Shipping merchandise can be one of the most complicated tasks for any small and medium business. Poor or no planning will result with the overpaying, or you may also lose the customers due to unprompted services. Having the best purchasing experience is highly necessary, and it plays a major role in customer retention, customer expectations and customer satisfaction as well. When you fail with the positive shipping experience, it may even lead to quickly erode brand trust, which will directly affect the bottom line of the business.
If it is managed correctly, you can manage the cost of shipping, and it will be beneficial for the small business. Poorly managing shipping will lead to more expenses up to several thousand. So, how to reduce the cost of shipping? Are you wondering about the ways? Here are some of the possible ways through which you can save expenses over the shipping.
Impact of shipping
The impact of shipping is found in different ways. Some of the most crucial areas to be focused on are,
- Service and speed
- Dimension and weight
- Shipping volume
- Destination
These being the vital factors to create impact, following a list of tips will help in reducing the cost of the service.
1. Pack appropriately
If you need enough space for the merchandise without paying more for the unused space, packing requires intense care. The experts recommend that you leave about two inches of clearance to give your merchandise enough space for safety factors. If the items to be shipped are fragile, ensure that there is enough bubble wrap to prevent them from breakage. You should choose the right packing materials to avoid paying too much for larger boxes. Also, ensure you are sealing it with the heavy-duty tape, and it does not come out easily. This will help in managing the space easily and shipping the goods easily.
Also, read From Packaging to Parcel: Tips to Help You
2. Pack multiple packs together
If you are purchasing two or more products, try to pack them together in the same box, and this will be beneficial in several ways. Except for the flat-rate boxes, the cost of the courier based on the weight and dimension as well. Nonetheless, you will pay less for the shipping one large and heavy packaging as opposed to two or more small lightweight packs for shipping. Packing multiple products together will also end up with fewer suppliers like bubble wrap when compared to packing things separately. This will help in reducing the overall cost of the shipping.
3. Learn different options for transportation
Usually, there are three primary ways for shipping handled these days, and these are the ocean, air and ground. Ocean shipping is often cheaper when compared to the air means, especially, when you are looking for international shipping. In the case of the local goods, using rail means will be cheaper when it comes to the truck’s shipping. Mixing these means of transport option is the lower cost and the best way for the delivery times. Another option is outsourcing transportation, something that can save from 3 to 5 per cent of the overall shipping cost. It is better to consult with the expert to know more about them and choose the right medium.
Also, read Introducing Different Types of VSL Freight Services
4. Having shipping insurance
Insurance is the smart form of investment that will help in saving you from financial emergencies. If the courier loses or damages during the shipping, the insurance is the best option that will help in recovering you from the bad situation. Without insurance, you may likely pay for the lost or the damaged goods from your pocket. There are dozens of insurance schemes that are available from the third-party service provider that will help you at the right time. Never consider your insurance as an expense, as it is the smart way of investing the property. So, do enough research and choose the right insurance company for various services.
5. Shop more but less frequently
You might have felt that the cost of shipping just one product is the same as the cost of shipping multiple products. So, encourage your customers to buy in bulk, and you can also buy in bulk order for the requirements. Try adding some exciting benefits like free shipping on the order over the predetermined amount of cost for all the bulk orders. This is one form of reducing the cost of shipping, and it is also one of the best ways to bring more benefits to the business as well.
Know how VSL logistic will help with affordable shipping
When it comes to logistics services, VSL logistics is one of the leading service providers to ship the goods in and around the UK. Here, you can find the service through all the modes of transport. As the leading ones, we deal with different customers, and we transport a huge quantity of goods. Also, we are professional and reliable service, who can guarantee you the best and prompt services. We care for the goods and assure for the best transfer with a reasonable and transparent cost. So, if you are in the logistic needs, you can immediately contact us at VSL services for further needs.
