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Business shipping is an essential — yet challenging, costly, and complex prospect for online retailers. Many businesses choose to ship their products through the United States Postal Service (USPS). Of course, there are tremendous benefits to choosing this method for business shipping. In many cases, it can support consumer satisfaction, ensure prompt delivery, and minimize shipping costs.
USPS offers a variety of low-cost shipping options for small businesses. As a small business owner, you should know what types of services and discounts you can get from USPS. By understanding how to take advantage of these benefits, you can improve shipping operations and save money. Whether you have a few orders a month or a few hundred orders a month, the following information will help you get the most out of USPS’s mailing services. Read on to learn USPS small business shipping recommendations to reduce operational costs.
Free Supplies
One of the best perks of USPS mailing is the free shipping supplies. At no cost, you can get boxes, envelopes, shipping labels and more. There are many different shipping container sizes for bulk shipments as well. You can order these products conveniently from the USPS website. Then, you can have them shipped directly to you, a P.O. box, or your business address. As your business grows, you will need more and more supplies to keep up with demand. By taking advantage of USPS free shipping supplies, you can spend less on packaging and more on your product. Using USPS’s free shipping supplies is a great way to help you reduce operational costs.
Free Desktop Software
Using USPS’s software Click-N-Ship can help you save money on shipping costs. Click-N-Ship is a free desktop computer software designed to make shipping operations easy and efficient. The software allows you to print your own shipping labels and manage packaging. To use this software, all you need to do is create an account on the USPS website.
With Click-N-Ship, you can manage shipping for free from any computer in any location with an internet connection. The solution is not meant to be used for inventory management, but it has many other valuable features that can help you save time and money. By utilizing the free and convenient desktop software offered by USPS, you can reduce operational costs.
Flat Rates
One way to reduce shipping costs is by evaluating USPS’s flat rates. These rates are often more cost-effective than rates based on package weight, as you can send packages of different weights and numbers of items for the same price. USPS offers flat rates for packages less than 70 pounds. The prices range from about $7 at the smallest to $21 at the largest. Flat rates are usually the best shipping rate option unless your products are very small and lightweight. If that is the case, a rate based on the package’s weight may be cheaper. When using USPS shipping services, make sure to choose the type of rate that works best for your business.
Cost-Effective Return Services
When doing returns through USPS, you should be aware of the many options available to you. Each service involves a slightly different process, with various delivery times and related costs. For example, the Merchandise Return Service is designed for e-commerce businesses. It has no minimum required return volume, offers shipping times of 1-3 days, and involves prepaid rather than scan-based payment. The Merchandise Return Service is a good choice for many businesses, but make sure to check the other services available as well. There may be another option with a payment or price calculation method more suitable for your business. By choosing a USPS return service that most aligns with your business, you can make returns easy and cost-effective.
Bulk Mail Discounts
Bulk mail discounts are a great way to reduce shipping costs for your business. Instead of paying for each package individually, you can pay a monthly fee to USPS for commercial mail services. To get commercial mail discounts, there are a few requirements. First, you need to apply for a mailing permit. Additionally, you need to meet the minimum mail volume requirements, which vary based on mail type. Furthermore, you must pre-sort your packages by zip code. If you find it difficult to qualify for these discounts, you can lower freight costs with package consolidation. If your business qualifies for bulk mail discounts, you can save a good deal of money on shipping costs.
Now that you know these 5 USPS shipping recommendations, you can effectively use USPS services in an efficient, cost-effective way. First, ordering free shipping supplies is a great way for your business to save. Additionally, the software Click-N-Ship is a free method of managing packages. Furthermore, flat shipping rates can often be cheaper than weight-based rates. You should also compare the different types of return services available. Lastly, see if you qualify for bulk mail discounts. By following these USPS small business shipping recommendations, you can help your business save on operational costs.
