TRAVEL COUPONS
HOW TO GET THE MOST FOR YOUR SHIPPING DOLLARS
Basically, consider all aspects of the shipping costs to determine the best choice for each particular shipment. Below, I offer some examples to demonstrate my point:
Example 1:
Shipping a single T-shirt: Weight: 11-12 oz Shipped from zipcode 23061 to zip code 75205
Cost option 1:
- USPS First Class $3.03, shipping time 3 days, Label w/ delivery confirmation .14, Tamper evident poly mailer.40
- Total Cost $3.57
Cost option 2:
- USPS Priority Mail $4.05, shipping time 2 days, Label w/ delivery confirmation .00, USPS provided Priority Mailer .00
- Total Priority Mail costs: $4.05
Cost option 3:
- USPS Parcel Post $3.95, shipping time 6 days, Label w/delivery confirmation .14, Tamper evident poly mailer .40
- Total Parcel Post costs: $4.59
As you can see, the choices are really options 1 and 2. The slowest service actually costs the most in this case.
Example 2.
Shipping 5 T-shirts, total weight 60 oz - 3 lbs 12 oz. from 23061 to 75205 (same as above)
Considerations: USPS Priority Box, or Fedex provided box - Total shipping weight now = 4 lbs 6 oz
Poly Tamper-evident mailer - Total shipping weight now = 3 lbs 15oz
Cost option 1:
- USPS Priority Mail: (using provided box) $10.40, shipping time 2 days, Label w/ Delivery Confirmation .00
- Total cost of UNINSURED shipping $10.40
- Use the Flat Rate Box and shipping is reduced to $8.10!
Cost option 2:
- USPS Priority Mail (using Poly Tamper evident mailer) $8.95, shipping time - 2 days, Label w/ Delivery Confirmation .00, Large Tamper evident poly mailer .60
- Total cost of UNINSURED shipping $9.55
Cost option 3:
- USPS Parcel Post using recycled box $ 9.04, shipping time - 6 days, Label w/ Delivery Confirmation .14, Recycled box .00
- Total cost of UNINSURED shipping $9.18
Cost option 4:
- USPS Parcel Post using Tamper evident mailer $7.53, shipping time 6 -days, Label w/ Delivery Confirmation .14, Large Tamper evident poly mailer .60
- Total cost of UNINSURED shipping $8.27
Cost option 5:
- UPS Ground $8.38, shipping time 4 days, Label w/ tracking .00, Recycled box .00, Insurance included .00
- Total cost of INSURED shipping $8.38
Cost option 6:
- UPS Ground $8.02, Label w/tracking .00, Large Poly Tamper evident mailer .60, Insurance included .00
- Total cost of INSURED shipping $8.62
In my second example, the best choices appear to be UPS Ground with a recycled box, or USPS Priority, using the flat rate box.
In Summary:
Keeping the shipping costs as low as possible can help sellers retain repeat customers and entice first time customers. All of the above examples exclude the handling charges. As mentioned earlier, sellers must determine what, if any handling charges they feel they should/need to include in the fees they charge their customers.
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