Shipping costs can put a large dent in any business’ budget, especially when you have international customers and clients. That’s why it can be so frustrating when even domestic shipping costs appear outrageous and may even hamper company growth. It is a necessity though and cannot be avoided but there are many ways to save on domestic shipping costs when sending out packages with Parcels Please. Here are some of the best ways to do so.

1

Use Postage Meters

Postage meters save time, effort and money when shipping packages anywhere. They are portable machines that come equipped with a scale for weighing packages, assessing postage charges and printing shipping labels. Rather than guessing these details and paying for extra postage just in case, you can get an accurate estimate and don’t have to wait for it to be assessed. They can be bought or leased, with claims that they can save up to 20% on postage charges over a year.

Find Cheap Packing Supplies

It’s possible to bulk buy packaging for cheaper, as most shipping companies will have a limit to their free packaging. If your business tends to take the services of heavy machinery shipping or transporting a lot of products domestically then one of the big costs aside from delivery might be the packaging materials used. Buying a few boxes, envelopes, and safety materials may seem cheap at first, but the costs soon start to add up. Shop around though, and you’ll find that many major shipping companies offer flat-rate boxes and certain envelopes for free as thanks for using their services.

Negotiate a Deal

Again, for businesses sending out a lot of packages domestically and on a regular basis, it will be easier to negotiate deals with shipping companies. Many will value your loyalty and realize there’s an opportunity to provide incentives and ensure you keep using their service, such as offering a decent discount. This principle applies not only to parcel carriers but also to trucking companies for larger shipments or freight transport. When negotiating, consider factors like volume, frequency, and consistency of your shipments. For example, if you’re a manufacturer regularly shipping large quantities of products, you might negotiate better rates with Trucking Companies for full truckload services. Similarly, if you’re an e-commerce business with consistent daily shipments, you could seek volume-based discounts from parcel carriers. Remember that shipping companies often have different tiers of service, so explore all options. You might find that upgrading to a premium service level actually saves money in the long run due to better rates and additional benefits.

Look for Refunds

Many shipping companies also offer refunds as part of their policies for a number of different things. It is usually due to the time of delivery, with guarantees that shipments will arrive by a certain time. If they don’t then you may be entitled to a full refund, but many customers are unaware of this, so it is worth checking before arranging a shipment.

These points will help your business save money when it comes to domestic shipping costs.