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Fast and reliable fulfillment is critical to the success of your online business. Your top priority is getting your orders to your customers quickly and accurately, but at the same time choosing a cost-effective shipping method. This article gives you a detailed overview so you’re ready to select the right shipping methods for your fulfillment business.
Shipping options: Choose from the widest range of shipping options to ensure you get the most reliable and cost-effective delivery methods for your orders. The choice of transport companies and shipping methods depends on the following criteria:
Basically, you have two options: the services offered by the USPS or the services offered by a private carrier such as UPS/FedEx.
Despite all the bad press, USPS is one of the best and most reliable shipping options for home delivery to the consumer. The USPS service is by far the cheapest. There are many shipping options available. First Class, Media, Priority, and Express Mail. USPS also offers flat-rate package shipping for a standard price anywhere in the US. The best part about USPS is that it’s the only option to deliver packages to box locations. postcards and APO. Unlike other carriers, First Class Mail charges the same flat amount whether the package is shipped next door or airlifted to Hawaii or Alaska.
UPS/FedEx usually charge more. These two transports are a good option if you want a very reliable service. If your products are of high value and you want insured and guaranteed delivery, it’s fine to justify the high cost charged by UPS/FedEx. These luggage racks are a good option for heavier pack items. Both UPS and FedEx offer ground and air services. The cost and time to deliver a package depending on the area. The whole country is divided into several zones. Packages shipped to the nearest area are delivered the next day by ground and cost less compared to the farthest area which could take up to 5 business days via ground service.
Delivery confirmation and tracking: The terms “Delivery Confirmation” and “Tracking” are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. When UPS or FedEx “track” a package, they know where it is at all times. The Delivery Confirmation will usually acknowledge that the package has arrived in the destination zip code. It will also indicate if the delivery was attempted but failed. However, the details are often fuzzy after that. If it was “delivered”, was the package left at the door? Did the postman leave it at the neighbor’s house? Delivery Confirmation will often not help you in those situations. It is possible to have a lost package with “delivery confirmation” showing “delivered” at the same time.
Another limitation of the Delivery Confirmation is that it is often not scanned. Instances have been reported where the package was never scanned, either on the pickup side, the delivery side, or both. When you look up the “Delivery Confirmation” number online, it simply says “Printed Label.” Other things to note about delivery confirmation: USPS delivery confirmation in “first class” mail is restricted to items that are at least ¾” thick. If the item is less than ¾” thick, you must upgrade to priority mail to use delivery confirmation.
Shipment of Merchandise to the Fulfillment Center: In addition to selecting the correct shipment for the outgoing shipment; you must also send the goods to the logistics center. Most fulfillment centers have negotiated rates for freight shipping via LTL or other shipping methods and you should compare the shipping cost for inbound shipment from your fulfillment company rather than going directly to the carrier. Depending on the nature of your merchandise and the pick-up location, there could be a large difference in costs between various transport companies, your fulfillment center should be able to guide you and advise you on the best option.