Introduction
International shipping is no less than a bargain of a lifetime.
Shipping costs might easily eat your pockets if you’re a parent who can’t stop sending your son more comforts or a small business entrepreneur whose festive orders are outpacing expectations.
From uncertain economic fluctuations to unanticipated customs duties adding to hidden charges, managing transportation expenses has always caused turbulence between the service provider and the shipper, making bargaining the only effective answer.
Consequently, most of the time attempts to reduce international shipments have discounted the service quality. Still, by knowing the proper whereabouts and with the strike of know-how, you can have a winning hand, where shipping costs can be reduced significantly without deterring the quality.
Let us take you through the practical tips and strategies which will help you navigate the challenges aligned with global shipments.
Here’s how to start with five proven steps right away.
Why International shipping is costly?
The process of international shipping is a multi-layered job and it doesn’t get easier from as one might hope for.
Once a parcel gets dropped off with the delivery partner, it undergoes a series of different steps starting from the packaging according to local rules & guidelines and arranging for customs documentation till it gets its clearance at its final destination.
In case of any discrepancy found in any of the steps above, it further adds to the complexity of the process which is mostly defined by the higher cost accrued for its intended customers.
5 Proven tips to manage international shipping cost
Tip 1: Opting for a regional service provider
‘What you seek is already seeking you’- As the quote implies, sometimes, the best is just right at the corner.
While checking for the A-listed and reputable international shipment providers for your courier needs, you should not forgo the opportunity to explore the regional service providers that are located nearby.
One of the major advantages, with the choice of regional service partners is the ability to provide affordable logistics solutions without compromising on the quality of service. In addition, they provide more personalised assistance to every shipment with their door-step pickup or packing support.
Even at Brown Post, one of the unique aspects is our ability to provide extensive packing support knowing the stiffness in the customs clearance process and realising the importance of safe and damage-free delivery of goods for the recipients.
However, here are some important pointers in choosing a regional partner,
- Firstly, look for the reputation and reliability status of the chosen international delivery partner
- Make sure to compare the shipping rates among different service providers
- Look for the level of expertise in crucial areas like customs clearance
- Check for key features like speed and timely delivery
- Do not forget to look at the customer reviews across multiple players to identify the most reliable partner.
Tip 2: Packaging adjustments and alternate try-outs
‘Smart decisions usually live out of the box’- The boxed thinking with your packaging decisions is probably eating way more from your wallets than you think.
The large-sized packaging of your international shipments not only adds to that filler costs of yours, but also easily puts your packages at the risk of damage.
Apart from that, inappropriately sized packages with the utilisation of improper package materials, take up a lot of space and press more on the environment too.
Here are a few suggested ways for a more refined way of packaging to help you save more on cross-border transports,
- Pile up packing boxes in a variety of sizes and shapes to meet any sort of last-minute changes to the packaging.
- Try utilising poly bags for packing your lightweight items and non-fragile products like electronics, clothing and other accessories.
- Purchase the packaging materials in bulk to avail significant discounts
Tip 3: Negotiating with different shipping partners
‘Talking out always makes it better’ – Negotiation is one of the keys to lowering your shipment costs.
Leveraging on high volumes of shipping and consistent orders that your business does
- Strengthen your position by highlighting your awareness of the market and the competitor rates of shipment.
- Emphasise long-term partnership, loyalty and witnessing together a win-win situation.
Showcase your potential for networking and the ability to bring more customers for them.It specifically applies to businesses of different scales and sizes specifically from the e-commerce context where there is continuous order processing taking place. Negotiation also helps in developing a better understanding of each other’s expectations.
You can begin with proper research, come up with a list of shipment providers with whom you can request quotes and finally negotiate on different pricing terms.
Here is a list of pro tips underlining how you can turn the table around during a negotiation with an international shipment provider.
- Leveraging on high volumes of shipping and consistent orders that your business does
- Strengthen your position by highlighting your awareness of the market and the competitor rates of shipment.
- Emphasise long-term partnership, loyalty and witnessing together a win-win situation.
- Showcase your potential for networking and the ability to bring more customers for them.
Tip 4: Try flat-rate shipping solutions
‘The simplest solution is the most viable one’ –The maze run of shipment calculations based on different parameters like weight, destination and size of the packages not only gets confusing but also ends up with additional costs incurred.
To escape this, most of the international shipping partners nowadays are availing of flat-rate shipping solutions. There is a fixed price you will be charged based on the size of the package and not on any other parameters. It also helps with reduced delivery times and goes through smooth sailing in the customs journey of the shipments.
You can look for different flat-rate shipping solutions by availing the below options,
- Look if the service providers can give you flat-rate options for heavy-weight shipments.
- In case of shipping smaller items, look for the availability of flat-rate packing boxes.
Tip 5: Opting for prepaid strategies
‘A well-prepared state escapes the maximum turmoil’ – The chosen method of payment helps you save a hefty sum on your international shipments.
Prepaid payment is another proactive strategy that can help you secure better shipment rates from any service provider.
Making payment in advance benefits you in obtaining a significant number of discounts from the chosen international courier service and saving the shipping costs eventually to a maximum sum.
If you are an individual who wants to send more than two packages at one instance or an e-commerce seller looking for ways to swiftly proceed with the multiple orders, received, prepaid strategy is your trump card to play and reap maximum costs advantage.
The other way to apply this strategy effectively is to move in with group shipments even if you are processing a single parcel.
Given below are some of the important steps to be considerate of with prepaid shipping so that you are on the winning side of costs.
- Do a proper cost estimation once you receive a quote from the concerned delivery partner.
- Apply your negotiation skills to get the best discounts on the shipping volume.
- Procure labels in advance from the chosen carrier by paying
- If you are a business owner, educate and train the respective staff on applying labels perfectly to max out on the savings.
- Keep reviewing your label purchase and make appropriate adjustments when necessary, with the label pricing to continue with the cost savings.
Wrap-up
In general, money as an end decision-making factor levied a huge credence over the other factors we consider. Hence, saving money becomes an unconscious intent behind all our purchasing decisions and international shipments are no exception to this.
Be it for sending a personalised gift for a family member staying abroad or a business looking to make multi-national shipments, saving money on your cross-border transport is a combination of research, strategic analysis and execution.
The five proven tips mentioned above to strategise on cost reduction at different stages of international shipments have come to your rescue in achieving cost-effective global shipments.
It’s high time to begin a thoughtful approach to your overseas deliveries as a penny saved equals a penny earned.
Start optimising your global shipment costs and turn on your savings now with Brown Post.
