How to save money on shipping

Due to the effects of globalization, shipping has become one of the most lucrative global businesses. However, there is one thing that puts a damper on it and that is the cost. Many companies struggle with this very issue, and can’t seem to find a way to save money on shipping. There are numerous ways around this problem, though, and you can easily utilize them to great effect. One of them is to make connections with top freight companies Seattle. Another is to customize your packaging and buy in bulk. There are several great methods that you can utilize, and we will detail them all in this article. You will be able to ship your goods at the lowest price yet!

Top 7 ways to save money on shipping

To start things off, here’s everything you can do in a list format:

• Slower shipping
• Personalize your packaging
• Always buy in bulk
• Think outside of the box
• Recycle
• Find a balance between returns and insurance
• Always strive to learn and improve

There are other means available to you, as well, but we feel that these provide the most impact. Of course, the reduction in cost largely depends on your particular situation. We are not going to lie, there will be a lot of research to be done. But when you know what to look for, it gets a lot easier. If you need any further tips and tricks on how to optimize your shipping process, you can always get in touch with Hansen Bros. Moving & Storage and we will do our best to help you. But for the most part, if you exhaust the following options, you will have nothing to worry about!

Slower shipping

The first (and the simplest) way to save on shipping is to simply ship “slower”. That means that you opt for shipping solutions that might take several days (or even weeks) to arrive. Of course, this largely depends on the nature of your business. But the fact of the matter is that you may want to opt for the slowest possible shipping method, while still retaining the base business model. Even a day or two can make a huge difference when it comes to shipping prices. 

A creative way to save money on shipping – personalize your packaging

Customizing your packaging usually costs quite a bit more than using readily available containers. However, you only need to pay the customization fee once. After that, you get to benefit from the lower packaging cost (since you customized it that way). The price you pay for customization will pay for itself in due time. Again, we have to mention that you need to carefully analyze your business model and apply logic to it. While most businesses will profit from customizing their packages, some will not. And you need to know whether it will work for you. But if it does, it has the potential to help you save money on shipping costs.

Always buy in bulk

Directly tying into the previous tip, buying in bulk allows for much lower prices. It is the reason why original packaging is worth your while. You can purchase enough supplies to last you for quite some time and save money on each individual box. It is in your best interest to always buy your supplies in bulk, as that has the potential to save you the most money. It is a good business practice, after all.

Think outside of the box

Now, what if we told you that you don’t necessarily need to ship your products inside a standard box? There are numerous options available, some that might be much lighter and cheaper. The most notable options at your disposal are mailer boxes, bubble mailers, padded mailers, various mailer envelopes, as well as rigid envelopes. The choice of packaging will largely come to the products you are shipping. But the fact of the matter that most international commercial shipping companies are utilizing these methods should tell you a thing or two. It is not anything new, by any stretch of the imagination. People have been using these solutions to cut down on packaging costs for quite some time now. 

Recycle to save money on shipping

If you have the opportunity to receive some, or all, of your packaging from your customers, simply do it. That has the greatest potential to help you save on shipping costs, as you will be using recycled packaging materials. You don’t need the entire box, either, parts of it will do. Furthermore, you will be doing your part for the environment. The more you recycle and utilize recycled materials, the better. You will be helping the environment and cutting down on shipping costs in one big swoop!

Find a balance between returns and insurance

This is something that most international shipping companies spend a lot of their budget on figuring out. This is most commonly the case in international relocation, as the risks are quite high. It is in your best interest to figure out the return rates of your products, the most common reasons for it, and act accordingly. While you may think that insuring your boxes is the sensible thing to do, it can actually save you a lot of money by not doing so. But it all depends on that return rate. If your business does not see many returned boxes, you can afford to cut down on insurance. And vice versa, if you have a lot of returns, you might want to invest in additional insurance. Striking the perfect balance is the key to minimize shipping costs. 

Always strive to learn and improve

Lastly, never stop researching, never stop trying to improve your business. The more you know, the more effort you put into it, the better it will be. Never assume anything to be the absolute truth, and always verify what you hear. Learn from your shipment history, always try to optimize your next shipment and you will save money on shipping in no time!

Why Choose Us

History

Hansen Bros. Moving & Storage is locally owned and operated by the same family for four generations, since 1890. We have a well-established reputation for service quality and reliability with a high percentage of repeat household and commercial clients.

Professionalism

We’re a certified ProMover by the American Moving and Storage Association with A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, voted “Best in Western Washington” in 2009 and from 2011 to 2016 by KING5. Our company is fully licensed and insured and member of WMC and AMSA.

Value

Hansen Bros. Moving & Storage provide free, no-obligation in-home estimate and competitive rates, including low minimum rates for shipments moving under 300 miles. We’ve set a refund policy for unused packing materials and three Puget Sound locations to help clients save on travel fee costs.