Have you adjusted to the latest postage rate increase? They seem to be coming more frequently than ever before and perhaps it’s time to revise the well-known phrase to be:
The only things in life that are certain are death, taxes, and postage rate increases!
Still, there are always new opportunities to save on postage, and we thought we would explore 10 of our favorites this month.
Select the perfect packaging for your product. Let’s face it…some things just have to go in a box but many don’t. Boxes add weight and cost. Bubble mailers or even poly mailers may suffice while reducing your postage and packaging expenses. We certainly understand that you are trying to achieve a certain look but we recommend doing your research. Is the additional packaging cost going to pay for itself?
Pack your product tight so that your package is no bigger than necessary. Recently I received a huge box with two pairs of shorts in it and lots of bubble filler. I couldn’t believe the waste! Your customers don’t like to see that waste either and the fact is that all shipping carriers consider size in their pricing and the bigger the package is the higher your postage costs will be!
If you need filler to protect the product, use a lightweight filler option like air bubbles or tissue paper.
Add a personal touch without adding weight. Freebies and branded extras can add to the package weight and size, which we know will add to postage costs. If you’re looking for low-cost low-weight ideas for personalizing you might want to check out our recent blog on the topic.
All the shipping carriers provide free packaging for some mail classes. If you are, for example, shipping everything via USPS Priority Mail, you may be able to get your packaging for free! Just be sure that the free packaging doesn’t add to your postage cost!
Ground shipping doesn’t just save on postage but also reduces your company's environmental impact. After all jet fuel is expensive and polluting. We recommend that you ship ground whenever possible. We certainly understand the concern about lost packages with ground services. You may want to check out this recent blog with our thoughts on Ground Advantage.
Check multiple carriers from time to time. Even domestically the Post Office is not always the cheapest option. All carriers adjust rates frequently and we recommend comparing rates often.
Everyone doesn’t get the same shipping rates these days. If you are shipping on your own, we recommend using Shopify fulfillment to take advantage of their negotiated rates. If you are using an eCommerce fulfillment company be sure you ask if they have negotiated rates.
We are huge fans of our home state of Colorado for many reasons including the fact that it is in the middle of the country. Postage rates are based on the distance to the destination so shipping from the middle of the country reduces postage costs.
USPS Flat-Rate options are not as beneficial as they were before the days of Ground Advantage but there are still times when your cheapest option is flat-rate shipping so be sure you check out the flat-rate options.
There you have it! Our 10 favorite ways to save on postage costs. However, if this is all a bit overwhelming for you we would be happy to help. We would love to take a look at your current shipping strategy whether you are a customer or not!
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