Shipping for Holiday Success

December 6th, 2023 Comments off
Shipping For Holiday Success

The holiday season is once again upon us, which means an increase in orders is right around the corner. The busier you become, the easier it is to make mistakes like taking incorrect measurements or leaving old labels on the packaging. These mistakes can lead to costly adjustments and/or returned packages. With shipping deadlines in place and increased shipping volumes for carriers, you don’t have time to waste reshipping orders. That’s why Stamps.com and UPS are here with some reminders to help you avoid additional fees. 

Note: These surcharges can be applied year-round, not just during the holiday season.

Check your packaging before reusing 

If your packaging seems unstable or flimsy, it’s okay to retire and recycle it. USPS and UPS each offer some free shipping supplies on their websites that can be ordered directly to your home or business. You can also order certain USPS shipping supplies directly from your Stamps.com account. 

If your packaging is sturdy enough to be reused, look for any old labels and/or other special markings (hazardous material stickers, perishable content warnings, etc…). Remove anything that doesn’t apply to your new shipment to avoid getting any extra fees for incorrect packaging or additional handling your package didn’t actually need. Your orders will get to their destinations without additional delays, and your shipping budget won’t suffer. 

Use the correct packaging for your orders 

During the holiday season, orders range from breakables like coffee mugs to treats like chocolates. One is obviously more fragile than the other, but both items can handle their journey with some extra support. Wrap your items and surround any gaps between your items and the outer packaging with Kraft paper or other recyclable materials. We recommend using pressure-sensitive plastic or nylon-reinforced tape that’s at least 2 inches/5.08 centimeters wide. This way, your package is well-sealed, and there’s less of a chance that someone will open a broken gift on Christmas morning. 

Keep your holiday shipping merry and bright with a risk-free trial to Stamps.com.

Confirm your shipment’s dimensions

We can’t stress this enough: double-check all of your shipment’s dimensions before entering them — Santa even checks his list twice. Measure the length, width, and height of your package multiple times, and round up the weight of your shipment to the nearest pound when needed, so you can better avoid charge corrections for your shipments. If/when your shipment isn’t a traditional shape, take a picture of its dimensions, just in case you need them later. We’ve included information about some of the commonly issued additional fees below. 

  • Additional Handling – Non-standard packages require extra care when moving through UPS Operations and are subject to additional surcharges. Such examples include, but are not limited to:
    • Any article that is not fully encased in a corrugated cardboard shipping container
    • Any package with an outer shipping container covered in shrink wrap or stretch wrap
    • Cylindrical tubes/packages
    • Packages bound by metal/plastic/cloth
    • Packages < 1 inch in a single dimension
    • Packages with the longest side exceeding 48 inches or its second-longest side exceeding 30 inches
  • Large Package – Large packages require special care and are subject to additional surcharges when the package meets the specifications below. An Additional Handling Charge will not be assessed when a Large Package Surcharge is applied.
    • Packages can be up to 90 pounds
    • Packages can be up to 130 inches in length and girth [(2 x width) + (2 x height)] combined
    • Packages can be up to 96 inches in length
  • Over Maximum Size – Over Max shipments are packages that are not compatible with the UPS system and should be shipped via another shipping method. Confirm your packages follow the guidelines below to avoid having a shipment returned as well as an additional surcharge applied:
    • Packages can be up to 150 pounds
    • Packages can be up to 165 inches in length and girth [(2 x width) + (2 x height)] combined
    • Packages can be up to 108 inches in length

As a reminder, to support SMBs, UPS will not apply Demand Surcharges to merchants on Stamps.com†. 

Dimensional Weight 

Sometimes, the actual weight of your package may not be the weight your shipment is charged for. Dimensional weight reflects a package’s volume, which is the amount of space a package occupies in relation to its actual weight. This means the weight is based on your package’s dimensions instead of the weight you see when you place your shipment on the scale. You can determine whether the dimensional weight or actual weight will be used to determine your shipping cost in a couple of steps: 

  1. Calculate your package’s volume by multiplying the length, width, and height together 
  2. (L x W x H) 
  1. If this number is smaller than 1728, your shipping costs will be determined by the shipment’s actual weight
  2. If the number is larger than 1728, you’ll divide it by a carrier-specific number to determine the DIM weight 
  3. For USPS and UPS on Stamps.com shipments, divide this volume by 166
  4. For FedEx shipments, divide this number by 139 

How does adding UPS Shipping to your Stamps.com account help you save money?

Stamps.com customers should already have UPS available as a carrier when they open their account. However, to add UPS as a carrier: 

Go to “Settings” > Select “Common” then “Carrier” > Add New Carrier > Click “UPS” 

Adding UPS as a carrier gives you even more carrier options to choose from with our Rate Advisor, so you can find the most affordable rate for your mailing and shipping needs. Start taking advantage of all these benefits when you ship with UPS on Stamps.com, including up to 78% off on UPS®Ground shipments, up to 73% for UPS 2nd Day Air® service, and UPS Next Day Air® service, and up to 82% off international services*. 

The best gift to receive this holiday season is the gift of no avoidable extra shipping charges. Removing old labels, using durable packaging, and double-checking all shipment measurements are all notable ways to reduce your chances of receiving these charges. Also, adding UPS®  Shipping to your Stamps.com account will help you save on your shipping costs through the holiday season and beyond. 

Trim your tree and shipping costs this holiday season by signing up for Stamps.com

*Discounts off UPS® Daily Rates. Rates are limited to shipping from the U.S. only. Rates and any applicable discounts are subject to change at any time without notice.

†Demand Surcharges are not applied only to accounts opened on Stamps.com

Creating a Successful Holiday Shipping Strategy

October 24th, 2023 Comments off

As the holiday shopping season quickly approaches, our recent study in partnership with Retail Economics shows that 44% of US customers are still concerned about inflation going into the holiday season. According to our partner, Retail Economics, North American customers will spend $183 billion on holiday shopping through online marketplaces. And your business deserves to be included in those sales! Customer preferences for the holiday shipping season have been made known, and your business still has time to incorporate their feedback before the holiday rush. 

Start your holiday preparations early 

It may seem early, but 41% of shoppers plan to start their holiday shopping before October. With early bird shopping well underway, your business needs to start holiday preparations as soon as possible. Marketing to early holiday shoppers is beneficial because it not only has the potential to boost current sales, but it also gives your business the opportunity to test marketing strategies. Pay close attention to which coupon codes seem to be redeemed more than others and which items they’re being used for. It’ll come in handy when more customers begin their holiday shopping and during big shopping holidays like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

If you aren’t sure where or how to begin, we recommend customizing the branded ship notification emails feature within your Stamps.com account. Branded ship notifications let your business add promo materials to shipment confirmation emails. Adding exclusive sales to reward early shoppers increases the likelihood of a repeat customer base. Additionally, testing sales materials early is a good way to see what works and what doesn’t before the holiday season officially begins. 

To personalize branded ship notification emails: 

  1. Select the Settings button. 
  2. Click the Branded Features button, followed by the Brand Settings button.
  3. Once selected, the Branded Settings dashboard will open. 
  4. From here, you’ll customize the color scheme, logo, social media links, and other information. 
  5. After you’ve completed all of these steps, find the Emails tab. 
  6. Choose which settings you would like to change i.e., if emails aren’t sent until tracking is available for customers. Also, confirm the reply-to email and display name are both accurate. 
  7. Click Publish Now.   

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Include expedited shipping options for customers

With Christmas landing on a Monday, there may be an increased demand for expedited shipping options. Our study found that 61% of customers are willing to pay $9 more for same-day delivery when placing orders between $40-$60. Many customers are buying stocking stuffers, family gifts, friend gifts, and more, meaning this purchasing threshold isn’t uncommon. 

Expedited shipping options are carrier services that offer a faster delivery window than traditional services. These services include overnight shipping, where a customer receives a package the day after it’s ordered (or two days if the item was ordered after the shipping cutoff on the first day). We understand that offering these options may not be available for your small business. As a compromise, it might be worth offering services with guaranteed service delivery options. This way, there’s an available refund option if a package doesn’t arrive within the guaranteed delivery window.* 

Additionally, communicating shipping deadlines is crucial. Shipping deadlines are the last dates a package can be shipped and still arrive in time for Christmas. Offering premium shipping options is expensive. But, if your business shares shipping deadlines for the carrier services you provide customers, it’ll decrease the chance of customer dissatisfaction, increasing the chance for repeat business. 

*Note: These delivery guarantees might fluctuate during the holiday season, so we recommend reaching out to your carrier directly.

Rate Advisor 

To determine the best shipping options for your business, Stamps.com users have access to our rate advisor. Our rate advisor allows you to compare rates through three different categories: cheapest, recommended, and fastest. These rates are populated based on the shipment information entered, and you’re able to filter by carrier, delivery window, packaging, and price. This way, you can find the best rate for your business and still meet customer expectations. 

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Expand to marketplace and store selling 

Our study shows that holiday purchases made through online marketplaces have the potential to reach $253 billion globally, with, as we mentioned earlier, $183 billion of this amount coming from North America. If you’ve been hesitant to sell on marketplaces like Amazon in the past, now’s the time to start. Stamps.com users can easily integrate stores and marketplaces into their accounts so that eligible orders show on the orders screen. 

With eligible orders automatically imported to your Stamps.com, it’s easy to create labels and packing slips. After your labels are printed, we’ll send the tracking information to Amazon, so they can send shipment confirmation emails to your customers. Amazon offers seller support within the seller portal for additional help with Amazon questions, and Stamps.com users can reach our support team via phone from Monday-Friday, 6am-6pm PT at 1-855-889-7867 or via email, with a 1-2 business day response time. 

Amazon Prime Days 

Amazon has announced that October Prime Day(s) will return this October 10th-11th, giving your business the opportunity for a test run. Early holiday shoppers will more than likely take advantage of Prime Day deals, so it’ll also help your business predict popular holiday items. Keep an eye on which items are flying off the shelf vs the ones that are collecting dust, and use these trends when planning holiday inventory. 

Prioritize shipping insurance 

All of the upcoming holiday gatherings may mean your customers aren’t home whenever packages are set to arrive. Our study found that 37% of customers are worried about packages being stolen, so it’s time to make shipping insurance a priority. Most carriers include either insurance or declared value with their services. These insurance options are usually around $100-$200, depending on the service, but some services do come with the option to purchase supplemental coverage. If a package is damaged or lost, you can file a claim to see if you’re eligible for reimbursement. 

ParcelGuard™

For high-value items, it’s also worth considering extra third-party shipping coverage from providers like our partner, ParcelGuard™. The cost of ParcelGuard will vary by the amount of coverage added to a shipment and can be added in the Mail or Orders tab; it’s also charged in the cost of your label, so there’s no need to worry about invoicing or surprise charges. ParcelGuard claims are filed electronically and through your Stamps.com account. Give your customers the gift of security this holiday season and offer shipping coverage options. 

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Holiday shipping tips for ecommerce businesses 

This holiday season is on track to be a big one for ecommerce merchants. Customers are already preparing their shopping lists, and some are already shopping. Here are a few ways you can make sure this holiday season is a prosperous one: 

  • Include detailed information about tracking shipments 
  • Expand your online selling to marketplaces like Amazon 
  • Offer expedited shipping options whenever/wherever possible 
  • Enable branded tracking shipment emails to avoid unattended packages 
  • Utilize carriers with included insurance options and consider purchasing more insurance for more expensive items 

Keep the holiday season merry and bright with a trial to Stamps.com.

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