With the customer foremost in mind, Pacific Lock Company (PACLOCK) is lowering the bar when it comes to free shipping on orders.

“We are reducing the order amount from $1,000 to $750 because, unlike our competition, we have managed our internal processes and vendor relationships in a way that we can share some of our cost savings,” said Gregory Waugh, president and CEO of PACLOCK. “Apparently our competition is having troubles maintaining their levels of service . . . We listened to our customers who said that freight costs can hurt not only profitability, but also the ability to close a sale. We weren’t necessarily surprised when Master Lock announced they were increasing their minimum from $1,000 to $1,500 as of March 1. PACLOCK has always focused on how we can better help our customers, especially the smaller accounts.”

PACLOCK’s distributors were quick to praise the decision.

“It will be a big help as we establish our customer base and pass along the savings to them,” said Bill Deahl of Southwest Opening Solutions in Phoenix, Ariz., which represents PACLOCK in all states west of the Mississippi River. “This announcement is proof to our customers that PACLOCK wants to partner with them and help drive their business to success. Adding inventory becomes easier and more manageable for a small business to attain. Now they don’t have to hold back orders to achieve a lofty shipping threshold.”

“This is a game changer for us,” said Steve Schilling of S J Schilling & Associates in Millersport, Ohio, who serves as PACLOCK’s distributor in the Great Lakes region. “Our customers can put the money allotted for freight towards increasing their orders to help with not only their stock supply, but address their customers’ needs.”