Shipping Secrets

How to create revenue with shipping

Those flat rate boxes from USPS are really amazing.  Did you know that the weight limit is 70 pounds for the same price to any zip code...that includes places like Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, etc.

Now the most we've been able to put in one of those boxes was 24 pounds....but 24 pounds to a zone 8 is a huge savings with postage at only $8.10 per box.   That allows to create a handling charge that does not sting the customer.  Delivery time for most priority mail is 3 days, delivery time is much quick that FedEx ground.

Have you looked at Endicia ?  When you upgrade to their Preminum service plan you can print Stealth postage, which means the cost is not on your shipping label.   Shipping and handling fees often cover more than postage, so printing postage amounts on parcels can make for irate customers and lots of support calls. Your customer merely sees your shipping and handling rate on their invoice.

Their Preium service is only $15.95 / mo or $174.95 a year, saving you $16.45. The Endicia $15.95 a month, is a small fee for our office in comparison to the 3% handling fees we can add to over 100 packages a month. That's really increased the bottom line of our shipping budget which is now in the black. Add that to the savings with using the free boxes from USPS which are delivered to our door at no cost.

Customer Service Tool

Shipping can be a critical customer satisfaction tool when it comes to your customer service. 

Most shipping companies charge a higher price for residential deliveries.

Did you know that  UPS, FedEx and DHL add a surcharge

of more than $2 per package to deliver to residential addresses?

Did you also know that 91% of delivery points in the United States
are classified as residential. And, 87% of new U.S.delivery points are also residential?

How is that effecting your bottom line?

There is no surcharge for residential delivery with USPS.  The new flat rate boxes are great.  The same charge for any address, regardless of weight.  These boxes are also delivered to you free of charge from the post office.

You can fit a three ring binder, some CD's and a couple of small books in to the smaller flat rate box.

Think about the new shipping rate you can offer your customers.  Or charge the same rate you always have, and make your shipping department profitable and spend more money on your customer service .

Check out the Stealth postage option with premium service at Endicia 

Incorrect Address Charges

An incorrect address on a box can be an unpleasant, expensive suprise.  For example, the wrong address on a shipping label can result in an address bill-back, adding at least $5.00 to the cost of shiping your package, plus the amount you've already paid to ship it.

I love using the USPS and Dazzle program with Endicia because neither of them will accept an incorrect address. If I have the street address off a digit, I've got to correct it before I can print the shipping label.