On an average day, FedEx ships approximately 3.4 million packages, and UPS ships roughly 15.8 million.
There are tons of packages making their way across the country every day, and these major shipping companies have started raising their prices in response to the increased demand.
Is your bank account hurting from these price increases? Whether you’re just trying to ship a package to a family member or you’re a small business owner trying to meet customer needs, you’re probably desperate to find the cheapest way to ship a package.
If this is your mission, we’re here to help. Read on for some tips that will help you to save money while still getting your packages delivered on time.
1. Consider a Regional Carrier
If you regularly ship packages to the same location, you might be better off relying on a regional carrier instead of a national chain.
Regional carriers often offer lower rates since they cover a smaller area. Search online to learn about the regional carriers that serve your area and the area to which you need to ship your package.
OnTrac is a good one to consider if you need to ship packages to states on or near the west coast (California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, etc.).
LSO is another good carrier that serves southern states like Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Lasership is a great carrier for delivering to customers who live on the east coast. If you are located in Canada and are looking for a reliable shipping company that can meet all your needs, going with a Ship Expert is always a viable choice.
2. Use Third Party Shipping Insurance
It’s important to invest in insurance for your packages, especially if shipping products is an important part of your business.
You don’t necessarily need to purchase insurance from your package carrier, though. You can save a lot of money by purchasing insurance from a third-party company.
The savings might not seem like a lot if you’re just shipping a package on occasion for personal reasons.
On the other hand, if you’re shipping a lot of packages each day–especially packages that are heavy or expensive–you’ll see a major decrease in the cost of shipping if you take the third-party approach.
3. Use Online Shipping
Yes, there is such a thing as online shipping. There are a few companies, such as Stamps.com, that provide individual users with access to internet-based postage.
Basically, you use these companies to purchase postage online at lower rates than what you’d get if you were relying on the post office. After you’ve purchased postage online, USPS will deliver your packages for you.
This is a great option for small business owners who need help handling package delivery but don’t necessarily want to wait in a massive line at the post office.
Just make sure that the company you’re using is USPS-authorized before you do business with them and give them access to your credit card information.
4. Size it Right
Whether you’re sending packages for personal reasons or as part of your business, it’s important to make sure you’re using the right size of packaging materials.
Remember, carriers will determine the cost of shipping based on the size and weight of your package (as well as the destination to which you’re shipping it).
You might not be able to control where your package is sent, but you do have at least some control over the package’s weight and the size of the box you use to ship it.
Whenever you can, try to use smaller and lighter packaging instead of large shipping boxes. Bubble mailers and small boxes will be your best friend if you’re trying to save money on shipping.
5. Look for Free or Discounted Supplies
You can save a lot of money if you make an effort to hunt down free or discounted shipping supplies. Sometimes, you can get free shipping supplies from UPS, USPS, or FedEx.
You can also buy supplies online in bulk to cut down the costs. Just make sure the supplies you use are in compliance with the size regulations the carrier has put in place. Otherwise, you could end up getting slapped with extra fees.
Don’t be afraid to reuse packaging, either. As long as it’s in good condition and previous shipping labels are completely covered, there’s no reason why you can’t recycle boxes, bubble wrap, and other materials.
6. Weigh and Measure Your Packages
Before you haul a package to the UPS or FedEx store, weigh and measure it at home.
By doing this, you can calculate the cost of shipping at home using an online calculator. There are lots of free ones out there that make it easy for you to figure out how much it’ll cost to ship your package and how long it’ll take for it to reach its destination.
When you take this approach, you can compare shipping costs with different carriers to figure out which one will be the most affordable for you.
7. Work with a UPS Reseller
Another easy way to compare costs and find the most affordable way to ship your packages is to work with a UPS reseller.
Authorized UPS resellers help you estimate the cost of shipping from the comfort of your own home. They also offer discounted shipping rates that are usually only available to high-volume shippers.
Because they’re UPS-authorized, these resellers will also work on your behalf to fix any issues that happen to arise while delivering your package to its destination. You don’t have to worry about your packages being lost or damaged when you trust them to a reseller.
What’s the Cheapest Way to Ship a Package?
Don’t let high shipping costs keep you from sending packages to customers, family members, loved ones, or anyone else.
As you can see, there are lots of different strategies you can use when trying to find the cheapest way to ship a package.
Which tip are you going to try first?
Are you a business owner? Do you want to learn about other ways to save money on shipping?
If so, be sure to check out some of the other articles on our site today. This one on tips for transporting your goods is a great starting point.
