4 Tips To Reduce Your Shipping Costs |R&S Logistics

A majority of retailers today are now also e-mail commerce companies whether full or in part. As a result, shipping has become a major expense. R&S Logistics wants to partner with you to discover the best cost-cutting options for your business. Regardless of the size or weight of the product sold, customers today expect easy, low-cost (or free) shipping–sometimes even internationally. As a result, shipping can easily account for 25% of a company’s total costs.

How’s your holiday marketing strategy?

Consider these helpful strategies to save on shipping:

Research every option.
There are tons of carriers beyond USPS, FedEx and UPS. In many cases, your best bet may involve more than one carrier for a single delivery. You can utilize multiple carriers with a variety of options like first class mail or priority mail to get the lowest rate for each type of shipment you must make.

Understand the fees.
You need to understand exactly what you pay for. Some carriers charge fees for weekend deliveries, signatures, and more. You want to know about all potential fees ahead of time so those shipping costs don’t take too much of your profits.

Negotiate.
Know your various carrier options,and then negotiate for lower rates based upon your usage and needs. You might require many weekend deliveries, so ask for a discount there. Ask about volume discounts and piece matching to other carrier offers.

Understand your supply options.
While major carriers supply retailers with free shipping supplies, regional carriers typically sell them to you. Again, you can ask about discounts, always buy in bulk, reuse packaging, and using mailers whenever appropriate. Before investing in any equipment or packaging supplies, ask your carriers if they can offer anything for free.

There are a number of other ways you can reduce those shipping costs, but we understand that all the research can seem daunting. A reliable third party logistics partner like R&S Logistics can help you every step along the way to get you the best possible rates. Visit our website today to learn more about our services and request your free quote.