Suppose it seems like UPS peak season surcharges are not only higher but lasting longer, too; you’re right. Since March 2020, UPS has had to adapt to the significant changes in e-commerce and the global supply chain. In a nutshell, people were buying more online… a lot more. Thanks to this increased demand, most shipping carriers had to adapt, UPS included.

One adaptation included changes to peak season surcharges. Typically, peak season is just around the 4th quarter, the busiest time of the year for retail. Since the logistics industry hasn’t quite recovered from 2020 (have any of us?), we’re seeing peak season stretch beyond 4th quarter.

It’s already here. Not only that, we’re seeing it split into what resembles a tier system. If you thought surcharges were expensive, well, I have some not-great news for you.

Peak Season Surcharges: Tier 1

July 4 — October 2, 2021 Fees:
The following applies to all US domestic, import, and export shipments, qualifying customers who have shipped >1,000 total packages or more than ten that required Additional Handling during any week following February 2020.

Peak Season Surcharges: Tier 2

October 2, 2021 — January 15, 2022 Fees:
The following applies to all US domestic, import, and export shipments, qualifying customers who have shipped >1,000 total packages or more than ten packages that required Additional Handling during any week following February 2020.

The Over Maximum Limits peak surcharge will be $250.00 per package

Handle your shipping costs and communication to customers accordingly, and have a plan for when things go sideways

Bonus Round of Surcharges for High-Volume Shippers

October 31, 2021 — January 15, 2022 Volume-Based Fee:
The following applies to certain UPS Air Residential, UPS Ground Residential, and UPS SurePost, who have shipped more than 25,000 packages during any week following February 2020.

October 31, 2021 – January 15, 2022

UPS SurePost

110% to 200% of February 2020 volume$1.15 per package
> 200% to 300% of February 2020 volume$2.15 per package
> 300% to 400% of February 2020 volume$3.15 per package
> 400% to 500% of February 2020 volume$4.15 per package
> 500% of February 2020 volume$5.15 per package

UPS Ground Residential

110% to 200% of February 2020 volume$1.15 per package
> 200% to 300% of February 2020 volume$2.15 per package
> 300% to 400% of February 2020 volume$3.15 per package
> 400% to 500% of February 2020 volume$4.15 per package
> 500% of February 2020 volume$5.15 per package

UPS Next Day Air Residential

110% to 200% of February 2020 volume$2.15 per package
> 200% to 300% of February 2020 volume$3.15 per package
> 300% to 400% of February 2020 volume$4.15 per package
> 400% to 500% of February 2020 volume$5.15 per package
> 500% of February 2020 volume$6.15 per package

All Other UPS Air Residential

110% to 200% of February 2020 volume$2.15 per package
> 200% to 300% of February 2020 volume$3.15 per package
> 300% to 400% of February 2020 volume$4.15 per package
> 400% to 500% of February 2020 volume$5.15 per package
> 500% of February 2020 volume$6.15 per package

Current Service Levels With UPS Service Guarantee:

The following applies to certain UPS Air Residential, UPS Ground Residential, and UPS SurePost, who have shipped more than 25,000 packages during any week following February 2020.

How Does This Affect Your Peak Season?

I think the most important thing to remember is that the peak season results in a lot more shipments, which can mean increased waiting times for customers, delays, and maybe increased charges. Handle your shipping costs and communication to customers accordingly, and have a plan for when things go sideways.

It could also be worth taking a look to make sure you’re getting the best rates on your business shipping. Our shipping specialists can perform an analysis that tells you where you’re already shipping most efficiently and exactly where you could be saving more. Contact us to get started on a custom analysis for your business.

If you’re an e-commerce store looking to grow your sales, you must get serious about pop-ups.

Contrary to popular belief, pop-ups don’t have to be annoying. Executed correctly, they have the power to make a big difference in your conversions. It all goes down to segmenting them correctly and making them relevant to your visitor.

Today, we will look at the seven best pop-up tools you can use to take your conversion to new heights. Let’s get started:

1. Privy

Privy grows your sales with exit-intent popups, flyouts, announcement bars, and more. It’s a valuable tool if you’re looking to increase your email list and reduce cart abandonment.

The easy-to-use program makes it easy to experiment and tweak your email popups. You can test different messages based on color, design, display time, and more to see what works the best, even with no coding skills.

Another area where Privy excels is segmentation. To make your popups relevant to the visitor, you can segment them based on which country they come from, how they landed on your website, how much they have in their shopping cart, etc.

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2. Sumo

Sumo is a top-rated conversion tool trusted by over 600,000 businesses worldwide. The platform includes multiple features to help stores win more sales, generate conversions, and increase subscribers.

From the platform admin, you can create unique offers and discounts to get your customers’ attention. By making customers sign up, you’ll increase your store’s average order value and boost sales.

Just as shoppers are about to leave their cart, Sumo reaches out with a popup that encourages them to follow through with their purchase. It also retargets customers with a follow-up email when subscribers view your product without buying.

 

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3. Justuno Pop Ups

Justuno uses artificial intelligence to boost conversions with pop-ups, exit offers, countdown timers, and more. It offers endless ways to customize your upsell and cross-sell offers.

The platform’s AI software analyzes billions of data points to tailor pop-ups based on each visitor. It tracks visit frequency, geolocation, cart value, and more to ensure your store sends the right message at the right time.

Justuno comes with advanced analytics to track your marketing success and measure performance. You’ll gain exact insights into what strategies work and what don’t.

 

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4. Omnisend

Omnisend is one of Shopify’s most popular email marketing apps, with a near-perfect 4.7 rating. It connects your email efforts with other channels such as SMS, Facebook, and Google.

On top of using pop-ups to generate sales, you can optimize your landing pages for conversion. It’s also known for its Wheel of Fortune pop-up that offers customers the chance to win a special voucher on your store.

 

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5. Salespop

Social proof is a powerful tool for conversion. 91% of customers trust reviews as much as their own friends and family.

Sales Pop helps you use social proof to boost sales by displaying real-time customer activity. When visitors know that others are buying from your store, they are more likely to buy themselves. It also makes your store look busy and creates urgency.

The app does this by connecting to your Shopify and tracking recent sales. Customers will also be able to click on the pop-up to look at the purchased product.

 

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6. Pixelpop

With Pixelpop, you can capture visitors’ emails and sync them to Mailchimp, Klaviyo, Constant Contact, or Conversio. You can also add banners that display special offers, such as free shipping.

Pixelpop has various ways to style and customize pop-ups on your store. The different types of pop-ups you can use on your website include email signups, announcements, coupon codes, social follow, etc. The sky’s the limit!

Pixelpop doesn’t require any coding background to get started and only takes a few seconds to install on your store.

 

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7. Wisepops E-commerce Pop-Ups

Thanks to its drag-and-drop editor, Wisepops makes it possible to create high-converting emails within seconds.

One aspect that makes Wisepops stand out from other popup tools is its vast choice of templates. The platform makes it easy to find designs that reflect your brand.

Wisepops sends the right message at the right time with contextual targeting. You can target customers based on various factors such as their cart value, their timezone, location, and more.

 

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Conclusion

Pop-ups are great for growing your email list and landing more sales. We hope this list of tools will help you pick the right pop-up tool for your business. Experiment with each platform and see which fits you the best!

For eCommerce businesses that ship internationally and domestically, shipping factors and variables are a bit different. However, modern technology and improvements have created a situation where numerous companies have the resources to ship internationally with ease, not only significant corporations – this used to be the case in past generations.

Introduction


At eHub, we’re happy to help with a wide range of international shipping needs and challenges, from helping you choose the ideal carrier to filling out the correct paperwork, managing international returns, and many other areas. That first area, choosing a carrier, is often a bit more complex for international shipping than for domestic – this two-part blog series will go over several factors you should be considering, which our team will be happy to help you with during any international shipping process.

Major Carriers

Generally speaking, there are four significant companies or carriers that ship internationally:


International First

One crucial tip for companies who perform both domestic and international shipping: When finding a new carrier, ask about international shipping variables first. As noted above, the significant carriers vary widely in their international shipping guidelines, pricing, and more – there isn’t as much difference between them when you get to domestic shipping areas, so your primary focus should be on the area with more variability.

When finding a new carrier, ask about international shipping variables first

Certain carriers might limit regions or countries they will ship to, which could be a big issue for your business. If you’re unsure about a given carrier, you may consider only shipping internationally to a few countries first to see if the program works for you.


Wrapping Things Up

For more on choosing an international shipping carrier or to learn about our eCommerce shipping services, speak to the staff at eHub today.

Why Ship Internationally?

You’ve seen the stats, like this one from CIEDEC—that 95% of the world’s consumer market awaits you outside US borders. And, after reading our tips for international sales growth, you’ve laid the groundwork to expand your international business shipping horizons. Now, it’s time to get up to speed with international shipping.

Though it may seem daunting, follow these steps, and your products will soar—literally.

1. What Can I Ship, and Where Can I Ship It?

First, review the Commerce Control List (CCL) to verify whether your product is allowed for export or if it is a controlled commodity that requires an export license. Also, depending on where and to whom you are shipping, you’ll want to check whether the government has sanctions or embargoes and prohibitions on end users or the product’s end-use. Then, check the Country Commercial Guides to determine whether your product is allowed for import in a particular country.

If your product does require an export license, determine your product’s Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) because you’ll need it to file an Electronic Export Information (EEI) form. You must also file an EEI if your shipment’s value exceeds $2500.

The good news is most commercial products do not require an export license and are designated EAR99 in the Export Administration Regulations, but before exporting, you will still need to ascertain your product’s Harmonized System classification and Schedule B number to complete the export and import forms.

An easy way to start offering international shipping to Canada and Mexico first and branch out from there. Trading with our neighbors has been simplified with the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) which allows qualifying small package shipments valued at less than $150CAD (in Canada) and $117USD (in Mexico) to ship duty-free, and the taxes have also been simplified.

Or, select from the 20 countries with a free trade agreement with the US. If the customs regulations of the country you are shipping to are rather complicated, and you plan to ship there frequently, you may want to hire a customs broker to help you cut through their red tape.

33Countries with Free Trade Agreements with the United States
AustraliaBahrainCanadaChile
ColombiaCosta RicaDominican RepublicEl Salvador
GuatemalaHondurasIsraelJordan
KoreaMexicoMoroccoNicaragua
OmanPanamaPeruSingapore

2. Decide Who Should Pay For What

Incoterms define the rules of the ownership transfer… for instance, During the delivery process, when does ownership transfer; who is responsible for covering the licensing, customs fees, and taxes; and who, if applicable, is insuring the product for loss and damages? What’s the de minimus value for the country you’re shipping to?

As you consider handling these expenses, you should also estimate what your landed cost (or total expenses from the point of sale to the final receipt of the product) will be—there are many online calculators available to help you. Does it make sense for you to offer free shipping? Split the costs? Will you accept returns, and if so, who covers that cost? Should you adjust your product pricing to reflect the additional cost and work?

An easy way to start offering international shipping to Canada and Mexico first and branch out from there

Selecting which carrier to use is a big part of this step. Price is often the primary concern, but speed and convenience of delivery are factors as well. While USPS can often be the least expensive, its tracking capabilities and delivery responsibilities end once the product leaves its jurisdiction. Many private carriers handle delivery from door to door and offer more services, but those costs will fit into your overall price.

3. Sell Your Product(s) and Get Them On Their Way

Yay! You’ve cut through the red tape, done your research, and it’s paying off—the cash register is ringing.

Now, it’s time to generate a detailed Commercial Invoice (or Pro Forma Invoice for samples) outlining the terms of both the sale and the delivery, then finalize the required export and import forms (which you will have already determined through your research). Some of these can be completed online.

Then, package your product in a sturdy container that meets the standards of your selected carrier; create and affix your international shipping label, carefully proofing your recipient’s address and contact information; and attach your Commercial Invoice along with any other necessary customs paperwork.

Finally…

Easy as 1-2-3.

  1. Research 2. Analyze 3. Ship

Right? Okay, maybe we’re oversimplifying it. But, once you perform the cost-benefit analysis and create the foundation, the process will become systematic and, ultimately, well worth it.

Final Thoughts

However, if you find you do not have the capacity for it. eHub can help. We’ve done our due diligence in the export arena, developed relationships and pricing contracts with multiple carriers, and built the databases to support a seamless e-commerce API that will facilitate every international sale you make. To explore whether our international shipping solution could work for you, click here.

At eHub, it’s our pride to help clients work with all the major shipping carriers available to them. We work with UPS, FedEx, DHL, and, of course, USPS, or the US Postal Service, providing a vast range of shipping options and services from and to any area of the country.

Our carrier-related services span several areas, including helping our clients understand and react to rate increases from any of these carriers. USPS recently filed its planned rate increases for the 2021 year with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) – what are these changes, and how might they impact your standard USPS shipping formats? We’ll go over this plus dig into some of the general benefits of using USPS to begin with.

Benefits of Using USPS

Firstly, why USPS? There are several reasons why many businesses rely primarily on the US Postal Service for their primary shipping needs, including:

That said, many of USPS’s competitors also have these same themes at play. For this reason, shipping rates will often be one of the key elements a business considers when choosing a shipping partner. Let’s go over how USPS rates will change in 2021.

Basics and Approval

As noted above, USPS has submitted its planned rate increases to the PRC for 2021. We’ll review the precise rate increases briefly, but some general basics first.

Firstly, if approved, the new USPS rate changes will kick in on January 24, 2021. In addition, a $100 charge will be imposed on packages found in the USPS mail stream that are larger than the maximum size of 130 inches (combined length and girth) – this applies to all service levels, from standard ground and air mail up to First Class package service and any areas in between.

Average Increases for Common Labels

Here are the average percentage increases that will be seen for the varying service levels within USPS once the rate increases take effect – if they are approved, which has not happened yet:

Are these changes enough to impact your business and make you consider switching to another shipping carrier? This is where our pros come in – we’ll use all our latest techniques to help you find the best shipping company and save money on shipping in several ways.

For more on USPS rate increases or to learn about our shipping API or software programs, speak to the staff at eHub today.

Summer is almost over, and it’s time to think about your strategy for the holidays.

The holiday season is typically the most chaotic time regarding online orders and shipping. To make it worse, the world is currently battling against COVID-19, which makes 2020 a year like no other for e-commerce.

As stressful as everything may seem, we’ve got your back.

Here’s our 2020 shipping checklist to make sure you stay on top during this year’s holiday season:

1. Forecast Demand

As the pandemic continues, you must forecast customer demand for the upcoming holidays.

COVID-19 has changed everything from the customer’s channel selection frequency to shopping and the products they want. For example, there’s a more robust demand for items that align with social distancing, such as entertainment products or home goods.

Look at your sales during the lockdown — which types of products were in high demand? It should give you a clue on what to expect from customer behavior during these next months.

There is a science to forecasting demand, but let me give you a simple metric: compare sales from March to May this year versus last year. Take that percentage difference and multiply last year’s holiday sales to see how much bigger it could get.

Also, think about talking with your 3PL to find out how they can help you prepare for the upcoming holiday demand.

2. Implement a Strong Communications Plan

Another critical factor to consider during the holidays is communication with your customers.

Make sure to keep them up-to-date with each of their orders. One thing that will make customers worry, for example, is how COVID-19 will impact shipping delays. You’ll need to provide tracking and let them know when they can expect the item to arrive at their doorstep.

During your communication with your customer, it’s also a good idea to promote upsell offers. You can run post-purchase email campaigns with other products they can buy to complement their order. It will help deliver more value to the customer and boost your average order value.

3. Get Ready for More Customer Returns Than Usual

Dealing with customers is part of running an e-commerce business. However, you can expect returns to skyrocket during the holidays.

The reason is that customers will feel reluctant to step into retail stores due to virus fears. To gain peace of mind and avoid getting infected, they’ll be doing most of their shopping online.

Customers love the ability to buy and try on or see how something looks in real life. They often buy two or three sizes or styles, keep one, and return the rest.

As a result, your business must come prepared with reliable customer service staff or shipping software to manage returns effectively.

Dealing with customers is part of running an e-commerce business. However, you can expect returns to skyrocket during the holidays.

4. Get Shipping Insurance

No one can predict what will happen to your product once it is out for delivery. Nothing is worse for a customer during the holiday season than to make a purchase only to have the item damaged or never even arrive.

With an expected surge in shipments this holiday season, these problems will be multiplied. You can protect yourself and your customers, however, with shipping insurance.

It’s why you want to plan in advance and get shipping insurance, which is easier than you think. No matter what happens to your product, you’ll be protected against significant financial loss and gain peace of mind.

The holidays are the time when orders reach their peak throughout the year. As a result, you can expect new rules, restrictions, and deadlines for all major carriers. Look into the specific provisions of your carrier for different times of the year and figure out what measures and fees are required.

5. Do Research on Seasonal Fees and Restrictions

Keep in mind as well that major carriers will be surcharging their rates on shipping due to coronavirus and customer demand. For example, UPS plans to make businesses that ship more than 25,000 orders per week pay an extra $1 to $4 for each package.

6. Offer Multiple Shipping Options

If you offer free shipping, you’re probably sending things via Ground or Priority Mail. Those options have been impacted the most by slow delivery times, and you’ll have customers who will want something faster.

Offering an expedited shipping option – like 2-day, overnight, or even same-day delivery, is a must this holiday season. Here’s why:

  1. It sets clear expectations for delivery times
  2. Customers have the option to pay for faster delivery
  3. Free shipping has a higher perceived value

Anyone who is expecting free shipping will see that delivery times affect cost. They will appreciate that the slower option is still accessible compared to the expensive, expedited option.

7. Make Your Packaging Stand Out

The holidays represent a unique opportunity to strengthen brand loyalty and delight new customers. One of the best ways to do this is to create a fantastic unboxing experience that wows them.

Branded packaging is the first approach because it makes each purchase feel unique and delivers a great impression. Since shoppers also buy gifts for their friends and family, you’ll surprise multiple customers simultaneously.

Customers also love to share brand packages on social media, which promotes your store and boosts your reach.

The next step is making what’s inside stand out with different packing paper, a hand-written thank you note, or even surprise gifts you’ve included.

All of these things and more contribute to making an unforgettable unboxing experience.

8. Use the Right Shipping Software

There are so many things to handle regarding shipping during the holidays. You have inventory to manage, orders to pack and ship, tracking, and many more tasks on your list.

Software is the best way to improve processes like this. With automation, you can improve the pick-n-pack process, automatically select the correct shipping method, batch print labels, and update tracking information.

Essential Hub’s software provides all the tools you need for success this holiday season. Not only do we help you get the best rates on shipping, but our software also comes with order tracking, inventory management, and more.

Shipping delays can negatively impact your brand reputation and sales.

If your item doesn’t arrive on time, customers won’t feel they can trust you with their money and won’t return to your store for more.

Even worse, they can post negative reviews and spread the word to their friends and family. It doesn’t take long for bad reviews to spread.

Why do Shipping Delays Happen?

Even if you think everything’s under control, no one can truly predict what happens to your package once it leaves the warehouse. Your item’s delivery could get delayed for various reasons, which include:

World Events

World events can have a significant impact on shipping operations. Just take a look at what happened this year with COVID-19 — with new social distancing measures put in place and thousands of business shutdowns, many stores had a hard time making sure their package got into the hands of customers.

With more e-commerce orders than ever, all major carriers are struggling. The USPS has had the most challenging time since they have the most significant volume.

Unexpected Weather and Natural Disasters

Sudden weather changes can prevent your orders from arriving on time to the customer’s doorstep. It’s something that’s unfortunately beyond your control, but there are tactics you can use to handle the situation (which we’ll get into later).

Domestic & International Customs

Your package can get held back if it doesn’t respect customs procedures. For example, if you’re trying to ship ivory products to Italy (where the material is banned), your package might even get destroyed. That’s why you need to do your research on customs before shipping the item to the customer.

Shipping insurance protects you from any drastic financial loss and takes extra stress off your shoulders

Holidays

E-commerce sales tend to skyrocket during holiday seasons or important dates. As a result of record items being ordered, carriers can’t consistently deliver to your customer on time, which is not practical when everyone expects to receive their gift quickly (or by a specific date).

Poor Inventory Management from Your 3PL

Your item’s shipping delay could also result from poor management of your 3PL.

While investing in a logistics provider can provide you with many benefits in the long term, choosing the wrong one can be detrimental to your brand. Check our blog post on picking the right 3PL for your business to avoid making this mistake.

The Best Tactics You Can Use to Handle Shipping Delays

Get Shipping Insurance

Preparing yourself in advance goes a long way. Before shipping the item to your customer, you should consider investing in shipping insurance to protect yourself from any trouble during delivery.

Shipping insurance protects you from any drastic financial loss and takes extra stress off your shoulders. If the customer demands a refund because of the delay in delivery, you’ll have the means to give it to them without hurting your profits.

Be Upfront With The Customer

When your shipping is delayed, you’ll need to let the customer know what’s going on, especially as the world still battles with COVID-19.

Make sure to follow up with them via email, social media, and SMS. Apologize, explain the current situation to the customer, and how you plan to solve it. Holding yourself accountable proves to the customer that you’re someone they can trust.

Offer Order Tracking on the Delayed Item

Not having an order delivered on time can cause a lot of anxiety for the customer. To give them peace of mind, you can give them a tracking number to monitor their package.

With eHub, each item you ship comes with order tracking to get updates as they happen for your customers. We can also provide insurance if your package doesn’t arrive or is stolen during delivery.

Offer Special Discounts and Deals

Shipping deals can be an unpleasant experience for the customer. To make up for it, you can offer them special discounts and promotions on future orders.

Giving customers discounts proves that you value them and take their satisfaction seriously. For example, if your package doesn’t arrive on time, you can offer free shipping for their next order or a 20% discount on future items.

Use Multiple Shipping Carriers

Regarding shipping, it’s essential not to put all your eggs in one basket. Using multiple carriers ensures your package arrives on time if one fails to deliver.

Finding suitable shipping carriers, however, takes a bit of time and search. That’s why we do the hard work for you by connecting all major carriers in one place on our platform.

Offer Multiple Shipping Options at Checkout

Providing transparency into expected delivery times is vital to the ordering experience. Showing customers two options (at least) – one for expedited and the other for slow delivery – lets them choose what will work best for them.

If you’re offering free shipping on the slower service, then the value of the expedited shipping will be improved. While many people expect free shipping, they are willing to pay for faster delivery times when it is essential to them.

Conclusion

Shipping delays don’t have to be the end of the world. Handled effectively, you can still shine in the eyes of your customers and retain their trust.

If you’re looking for a platform covering everything you need to manage shipping effectively, we can help. From inventory management to order tracking, our platform gives you all the tools you need for smooth delivery.

As your business continues to grow, managing shipping will become more and more difficult. 

Getting more orders indicates that your business is on the right track. However, managing your orders and getting the best rates can be a time-consuming process.

Thankfully, some apps help you manage your shipping and orders effectively without sacrificing your precious time.

Tools We Recommend

1. Free Shipping Bar

Free Shipping Bar is a tool that displays your free shipping offer in a bar on your website that you can easily customize. Its goal is to encourage customers to add to their carts and buy more.

As customers add more to their cart, the Free Shipping Bar will show them progressive messages on how much they have left before they get free shipping.

You can congratulate customers once they have landed on a free shipping offer and measure the results of each bar to see which free shipping goals create more sales.

As a bonus, its currency detection features make it easy to auto-detect the local currencies of visitors. The platform then converts the free shipping amount with real-time exchange rates.

Pricing:

You need a solution that makes it possible to connect all of your eCommerce operations in one place

2. Parcelify

Parcelify makes it simple to create custom rates for your Shopify store.

With Parcelify, you control the shipping pricing and options that customers see during checkout. Customers can get live, accurate rates of what they’re actually paying for shipping.

Parcefily also comes with local delivery and in-store pickup. With cheaper options to receive their product, you’ll satisfy customers and drive more repeat purchases.

Pricing:

3. AfterShip

Tracking and managing each customer shipment can be a time-consuming headache. Aftership cuts the work in half by tracking all shipments across 600+ carriers in one place.

AfterShip is currently being used by more than 30,000 Shopify stores worldwide. You’ll be able to keep customers updated on the placement of their orders and when they can expect delivery.

As a result, your store will see a drastic decrease in customer inquiries and complaints.

Pricing:

4. Tracktor

The modern customer has higher expectations than before. One of those expectations is expedited shipping and being able to track down exactly when their item arrives.

That’s where Tracktor comes in.

Tracktor makes it easy for customers and store owners to track down the delivery of a shipped item. The platform integrates with hundreds of carriers across the globe, so you can track exactly where the package is going.

The best part? You can do all of this from a single app. Customers won’t have to come to you and ask, “where’s my order?” anymore. As a result, you’ll boost customer satisfaction and reduce support costs.

Pricing:

5. Route – Shipping Insurance

No one can predict what can happen to your product during shipping, which is why getting insurance for your products is so important.

Route is a tool that offers insurance on any item that gets lost, broken, or stolen during delivery. Customers gain peace of mind knowing that their purchases are guaranteed, and you get to keep more of your revenue.

Since Route covers the cost of refunds, you won’t be losing any money. The app is also 100% free for merchants and only takes a few minutes to set up on your store.

6. Aftership Returns Center

As frustrating as customer returns can be, there’s software you can use to handle returns more efficiently. Aftership Returns Center uses automation to track and manage your returns like child’s play.

When you integrate Aftership into your online store, you’ll be able to:

Pricing:

7. Sales Box

Sales Box offers an exciting way to manage shipping and personalize offers for your customers.

Your store can set up different shipping fees and promotions for individual products or countries. Right under the “add to cart” button, customers will have all the shipping information.

Each sales box is fully customizable and easy to edit. No coding knowledge is necessary — you get instant access to templates that make your offer stand out.

Pricing:

8. eHub – Best

There’s a lot that goes into managing shipping and customer orders. You have to keep track of inventory, calculate your shipping rates, print your labels, and so much more.

It can be time-consuming and frustrating to bounce from software to software to get all of this handled. You need a solution that makes it possible to connect all of your eCommerce operations in one place.

That’s where eHub comes in. From the admin, your business gets access to:

Essential Hub also integrates with more than 100+ e-commerce and shipping tools.

Pricing:

Conclusion

We hope you enjoy our list of the best apps you can use to manage your shipping. These tools should help save money on shipping and manage your orders effectively to delight your customers. To learn more about how Essential Hub can improve your shipping strategy, feel free to contact us.

You started out doing the shipping yourself. You loved putting products into packages and printing the labels because it represented all the hard work you’ve invested in starting your business.

Now, your online store is growing, and shipping has turned into a headache. It needs to be done every day, but your business has a lot of other needs, too.

If you’re currently evaluating whether you should expand your operations and hire someone to take over fulfillment, you may want to consider a third-party logistics provider (3PL) to do the job for you.

What is a Third-Party Logistics Provider (3PL)?

A 3PL is a logistics provider that allows you to outsource your fulfillment operations. The provider will handle various business activities for your company, such as:

Sooner or later, there will come a time when it will be necessary to enlist a 3PL (or expand operations to do it yourself). If you’re starting to run out of space or are shipping around 10-20 daily orders on your own, a 3PL can help you save time so you can focus on business.

It’s also an excellent investment if you’re looking to expand overseas or adapt to seasonal changes. Here’s what to consider to pick the 3PL that’s the right fit for your business.

Payment History and Financial Stability

When choosing a 3PL, consider what would happen if they were to shut down or go bankrupt suddenly. If you’re not ready, it could have brutal consequences for your business.

It’s always better to be safe than sorry, which is why you need to pick a 3PL with financial stability and a solid payment history. You’ll be saving yourself a lot of trouble in the long run.

Do your research and ask around to learn more about how they’ve handled payments in the past. If they have a history of not being reliable, then it’s best to move on and find a better partner to fit your needs.

Excellent Industry References

Not all 3PLs are created equal. You’ll also have to find out what others in the industry say about their services, along with strong financial stability.

One of your goals during your research should be to network with their existing customers and get their opinions on the 3PL. Here are some questions you can ask them to learn more about how the logistics provider does business:

Technology Integrations

There’s plenty of technology that helps you manage your supply chain easier. A quality 3PL should be able to integrate tools that give access to automation, connect with major carriers, and help you get the best rates.

Look at the 3PL’s website and see which e-commerce integrations are possible when you work with them. They should be able to integrate with the best platforms, such as:

Their Industry and Area Specialization

Specialty is key to finding the perfect 3PL. The right 3PL for your business depends on your location, the type of products you sell, and your current logistical needs.

For example, let’s say that you’re selling high-tariff items such as consumer goods and luggage. An option to consider is cross-border fulfillment, which is perfectly legal if you sell items with a 15+ tax rate.

Another aspect to consider is the 3PL’s location. Thanks to Amazon, customers expect to receive their products as soon as possible. As a result, it may be better to choose a 3PL that’s close to your customers. That will save you on shipping costs and keep delivery times to a minimum.

You can save on shipping costs by using one in the middle of the country or close to the region where you make the most sales. Larger 3PLs will have multiple locations you can leverage to cover the entire country.

A Strong Business Relationship

Collaborating with a 3PL is different from other traditional businesses. They are crucial in growing your business and effectively getting your product into customers’ hands.

To build a strong relationship with the 3PL, you want to know exactly what you need. Outlining your goals to the logistics provider will help set clear expectations that will lead the way to a solid partnership.

This should include:

    1. Expected level of service – how fast do things get out the door?
    2. Accuracy levels – sometimes, they ship the wrong product.
    3. Cost to ship each package (with a breakdown for different SKUs)
    4. How do they handle returns?

3PLs are notorious for being bad at handling returns. Have a frank discussion with any potential vendors so that you understand what they’re willing to do (and not do). Some will do it (for a price), but there are many with piles of unsorted returns sitting in their warehouse.

Scalability

Each company’s goal should be to grow and eventually reach a global market.

As your company starts to scale, its needs will change over time. You must consider what happens as you grow in SKUs and regions and hire more employees.

The right 3PL will fuel that growth and help you take your business to the next level. For example, the holidays are a period that significantly influences the supply and demand of your products.

A high-performing 3PL should also help you adapt to unexpected events. In the case of a natural disaster, you want to ensure they know how to handle the crisis and minimize the damage to your business.

When you meet up with a potential 3PL partner, ask them what their primary strategy is for scalability. It’ll show you if they’re worth the investment or not.

Pricing and Budget

Lastly, you’ll have to factor in your current budget. Investing in a 3PL can be costly, but it’s not a reason to go after the cheapest option.

As mentioned in this blog post, investing in the right 3PL helps you scale and grow your reach. A cheap 3PL is useless if it can’t adapt to unexpected situations and loses you money in the long term.

Many 3PLs will charge a flat fee, while others will charge variable pricing depending on your product type. Let’s take a look at an example:

You’re a clothing company with a high SKU that ships lightboxes. If your 3PL charges companies based on their SKUs, you will get charged more.

When checking out 3PLs, comparing pricing is just as important. Here are some questions that you should be asking the 3PL:

At the end of the day, what matters is your return on investment. Partnering with a third-party fulfillment company can save you time and reduce labor costs at a significant price.

Wrapping Things Up

It takes a lot of time and research to find the 3PL that’s the right fit for your business. With these seven things to consider, you should have a clear idea of what to look for and find the best for you.

eHub manages a network of 3PLs with our technology. If you’re considering a 3PL for your fulfillment needs, we can help you find the right one for you.

As frustrating as returns can be, managing them is an inevitable part of an e-commerce business. 30% of online products are returned, compared to only 8% for brick-and-mortar stores.

While dealing with customer returns might not be fun. However, it’s still possible to manage and minimize them effectively. Sometimes, you can flip them around and turn them into a sale.

While you may hate them, customers expect the returns process to be painless.

In this blog post, we’ll cover six ways that stores can manage returns effectively and improve their business:

Make Your Returns Policy Easy to Access and Lenient

More than 60% of customers will read your return policy before purchasing. That’s why you want to ensure your return policy is clear and easy to find on your web store.

The best places we recommend to make your returns policy visible include:

Another good tactic is to be generous and extend the deadline for returns. This works because it gives customers peace of mind and ample time to see if the item fits.

For example, Zappos is a top-leading brand that offers returns within 365 days of purchase. With so much time to test out the product and return it, customers may even forget to return the item in the first place!

Collect Data on Customer Returns Through Surveys

One of the best ways to prevent returns is to understand why customers are returning your items in the first place. One way to collect this information is through customer surveys.

With surveys, customers will have to go through a series of questions so you can understand the reason behind their return. Some of the best questions you can ask in the survey include:

As Bill Gates said himself, “An unhappy customer is the best customer.” Once you understand why customers are returning their orders, you can improve your products and web store.

For example, if a specific item always comes back faulty, you can find ways to fix it. Maybe it’s a flaw in the design, or the item’s packaging isn’t strong enough to sustain the transportation to the customer.

Maybe there’s a line in the product detail that is misleading customers. Understanding their expectations allows you to communicate more effectively in the first place or improve what you’re delivering.

If customers complain that your product looks bigger on your website than in real life, you can focus on improving your images to reflect the actual size of the item.

One of the best ways to prevent returns is to understand why customers are returning your items in the first place

Offer Product Recommendations to Customers

Even if a customer decides to return your item, it doesn’t mean that they won’t ever buy from you again. It could just be that they’re looking for a different product to meet their needs instead.

Especially for clothing or fashion-related items, customers want to see how they look and fit in person. If the returns process is easy, then they will continue to try out different products until they find what they like. Then you’ve got a lifetime customer!

What you can do in this situation is to offer them suggestions for other products that might interest them. If they’ve bought from you before, you can look at their history and see which type of item they typically like.

To take it a step further, you can also offer them redeemable coupons they can use on future purchases. It’s a great tactic to get them to return to your store and eventually buy products from you.

Measure How Much Your Returns Are Costing Your Store

As you manage returns, you must take the time to measure how they’re affecting your revenue. Doing so will help you set up a strategy to minimize them and do better.

Here are some crucial questions you need to be asking yourself:

Make the Return Process Simple and Convenient

How your brand manages returns could make or break your customer relationship. 92% of buyers will shop at your store again if the returns process is fast and straightforward.

For example, you can add a prepaid return label on packages to make the process less frustrating for the customer. You can also give customers a tracking number that lets them know when you receive the item.

Another way to make the returns process worry-free for the customer is to make your order policy straight to the point. Avoid complicated terms, disclose return fees, and set clear expectations between you and the customer.

There are tools you can use that simplify managing returns, which we’ll get into below.

Manage Your Returns With a Shipping Tool

Managing returns isn’t an easy task. Plus, you likely have other priorities in mind for your business, such as marketing your product or optimizing your website. It doesn’t hurt to get a bit of help along the way.

To save you time, various return management tools make the job easier for you. Some of the best tools we recommend on Shopify include:

Conclusion

Returns are part of shopping online. Making it easy will create a more positive customer experience and boost your retention of new customers. Managing them can be a headache, but setting clear policies and effective back-end processes will make them painless. With the right strategy, you can make returns just another selling point for your business!