When it comes to starting your own online business, there are plenty of things for you to consider. Have you got a website yet? What is your marketing strategy? Have you thought about your branding? What are the USPs of the product you will be selling? What is your advertising strategy? The list goes on. One thing that should be very high up on your list is deciding how to choose the correct shipping company for your business.
When you find yourself in that process, there is a whole list of things to consider when comparing different companies. For example, the speed of their service, if they have the correct insurances, how expensive they are and if they are reliable. Also, you can prefer pallet delivery service that make your transport business easier.
Let’s further explore these points to assist your search for the right eCommerce shipping company.
Pricing
Pricing is one of the first things you will need to consider when comparing shipping companies. When customers order from an eCommerce platform, many might expect free delivery. If you want to follow this trend, the best approach is to build the cost of shipping into the cost of the product you are selling so that you don’t have losses. Still, pricing can vary between shipping companies depending on the products you are selling; therefore, it is key to contact your courier to understand how these variations work and in which cases the price changes.
Reliability
Unfortunately, if a shipping company delays delivering your products to your customer, the customer won’t be pointing fingers at them. Chances are the first person they will call is you. This means it’s even more important that you build a good relationship with your courier and research how reliable they are. What type of transport will they use? Where is their warehouse located compared to your predicted customer base? What happens if they are late? It’s important to ask these questions before making any deals.
Insurance
When comparing shipping companies, you will find that not all of them provide insurance. This means that if your products are damaged in any way, you may be the one that is liable to fixing it, therefore making a loss. Insurance brings peace of mind and will help you manage your cash flow better as you won’t have to factor the costs of damages. It may be essential for your eCommerce to partner up with a courier that does have the correct insurance. Therefore, be thorough and understand the policies you involve your business into before making any decisions.
What Selling Points Do They Offer
When choosing the right eCommerce shipping you must ask them the key selling points they offer. Some of these you may have never thought of, and they can be insightful to use when speaking to other courier companies. For instance, live tracking is essential to customers and businesses, and it can be something you weren’t aware of that many shipping companies can offer.
Overall, when you are new to the world of eCommerce, there are plenty of things to think about. It’s crucial to do your research and not be afraid to ask the companies you are in contact with. Even more, if you have any friends or family members who run a business, ask them as their knowledge will undoubtedly help.