Six practical ways to cut shipping costs in your online store
Shipping is one of the biggest costs that affect a store's profit. Here are six simple ways to lower it without hurting the service your customers get.
1. Compare carriers every time
The cheapest price changes from route to route. Compare prices for your pickup and delivery cities instead of always using one carrier.
2. Pick the right box
A box bigger than needed raises the volumetric weight and the price. Try smaller sizes for small products.
3. Enter weight and size accurately
The gap between what you wrote and what the carrier measured is charged later. Accuracy from the start means predictable bills.
4. Save your addresses and box sizes
Saving your warehouse address and usual box sizes saves time and prevents mistakes on every shipment.
5. Ship from a prepaid balance
A prepaid wallet makes the cost known before you create the shipment, and the price returns to the wallet if you cancel before pickup.
6. Review your numbers monthly
Look at the number of shipments and the cost per city and carrier. You may find routes you can improve.