How to calculate shipping cost 

Shipping costs are no longer a nightmare.  

Imagine you have added every item to the online cart, and when you are about to check out, you are taken by surprise to see the shipping charges being mounted. It gets you to wonder whether you are being charged the right shipping fees.  

Many times, shipping costs come as a mystery wrapped around in a cardboard box.  Most of the time, you are left clueless as you fail to understand how it is charged in the first place.  

Be it a small-business owner or an individual who wants to send surprise gifts to your loved ones settled abroad, you need to take careful consideration with shipping costs.  

Here is a way out for you.  

Given below is a detailed guideline of how the shipping costs are calculated.  

Step 1: Factors impacting shipping costs 

Unlike any other businesses, logistics and shipping doesn’t have a standard rule of applying the charges. It is generally multiplied by several factors involved in it.  

1.     Travel distance 

Most of the time, the couriers are split based on the different shipping zones which has an impact on the pricing. The more distant location accounts for the highest price in comparison to the ones that are at the lowest distance.  

Local delivery- Shipping within the same city  

Domestic delivery– Shipping from one state to another incurs slightly higher costs. 

International delivery– Shipping from one country to other leaps over with costs considering the customs duties and taxes to be paid.  

2.     Package weight & dimensions 

The package weight & dimension have a higher significance in determining the cost of the shipping. Most of the courier service charges are based on actual and volumetric weight.  

Actual weight applies to the physical weight of the package. 

Volumetric weight caters to lightweight items like clothing.  

For example: A 3 kg parcel of notebooks accrues more costs than a big box filled with pillows as they take up a huge amount of space.  

3.     Shipping speed 

Shipping costs also depend on the type of service you have chosen. When you are in dire need of an urgent shipment to be sent across, that’s when the shipping costs escalate.  

Standard shipping- The delivery speed takes about 3 to 4 days and comes with an affordable option.  

Express shipping- Next-day or same-day delivery but the charges are comparatively higher.  

Overnight shipping- It comes significantly at a higher price range.  

4.     Customs duties & taxes 

The primary costs that eat up your wallet while making a cross-border shipment are through the customs duties and taxes. These costs depend on the varying tax laws, the type of item being shipped and the declared value of the package.  

5.     Additional Services  

The value-added services add to every penny spent on the shipping costs. It begins with special items handling charges, package insurance and tracking services. 

Step 2: Compare the prices between operators 

Every operator in the market varies in their pricing models. 

 In particular, the prices differ invariably between the regional and the well-established delivery partners.   

One of the significant aspects of the regional delivery partner is that their service quality is equivalent to that of the market leaders. Accordingly, some of the regional delivery service providers for you to take notice of are listed below,  

• Brown Post– Leading market player in the segment of personal couriers with affordable services with its establishment of serving more than 90 plus countries across the world.   
• Parcel Chief– Budget-friendly rates catering to both individual and business needs as well.  

Step 3: Make use of the shipping calculator 

As most of the courier partners today have transcended into a tech-centric platform, one can easily avail informations about the shipping costs through online calculators. With the input of a few pieces of information like origin & destination, shipping speed, and package & weight dimensions, the approximate shipping charge is available to you instantly.  

Step 4: Take notice of the hidden costs 

There is always something underneath. 

Transparency in shipping costs is a huge missing factor when you look at most of the service providers. Accordingly, the main costs always come with add-on charges which most of us tend to overlook in the shipping bills. Some of the hidden charges to take notice of are,  

• Fuel surcharge– Based on fluctuations in the fuel price, extra charges are incurred.  
• COD charges- Additional charges are applied for cash-on-delivery orders, especially in the e-commerce context.  
• Seasonal pricing– During any festive occasions or public holidays, the demand for couriers is also high which escalates the charges accordingly. 
• Rural area delivery– Further charges are added if the recipient’s address belongs to an unserviceable area or a remote location.  

Step 5: How to reduce shipping costs 

While everyone aspires for a shipping cost that is affordable and fits their budget, the reality is always contradictory. Here are your go-to smart tips for reducing shipping costs 

• Negotiate pricing– Always make use of the advantage of a regular shipper to stake your claims.  
• Pre-paid shipping– Opting for pre-paid shipping to avoid the inclusion of add-on charges during the process of transit.  
• Smart packing helps– Make sure to use packages made of lightweight materials to escape from volumetric calculations. 
• Plan your delivery– If your parcels aren’t required to be delivered urgently, always make use of the standard shipping option.  

Wrap Up 

Calculating shipping costs doesn’t have to be a nerve-wracking exercise, at least not anymore. 

It does require only a conceptual and a fundamental understanding of how it works.  

By ensuring that you get yourself hooked on the know-how of the role played by different factors, you have already gotten an upper edge to win the battle of shipping costs.  

Further, by choosing a reliable service provider who entails a transparent pricing approach without applying any hidden charges, shipping costs will no longer be a nightmare.  

Looking for a reliable partner? Brown Post provides an exceptional international delivery service at an affordable price range.  

Get in touch with us today and make your first booking.