What is the cheapest way to ship a package?
I'm regularly selling things online and I feel like the price to send a package has just gone up and up recently. These higher prices have really been eating through my shipping budget and I just need a better option for my wallet. Is there some courier service that you prefer using that's more budget-friendly? There might be ways for me to split shipments into smaller packages, but sometimes I'm sending big items so would love advice for either.
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Expert Comments
If your package weighs under a pound, USPS is usually the most economical.
For heavier packages, especially those traveling long distances, the FedEx One Rate program is a great option if your item fits in their specific packaging. The FedEx One Rate program is a game-changer. It provides flat-rate pricing with faster delivery times than USPS. It's ideal for items that are heavy but compact.
Also, independent shipping stores like ours can compare rates across FedEx, USPS, and UPS. This gives customers the best options without having to visit multiple locations.
One warning: Be careful with online shipping companies offering "too good to be true" prices. Many of them charge hidden fees later on. Always read the fine print.
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For heavier packages, especially those traveling long distances, the FedEx One Rate program is a great option if your item fits in their specific packaging. The FedEx One Rate program is a game-changer. It provides flat-rate pricing with faster delivery times than USPS. It's ideal for items that are heavy but compact.
Also, independent shipping stores like ours can compare rates across FedEx, USPS, and UPS. This gives customers the best options without having to visit multiple locations.
One warning: Be careful with online shipping companies offering "too good to be true" prices. Many of them charge hidden fees later on. Always read the fine print.
Reader Comments
Shipping costs for your package are really going to depend on how heavy it is and how big the box is, and larger, heavier boxes are going to be considered "oversized" and cost a bit more. If you can split your shipment into some smaller boxes, that will probably save you money in the long run.
That said, I've used PirateShip for all my packages whether they're big or small. They try to find the cheapest rates and discounts for shipping, and they give extra discounts if you connect an ecommerce platform to your account. Couldn't recommend it enough!
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That said, I've used PirateShip for all my packages whether they're big or small. They try to find the cheapest rates and discounts for shipping, and they give extra discounts if you connect an ecommerce platform to your account. Couldn't recommend it enough!
If you're shipping a lot of heavy books or media items, USPS offers Media Mail, which is a cheap way to ship things up to 70lbs (31.8kg).
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You can save money on shipping by getting free packing materials from Craigslist or local free groups. If you ship frequently, you can also buy your packing materials in bulk to get your per-unit cost down. I tend to ship things that are all around the same size and under 10 pounds (4.5kg) so buying boxes in bulk worked well for me.
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If you're selling a lot of small items, you can consider bundling them or having a minimum purchase amount on your website or whatever platform you're selling so that it becomes more cost efficient to ship them. For example, if you sell keychains and it cuts into your profits a lot to just ship one, sell them in packs of 3 or require users to buy 3 to place an order.
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