{"id":879,"date":"2017-05-25T07:45:22","date_gmt":"2017-05-25T07:45:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.subbly.co\/blog\/?p=879"},"modified":"2022-05-25T22:09:30","modified_gmt":"2022-05-25T22:09:30","slug":"top-10-ways-save-money-shipping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.subbly.co\/blog\/top-10-ways-save-money-shipping\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 Ways to Save Money on Shipping"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Imagine the most beautiful stack of perfectly designed subscription boxes, filled with both useful and appealing products. I know, no need to imagine, as that probably perfectly describes your gorgeous stack of subscription boxes. You would subscribe to your own offer, if only you could, wouldn\u2019t you?<\/span>
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\n<\/span>All the time and money you invested in creating those beauties, starting from the thundering initial idea, all the way to packaging, has definitely paid off.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\n<\/span>Now, the time has come for them to meet their new owners – your customers. All along our blog series, you learned how to save money on <\/span>printing<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>packaging<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>product procurement<\/span><\/a>. You learned not only how to do it right, but how to truly master it all. In this guide, you\u2019ll discover the best ways to save precious dollars on shipping, as it can surely be a huge expense for any subscription box company. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span>Few dollars saved today, means a lot of dollars in the future<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There are several processes to consider while you plan your shipment. Firstly, you need to determine what service you are going to use for both fulfillment and shipment, what your budget is and lastly, how to stay within that budget. The truth is, shipping carries a high expense and it can be difficult to lower the costs, even as your business grows (which it will, if you keep on learning and optimizing).<\/span><\/p>\n

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The good news is that there are many ways to save on shipping! It might seem that these savings are not big, but the couple of dollars you save every month pay off over time. And they pay off big time. <\/span><\/p>\n

In this sweet guide of ours, you will learn which aspects to focus on in order to avoid unneeded shipping expenses. Let\u2019s hit the ground running!<\/span><\/p>\n

Best ways to save money on shipping subscription boxes<\/span><\/h2>\n

1. Use<\/b> USPS or \u201cCommercial Plus\u201d pricing<\/b><\/h3>\n

USPS’ commercial service, also called \u201cCommercial Plus\u201d, is <\/span>a great way to ship boxes<\/span><\/a>, as it is based on their volume, not the weight. What good do you get from this? <\/span>
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This might come to your advantage if your boxes are particularly heavy. Calculating the volume, instead of the box weight, immediately lowers your cost in that case!<\/span>
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\n<\/span>If your boxes are rather light, this will probably be as important to you as you knowing how many craters there are on the surface of Mars. Nice trivia, but who cares. (There\u2019s more than 635,000 craters by the way. For further informations, please contact 1-800-MARTIANS).<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>With USPS, you can find it easier to do shipping in general. Keep in mind that switching to First Class shipping can also be a good option for you, if your box weighs less than 16 oz or around 400g. Fly, fly like a feather, you wonderful subscription box, you.<\/span>
\n\"flying<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Use slower shipping<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n


\n<\/span>This option is possible for you if you have a set shipping date each month. For your existing customers or simply said, your monthly subscribers, you could save money by using slower shipping. But, how can you do this without leaving your customers to wait longer for their life-enhancing boxes?<\/span>
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\n<\/span>The boxes will travel slow, but you will ship them much earlier, even before they’re billed! The great thing is that you are still able to advertise fast shipping – either way the box will arrive on time. What a clever, time-bending move. What your subscribers do not know, is that you shipped earlier and everyone is happy – you saved money, and they get their lovelies on time.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Now, you must be asking (or you should) – what if someone cancels before the renewal? Sure, this can happen and if it does, double check how much you\u2019re spending (saving), because it could turn out cheaper in total. Even if some of your subscribers (hopefully, none) cancels. Using slower shipping can pay out for your business in a long run.<\/span>
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In that case, your un-subscriber will get a box for free, right? Seems like a loss, but it isn\u2019t – everyone loves free stuff and maybe they\u2019ll even come back as a (more) loyal customer, that wouldn\u2019t be a surprise! And what a great marketing moment, too, because they\u2019ll surely tell their friends and family what happened. Winner winner chicken dinner.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Innovate your packaging<\/b><\/h3>\n

We talked before about custom packaging… Custom printing, to be exact (creating a distinctive design and printing it on the box, instead of using ready-made solutions). The good news is that you can also pick <\/span>a custom size<\/b> for your subscription boxes. There are usual sizes, but custom sizing can make big sense when it comes to shipping costs.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\n<\/span>I know what you\u2019re thinking – custom always costs more. And you\u2019re right, it does cost more to customize any part of your business, but think about it this way – it is usually only <\/span>a one time cost<\/span><\/a>. A cutting die for a custom size box certainly seems expensive, but if you\u2019re going to make that bigger investment at the beginning, you can save up to 2$ per box, paying off that initial stretch in no time.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Thinking ahead with packaging can save you from the majority of shipment nightmares. As an example, if your box is too large for the products that are in (meaning, you have unnecessary empty space inside), that extra weight will cost you more when shipping. Give your best to avoid spending those hard earned coins on extra weight, damages or God forbid, returns. <\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>So yet again, always think ahead and wisely choose your investments, so they benefit you greatly in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Find shipping partners<\/b><\/h3>\n

What\u2019s better than tackling the business challenges yourself? Oh yes, having someone reliable to do the job!<\/span>
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\n<\/span>It\u2019s no shame to reach out for help if you realize that it could save you time, money, and your oh-so-precious nerves. You do need all three of them (money, time, nerves) in order to run and grow your business, right? Hence, finding the fulfillment and shipment partner can be a wise move, especially if you\u2019re a beginner.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Not to mention that these professionals might have access to better shipping prices. Also, if by any chance something goes wrong, the fulfillment centers can usually <\/span>handle these errors<\/span><\/a> with no extra cost for you, which is truly convenient. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\n<\/span>On the other side, there are some things you need to consider before going into actual outsourcing process, such as: does it pay off for you? It\u2019s a big responsibility, to let someone handle the entire shipping for you, so be careful. Look into whether the volume of your shipments would make more economical sense if it were to be shipped out by a fulfillment center.<\/span>
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Make sure that your research goes deep and wide, stick to recommendations (if you have any, lucky you) and take some before making these kind of decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Mind the quantity<\/b><\/h3>\n

Buy in bulk – luckily, there are ways to turn the shipment nightmare into a money-saving fairy tale. Another example of smart money management is this one: rather than playing it small, you can reduce the spending by buying in larger quantities. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>When you buy in a bulk, whether it\u2019s the purchase of boxes or packing materials, you can negotiate a much lower price this way. Look at you, running a business like a boss. We knew you\u2019d get there.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nSignup & Try Subbly For Free<\/a><\/div>\n

6. Mind the zones and location planning
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\n<\/span>Start this one by asking yourself (you don\u2019t need to actually stand in front of the mirror, that\u2019s optional) – <\/span>
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