss and I freakin’ own the place. For the product we put out and the service we provide, the price is right on. You get what you pay for. (I guess the answer wasn’t that short…)
West,
We’ll miss you! We know this change will lose us some customers that were here for $1 shirts, it’s unavoidable. None of our designs will ever appeal to everyone and we’re OK with it. As far as “quality” is concerned, it’s always going to be an objective thing when judging art. Having said that… We’re always looking to up the artistic integrity of our designs. It is definitely a work in progress. (Another change the flat pricing will bring us is that we’ll be able to pay our designers more at some point, which I’m looking forward to.)
Mark me down as another disappointment. $29 is just too much. I understand and completely respect your decision, and will still come to the site to see your pretty, pretty shirts. But I can’t justify spending that kind of money on a shirt.
Thanks for the 5 great designs.
$29? Really… people that get on the last day before a shirt is pulled off pay $29! How can you screw everyone over like this?
I can’t understand why you would do this. This is a small business…and your charging more than most retail stores. If you haven’t noticed usually you don’t sell more than 25 shirts. Also, I don’t care how “different” your business is, people won’t pay more than $25+ for a shirt that is not only mediocre, but not worth it. I’m sure with this change you probably won’t sell more than 10….if not 5 shirts. But hey, you will probably make just as much as usually because the price is ridiculous. And that’s what matters, right? The money,not your loyal customers.
Hey Wade! This is a great idea. My son Phillip&I love your shirts. I’ve had people stop me to ask where I got the cool, & unusual tee-shirt. I consider them a collector item and I think $29 is a fair price for the good quality of the shirt. Are you going to combine our two shirts now & ship them together? That would save cash. So, Phillip can always be #33 and I can always be #50? Keep trucking!
I don’t mind the flat pricing but $29 is way too much regardless of shipping. A fairer price would be $20, as someone above stated above 29 is a huge jump, and there are many t-shirt sellers out there, some with similar cool stuff.
Another idea is auction style up to a flat fee price to get the punters up at midnite. I have purchased 3-4 of your shirts. I’ll bet you a t-shirt you sell less #’s than you have been previously selling
As far as limited edition idea, it’s cool, but I dont buy them as collectors items, I wear them.
It seems some of the commenters have a weak grasp of basic economics.
25 shirts sold used to bring in 25×26/2 = $325
15 shirts at $29 will bring in $435
With shipping costs at 15×5 = 75$, selling 15 shirts at $29 will still bring more revenue than selling 25 used to.
Like most other people who have posted here, I’d have to agree that $29 for a shirt is just too much. When I saw this, it disappointed me greatly. I like this site, I like a lot of the shirt designs, and I’d hate to pay that much for a shirt. I’d love to buy shirts from here again, but at $29, it’s not affordable for me. If it were more like $20, I’d definitely consider buying from here again.
This is the first shirt design I’ve liked enough to buy!
I like the free shipping. I live in OP, and I’m a teen girl.
I hadn’t actually noticed the change prior to coming on here. I’m a student, and as such I haven’t had a problem getting on shortly after midnight to snag a shirt for under $10, but similarly, as a student, I certainly won’t be able to afford $29 for a shirt.
It’s already 2 a.m. and so far only one shirt’s even gone yellow that I’ve seen.
I personally do graphic and web design freelance to pay the bills, so I’d hate to see this operation tank, but I just can’t say this seems like the best idea I’ve ever seen.
That said, all the best to you! I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out regardless of my general lack of expendable cash!
I bookmarked this shirt and as I was getting ready to stay up until midnight to order I read the site and saw the new pricing. Went to bed. Sorry guys, $20 and I’d be game.
Thanks for 2 great shirts.
A friend of mine suggested that instead of a totally flat pricing model, you go somewhere between what you had a week ago and what you have now. Few people are going to pay $80-100 for a tshirt, that’s just not how they operate, but $30 is somewhere near legitimate. My friend’s suggestion was that you keep the old #1-$1 system, but only until #29, at which point, it becomes a flat rate. That way, people will still race for the cheap shirts, but people who like the design will be more likely to cough up for the higher numbers. She thought that if that was not so great, you could have the price be double the number (#1-$2, #6-$12, etc.) until #15, at which point, it would become flat at $30 again. This would maintain your quirky awesome pricing model, retain some of the customers here for cheap shirts, but still let you sell something and make a living. Not trying to run your business for you, I just loved what you had and want to see some shade of it still living.
Thanks for your input guys, keep it coming. There’s some really good comments in this thread.
I like the flat pricing idea. $29 is kind of expensive but anytime I’ve looked at the website to buy one of the t-shirts I would have to pay like $40 or more for it. I don’t have that kind of dough to throw around. I’m willing to pay $29 for the shirt though because it’s limited edition and the designs are pretty cool. If the quality is as high as you say it is I may buy more shirts from you as well.
So thanks for going to the flat rate.
i haven’t bought a shirt yet, under either model, but i’ve liked most of the shirts and i’m just waiting for the “right” one for me. at any price ($1-29.00) , when i see it, i’ll buy it. for all those here just to get a “cheap” shirt, let them go to the dollar store. i (window) shop here because it’s my local kansas city and because it’s unique and a limited run. you don’t pay $1 for those things.
I own three of your shirts and have been following the site for two year. I probably won’t buy another if you guys can’t bring the flat price down. $29 is too much. Half the designs aren’t even worth paying $10 + shipping for. Please try to find a way to bring it down to $20 or $25 or I’m out.
The allure is in your pricing model, not the numbers…don’t get rid of what makes you unique. I agree with west and would encourage you to explore maintaining the number-based pricing for the first 20 or 30 shirts and having the rest sold at a flat price.
I really like West’s idea (comment 14)~ Just wanted to throw my vote in with that idea
$29 is too much for me 
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