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.