Sunrise changes freight policy to counter fuel costs

LONGMONT, Colo. - In response to escalating fuel prices that have "dramatically" impacted its business, Sunrise Medical will implement a new freight policy Jan. 9, 2006. "In developing our new policy, we recognize that we simply cannot 'pass on' the cost to you and your customers," stated Carey Winkel, president of Sunrise's North American commercial operations, in a letter to its provider customers. "Instead, we need to develop a policy which supports how you purchase from Sunrise, as well as strive to find new ways for us to work together to help reduce overall transactional costs. We believe that our new policy accomplishes these objectives." The new freight policy applies to customers in the contiguous 48 states. A brief overview of the new freight policy: -- All orders (parts and products) placed on Sunrise' Web site (www.sunrisemedical.com) or via electronic data interface (EDI) regardless of order amount will receive free freight. -- All non-Web orders more than $1,000 will receive free freight. -- All non-web orders less than $1,000 will be subject to a handling charge based upon order value per the following schedule: - $10 handling fee for orders between $1 to $250 - $25 handling fee for orders between $251 to $500 - $35 handling fee for orders between $501 to $750 - $45 handling fee for orders between $751 to $999 Sunrise's Web ordering process is the most cost effective way to transact business and "we are pleased to be able to share our cost savings with you by providing free freight in return," Winkel state in her letter dated Dec. 23. In related news: Sunrise Medical has opened a new distribution center in Indianapolis that is designed to increase and expedite delivery coverage to customers in mid-America, as well parts of the mid-Atlantic. This marks the third distribution center Sunrise has opened during the past 11 months. The new distribution centers are part of Sunrise's strategy to increase the company's overnight delivery coverage in the United States from 30% to more than 80%. The new center will offer same day customer service for "will call" orders. Will call provides customers with a new level of service and was developed to ensure that the need for immediate product fulfillment is addressed, the company stated in a release.