Shipping Tips for New E-Commerce Businesses
Shipping is a critical part of any e-commerce business. It can be a major cost, but it’s also an opportunity to differentiate your business and provide a great customer experience.
Here are five shipping tips for new e-commerce businesses:
- Negotiate delivery charges. Don’t just accept the shipping rates that the carriers quote you. Negotiate with them to get the best possible rates. You can also use a shipping aggregator to compare rates from multiple carriers.
- Use a flat rate shipping strategy. Flat rate shipping can be a great way to simplify your shipping process and offer your customers a predictable shipping cost. However, it’s important to choose the right flat rate shipping option for your business. If your products are heavy or bulky, you may need to use a different shipping strategy.
- Plan sensitive equipment shipping carefully. If you’re shipping sensitive equipment, you need to plan carefully to ensure that it arrives safely. This means using the right packaging materials and shipping method. You may also want to consider using a third-party shipping service that specializes in shipping sensitive equipment.
- Make timely deliveries. Customers expect their online orders to arrive on time. If your deliveries are consistently late, you’ll start to lose customers. Make sure you’re tracking your shipments so you can keep your customers updated on their delivery status.
- Claim refunds for lost or damaged packages. If a package is lost or damaged in transit, you need to claim a refund from the carrier. This can be a hassle, but it’s important to do it so you don’t lose money.
Negotiate Delivery Charges
One of the best ways to save money on shipping is to negotiate delivery charges with the carriers. Carriers are more likely to negotiate with you if you have a large volume of shipping. You can also negotiate better rates if you’re willing to commit to a long-term contract.
When negotiating with carriers, be prepared to discuss your shipping volume, the types of products you ship, and your shipping destinations. You should also be prepared to provide the carriers with some information about your business, such as your annual sales and your profit margins.
Use a Flat Rate Shipping Strategy
Flat rate shipping is a great way to simplify your shipping process and offer your customers a predictable shipping cost. With flat rate shipping, you charge the same shipping rate for all orders, regardless of the weight or size of the package.
There are a few different ways to implement flat rate shipping. You can charge a flat rate for all orders, or you can charge different flat rates for different shipping zones. You can also offer free shipping for orders over a certain amount.
Plan Sensitive Equipment Shipping Carefully
If you’re shipping sensitive equipment, you need to plan carefully to ensure that it arrives safely. This means using the right packaging materials and shipping method. You may also want to consider using a third-party shipping service that specializes in shipping sensitive equipment.
When shipping sensitive equipment, you need to use packaging materials that will protect the equipment from damage. You should also use a shipping method that is designed for fragile items.
Make Timely Deliveries
Customers expect their online orders to arrive on time. If your deliveries are consistently late, you’ll start to lose customers. Make sure you’re tracking your shipments so you can keep your customers updated on their delivery status.
If a package is going to be late, you should contact the customer as soon as possible to let them know. You should also offer them the option to cancel their order or to have the package shipped at a later date.
Claim Refunds for Lost or Damaged Packages
If a package is lost or damaged in transit, you need to claim a refund from the carrier. This can be a hassle, but it’s important to do it so you don’t lose money.
To claim a refund, you’ll need to contact the carrier and provide them with the tracking number for the lost or damaged package. You’ll also need to provide them with proof of insurance, if you have any.
The carrier will investigate the claim and, if they find that the package was lost or damaged in transit, they will issue you a refund.
Conclusion
Shipping is an important part of any e-commerce business. By following these tips, you can save money on shipping, improve your customer satisfaction, and grow your business.
Additional Tips
- Use a shipping calculator to estimate shipping costs before you checkout. This will help your customers know what to expect when they place an order.
- Offer free shipping for orders over a certain amount. This is a great way to attract new customers and encourage them
