Anyone who has ever run a business knows how important it is to keep costs low. It’s a lesson successful organizations have embraced. Walmart’s ‘Everyday low prices’ is a great example from Forbes. By finding ways to trim down your operational expenses—which includes your shipping costs—you could see massive growth for your ROI and bottom line.
Negotiate
Shipping companies agree on one thing: the more you ship, the lower the rates you get. That means if you have a ton of items to ship, you’re more than likely to find cheap international courier services. Mostly because they would be happy and willing to negotiate with you. That’s why you shouldn’t go for the price they quote you. Try negotiating with them and you could end up with better rates.
Look out for signs
However, if the company capitulates much too soon, be on the lookout for any signs that tell you they’re cutting corners just to compensate for the drop in rates. If that’s the case, you’ll be better off hiring a different courier.
Go with an online service
There are plenty of cheap international courier services online. You’ll have plenty of options to choose from. By going with an online shipping service, you can save on U.S. Postal service costs.
Calculate all the charges
Fuel surcharges, special charges and other fees will find their way onto your bill. If your customers are paying for the shipping rate, make sure you tack on those charges as well. That way, you won’t need to absorb them, which—if done repeatedly—could hurt your ROI.
Look for discounts
If you already have a good idea of the shipment weight and costs—because they’re the same every time or you can predict what those are in advance, you could consolidate your shipment to save up on costs and take advantage of discounts and special rates.
