Following the rise of eCommerce, shipping has become one of the most important parts of running a retail business. An excellent shipping experience has become a must-have strategy when it comes to creating loyal customers.
Shipping has always been a point of anxiety for customers, and the most successful retailers impress their customers by solving shipping problems as they arise.
Here are a few of the most common shipping problems that sellers encounter, and strategies that you can use to solve these problems.
High shipping costs
Shipping can be expensive for both customers and retailers. Research completed by theBaymard Institute saw 49% of people surveyed abandon carts due to shipping costs being too expensive.
Shipping costs are generally calculated using the weight and dimensions of your parcel. The larger and heavier the package, the more expensive the shipping. The destination of your package is also taken into consideration.
Here are some ideas that can potentially lower your average shipping costs:
- Weigh your packages and reduce dimensions: One of the biggest money wasters is incorrectly weighing your packages and dimensions. This can result in additional fees and surcharges billed to your shipment.
- Get discounted shipping rates: Using a courier aggregator like Interparcel can give you access to exclusive discounted shipping rates that you can't get anywhere else.
- Compare prices between carriers:Every carrier has a unique set of services and prices, so it's important to compare to make sure that you're getting the best deal possible for your business. Interparcel has the largest courier network in Australia, and provides instant quotes from a range of couriers like DHL, Couriers Please, StarTrack and UPS on one dashboard.
- Look into multi-carrier solutions: Organisations using a multi-carrier shipping strategy have more flexibility. They can leverage regional carriers to deliver to remote locations.
Shipping delays
Shipping delays can be frustrating for both customers and retailers. It's an unfortunate byproduct of running a business, but as many retailers can attest to, once the package is in the mail it's essentially out of the seller's hands.
Providing customers with accurate shipping information and tracking updates lets them know that you are dependable and trustworthy. Interparcel's Branded Tracking allows you to keep your customers informed and will reduce calls to your business, providing a great shopping experience for your customers.
Lost or damaged packages
If you think about it, shipping and transit conditions can be very harsh. The forces that items face as they're loaded onto trucks, planes or over bumpy roads are far greater than what they experience sitting on your doorstep. There are plenty of ways that you can work to prevent damage to your cargo. It all starts with the proper packaging and boxing strategy. A large number of lost packages occur due to incorrect labelling and improper packaging. Check out our handy packaging do's and don'ts here!
Returns
It's inevitable that some items will be returned, either as a result of damage or as a result of a change of mind. You can deal with this in two ways. To avoid having to absorb the cost of replacing damaged goods, you can arrange for transit warranty. At Interparcel, for example, we provide coverage for items at the value of $100 with additional warranty available for items over $100 . For customers that change their mind and wish to return a package, we have a returns system in our Shipping Manager that will allow you to send a parcel in reverse, without the hassle.
Lack of knowledge about international shipping
Sending a parcel from Sydney to Melbourne is fairly simple. You book your shipment online, your package gets picked up or you drop it off at a collection hub and your package arrives a few days later via truck. Shipping parcels overseas is a whole other monster. There are customs forms, fees and requirements that need to be fulfilled, amongst the plethora of things that could delay your shipment. The best way to ensure your international shipment gets cleared smoothly is to enlist the help of a carrier that has experience moving items internationally.
Shipping with third-party services a safer choice?
A common denominator in problem-free shipping is working with experienced specialty shipping companies. Their expertise can help you to avoid or minimize common shipping issues so that you can turn your attention to other tasks.
Interparcel can help you overcome common shipping issues, please do not hesitate to contact us here.
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