It’s no secret that ecommerce shipping can be a headache. High shipping costs are one of the main reasons that shopping carts are abandoned, and if you’re not careful, they can eat into your profits.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to reduce shipping costs on Shopify. In this article, we’ll cover some of the basics of shipping on Shopify, as well as some tips on how to reduce your shipping costs.
The first thing to understand about shipping on Shopify is that there are two types of shipping: fulfillment and delivery. Fulfillment is the process of getting your products from your supplier to your customers. Delivery is the process of getting your products from your fulfillment center to your customers’ doorsteps.
There are a few different ways to fulfill orders on Shopify. The most common is to use a fulfillment center, which is a third-party company that stores and ships your products for you. Fulfillment centers typically have lower shipping rates than if you were to ship your products yourself.
Another option for fulfilling orders is to use a dropshipper. Dropshipping is a type of fulfillment where you ship products directly from your supplier to your customer, without storing them in a fulfillment center first. This can be a good option if you have a small number of orders, or if you want to offer faster shipping times.
Once you’ve decided how you want to fulfill orders, it’s time to start thinking about delivery. The most common way to deliver orders is through a shipping carrier like UPS, FedEx, or DHL. Shipping carriers typically have different rates for different types of products, so it’s important to do some research to find the best option for your business.
Another option for delivering orders is through local delivery companies. Local delivery companies are often cheaper than shipping carriers, but they may not be able to deliver to all areas of the country.
Once you’ve figured out how you want to fulfill and deliver orders, it’s time to start thinking about how much you want to charge for shipping. Shipping costs can vary depending on the weight and size of your products, as well as the distance they’re being shipped.
If you’re just starting out, it’s often best to err on the side of charging too much for shipping, rather than too little. This will help ensure that you’re making a profit on each sale, even after accounting for shipping costs.
There are a few different ways to reduce shipping costs on Shopify. One way is to offer free shipping over a certain amount.
For example, you could offer free shipping on all orders over $100. This encourages customers to spend more in order to get free shipping, which helps increase your average order value.
Another way to reduce shipping costs is by negotiating with shipping carriers. If you’re consistently spending a lot on shipping, reach out to carriers and see if they’re willing to give you a discount. This isn’t always possible, but it’s worth asking if you’re spending a lot on shipping each month.
Finally, one last way to reduce shipping costs is by using Shopify Shipping apps like Shipstation or ShippingEasy . These apps allow you connect directly with major carriers like UPS and FedEx , which gives them access volume discounts that aren’t available to smaller businesses . While there is usually a monthly fee for using these apps , they can save you money in the long run by giving you access to lower rates .
In conclusion, there are many ways that shop owners can remove high shipping costs in order remove one of the main reasons that shopping carts are abandoned . By understanding the basics of types of fulfilment and delivery , researching different options and charges , and using Shopify Shipping apps , store owners can save money in the long run while still providing their customers with fast and affordable delivery .
