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The Pros and Cons of Flat Rate Shipping for Ordinary Customers
Many online retailers utilize flat rate shipping because it has a bunch of benefits for e-commerce businesses: it allows them to standardize shipping costs and save on packaging, makes it easier to offer free shipping, etc. But what if you’re just an ordinary customer who mails packages occasionally? Should you consider flat rate shipping or is it better to stick to plain old regular shipping?
Let’s start by figuring out how flat rate shipping works. The main difference between regular shipping and flat rate shipping is in their respective pricing strategies. The shipping price of regular packages is based on their gross or dimensional weight, depending on which one is greater, whereas the price of shipping a flat rate package is fixed.
Carriers usually offer several sizes of flat rate envelopes and boxes to choose from (typically small, medium and large), each with fixed shipping cost. All you need to do is choose the one that can accommodate the item or items you’re shipping and purchase postage at a set price based on the size of the box. By the way, you can get a box first and purchase postage later, either online or at a Post Office/carrier’s location when shipping your package.
Flat rate shipping has several benefits for ordinary customers, i.e. people who only ship occasional packages. First and foremost, it is hassle-free. You don’t need to buy a box, weigh and measure your package, look up how to calculate its dimensional weight and shipping cost, etc. All you need to do is choose one of the flat rate boxes offered by the carrier. Most carriers allow to order flat rate boxes online and won’t even charge you for them because the cost of packaging is factored into the shipping price.
Secondly, flat rate shipping costs are predictable. You are charged one flat fee for shipping depending on the flat rate box you’ve chosen. There are no hidden fees or other surprises: the price is always the same regardless of the size or weight of the items you’re shipping, the distance that your package has to travel, etc.
Of course, flat rate shipping is not without its drawbacks. Even though it is usually quite cost-effective, sometimes it turns out more expensive than regular shipping, but you will never know it unless you weigh and measure your package, calculate the cost of regular shipping, and compare it with flat rate prices.
The second drawback of flat rate shipping is that it is not the best shipping method for heavy, oversized, and unusually shaped items. There is a limited choice of flat rate shipping boxes, and sometimes they are not the right fit for the items you’re shipping. Besides, using a branded flat rate box supplied the carrier is a requirement; you cannot use just any box for flat rate shipping, even if it’s exactly the same size as a flat rate box.
Finally, a fixed price means fixed shipping time. If you are not satisfied with the estimated delivery time and want to expedite your package, you should choose regular shipping and pay extra for overnight delivery.
The bottom line is, flat rate shipping has its pros and cons, just like any other shipping method. Many customers find it convenient because it is hassle-free and predictable, while others prefer regular shipping because they want to have more control over their shipping costs and other aspects of the shipping process. The choice is up to you!
If you’re not sure which of the two options you should choose, here’s a rule of thumb that might be helpful: flat rate shipping is better for small packages that are heavy for their size, whereas standard shipping is better for large but lightweight items.
Can You Handwrite a Shipping Label?
Each package needs a shipping label to get to its destination because the label provides all the necessary information to identify a shipment and its recipient. You can have a shipping label printed at a post office or purchase it online and print it out yourself, but can you handwrite it? Let’s figure it out together.
Can You Ship Alcohol via the USPS or UPS?
Say, you want to surprise a friend who lives out of state with a nice bottle of wine or expensive liquor. What is the best way to do this? Can you ship alcohol via the USPS or UPS, or do you need to find other ways to get your surprise delivered to them?
A Brief Guide to USPS Delivery Times
When shipping with the United States Postal Service, you should know that delivery times can range from the next day to several weeks depending on the service and destination. Here is a brief guide to USPS delivery times that will help you choose the best service for your needs.
What Is a Packing Slip and Does Your Package Need One?
Every package shipped via a postal or courier company needs shipping documents, but what exactly documents are required depends on the situation. For example, some packages need a packing slip, while others don’t. What is a packing slip and how to figure out whether your package needs one?
Why Some Goods Cannot Be Shipped by Air
Air freight is typically the fastest way to get something from point A to point B, but it is not without its downsides. Firstly, it is more expensive than ground transportation, sometimes very much so. Secondly, not all items can be transported by air due to restrictions. Why cannot some goods be shipped by air?
Can You Ship Lithium Batteries via the USPS?
Nowadays, a lot of electronic devices contain lithium batteries, which means that they can be tricky to ship because batteries contain highly flammable electrolytes and can start a fire while in transit under certain conditions. Because of this, most carriers impose shipping restrictions and sometimes even do not allow to mail lithium batteries at all. Can you ship lithium batteries via the United States Postal Service (USPS)? Let’s figure it out together.
Can You Ship Vaping Products in the US?
When you ship something from a USPS Post Office or a private carrier’s location, an employee will tell you if the items you’re shipping are subject to restrictions or prohibitions. However, if you prefer to print shipping labels yourself and ship packages from home, it’s up to you to research which products can and cannot be shipped. For example, can you ship vaping products in the US? Let’s figure this out!
The Pros and Cons of Renting a PO Box from the USPS
A PO Box is one of many additional services provided by the United States Postal Service (USPS). It is a securely locked mailbox located in a Post Office, which you can rent to receive mail and packages instead of having them delivered to your home address. What are the pros and cons of renting a PO Box from the USPS?
What Is the Difference Between a ZIP Code and a Postal Code?
Although different countries use different address formats, most postal addresses in the world consist of similar elements. One of the most important elements in any address is the postal code or the ZIP Code. What is the difference between a postal code and a ZIP Code, and how to understand which one you need to use?
What Is a Residential Surcharge?
Postal and courier companies may apply a variety of surcharges to their base shipping rates in order to compensate additional costs they might incur during handling and/or transportation: additional handling surcharge, address correction surcharge, delivery area surcharge, peak season surcharge, etc. Residential surcharge is one of the most common shipping surcharges. What exactly is a residential surcharge and when is it applied?
4 Tips for Preventing Common Errors in International Addresses
Getting an international address right can be tricky because different countries have different addressing conventions, which can be further complicated by the fact that some countries have different formats for domestic and international addresses. Today, PostageMaker is sharing helpful tips to help you avoid common mistakes when writing international postal addresses.
What Will Happen If You Get the ZIP Code Wrong?
In addition to the residential or commercial address, every package shipped within the United States (or to the United States from abroad) requires a ZIP Code to get to its destination without delays. But what will happen if you get the ZIP Code wrong while the rest of the address is correct? Will your package be returned to you, lost, or simply delayed? Let’s figure it out together.
5 Common Causes of Customs Delays
International shipping time depends on many factors, one of which is customs clearance. Prolonged processing time or hold-ups at customs may result in shipping delays, so it is important to know why customs delays happen and what you can do to minimize their impact. Here are 5 common causes of customs delays.
What Is a Shipping Barcode and Why Does Your Package Need One?
Since their invention in the 1950s and wide introduction in the 1970s, barcodes have become ubiquitous; they can be found on all kinds of goods, various documents, identification wristbands, airline luggage, tickets, some types of mail, etc. Barcodes found on mailpieces are typically referred to as shipping barcodes. Why do packages need a shipping barcode and where can you get one for your package?
How to Protect Your Package from Damage During Transit
Even though postal and courier companies do their best to handle all shipments with care, packages can get damaged during transit for a variety of reasons, ranging from poor packaging to adverse weather conditions and traffic accidents. If you prefer to print shipping labels yourself and mail packages from home, you probably want to know how to protect your package from damage during transit.
8 Reasons to Choose Ground Shipping
Air shipping is faster than ground shipping for obvious reasons. However, “faster” does not necessarily mean “better”. When your shipment is not too time-sensitive, it might make more sense to have it delivered by ground rather than by air. Here are 8 reasons to choose ground shipping.
Shipping Restrictions: What Is the Difference Between Prohibited and Restricted Items?
When you mail something from a Post Office, a USPS employee will warn you if your package contains any items that cannot be mailed. However, when you print shipping labels online and mail packages on your own, there is no one to warn you about shipping restrictions; you should research them beforehand if you don’t want your package to get confiscated. One of the things you should research is the difference between prohibited and restricted items.
How to Ship a Package from Home Without a Printer
These days, a lot of people ship packages from home because it saves them time, money, and trouble. However, in order to send a parcel from home, you need to purchase a shipping label online, print it, and affix the label to your parcel. But what if you don’t have a printer? Are there any ways to ship a package from home without a printer?
How to Ship Books Cheaply
There are plenty of ways to save on shipping, from packing properly (the more compact the package, the cheaper it is to ship) to printing shipping labels yourself in order to get a shipping discount, and some of these ways are item-specific. For example, books can be mailed more cheaply than most other items – of course, if you know some tricks. How to ship books cheaply?