Owning an eCommerce business comes with its fair share of challenges. And when it comes to choosing the right shipping carrier, it becomes even more complicated. Choosing this kind of partner to transport your precious products to your customers is a huge responsibility, and a lot needs to be considered.
Fortunately, there are a lot of carriers offering international package shipping services not only for ordinary people but for eCommerce businesses as well. You just need to pick the right one (or several) for your specific business needs. This article will give you a basic understanding and tips on how to make this decision easier and what’s there to consider when choosing a shipping carrier.
1. Do not overpay
Paying too much for shipping services is the thing you probably want to avoid the most. Not only will it annoy you but can also reduce your business profits dramatically or even ruin them. For these reasons, you must be mindful when considering the shipping costs.
The easiest way to avoid overpaying is to simply compare pricing from different shippers. There are a lot of shipping price comparison sites online, which will give you a primary understanding of what prices to expect. You can also request a custom quote for your business from several shippers to get the full picture. Make this decision only after comparing the pricing to avoid paying too much.
2. Think of benefits
Most shipping carriers offer additional benefits to have you as a long-term partner. Free package insurance, compensations for late deliveries, and package pick-up for free are only a few of them. Analyse what additional value a carrier has to offer to get the best out of it. Free benefits can save you a lot of money as well as choosing a carrier with low shipping rates.
3. Consider location
Will you ship locally, or globally as well? If you’re reaching new markets, you’ll probably need a shipping carrier operating internationally. But that does not necessarily mean you need a carrier shipping to each part of the world.
Imagine you operate in the USA, but the number of sales from Romania is much bigger. This means you’re constantly shipping to Romania from the States. In this kind of situation, it would be wise to choose a carrier specializing in this exact route, as it might shorten delivery time frames and save you money as well.
4. Decide on delivery times
Each carrier offers different delivery times, especially when it comes to international shipping. Before picking a shipping carrier, come to a decision on what delivery time is the most optimal and preferable for both you and your customers. Once decided, make sure the carrier can manage the required delivery speed.
5. The tracking option is essential
Package shipping is a complex procedure, and not knowing where the package is after its dispatch can be quite stressful. It’s a concern not only for you as a seller, but for your customers as well.
Be sure that the chosen carrier has an easily accessible, online real-time tracking tool. If it doesn’t have one, then probably it’s not worth your attention and you should go with another shipping company.
6. Look up feedback
Reputation is one of the most important things to consider when making this big decision. And nothing gives a better understanding of a company than the experiences of others.
Take time to research the feedback on the carrier you’re considering. The easiest way to do it is by reading online reviews. Facebook or Google my Business profiles are the most common places where people leave their feedback. You may also want to reach out to other businesses asking for their experiences with shipping companies.
Conclusion
It doesn’t matter how perfectly nurtured your business is, and it doesn’t matter if you need to send package to Poland from the US or to a neighbouring city in your country. The business won’t perform successfully without a trustworthy shipping carrier by your side. You don’t want your customers to stop buying your products because of their poor delivery and you don’t want to overpay for shipping, correct? That’s why you must make an effort and find the perfect balance between pricing and quality when picking a shipping carrier.
