There’s no doubt that this global pandemic has negatively affected a lot of businesses in the world. From Asia to the Western countries, it seems the higher demand, but a limited workforce has impacted shipping companies that offer delivery services. While it’s true that the need for Logistics Services has risen significantly, it’s the lack of manpower that hinders their operations. 

Ecommerce has also been on the rise, especially in Canada. Denied access to their jobs, people have come up with a new way to earn money and pay their bills – online selling. Starting your online retail business can be exciting until you realize that you need to find a shipping carrier to deliver your products to customers. It’s not all about finding the cheapest shipping rates in Canada. Let’s not forget a few details when choosing your logistics service. 

Find a Logistics Company that Suits Your Needs

There are many shipping companies that operate in Canada and all of them have services they can offer you. The most efficient way to decide is to do your due diligence in finding out how these different companies can benefit your online business. Know how each company operates first before signing your name on the dotted line.

Consider the Cost of the Packaging Materials

It’s so easy to forget that the cost of these shipping materials can add up to a lot. It’s not all about the cost of shipping from Canada. Let’s say, Company A charges less for shipping but you shoulder the cost of packaging materials. Company B charges a few dollars more for each item but they provide the packaging materials for free. Those few dollars you’ll be saving with Company A might not be enough to cover the cost of the packaging materials. In the end, it’ll be better for you to sign with Company B.

The Fast and the Curious

Amazon started offering free two-day shipping for their Prime members, so consumers now have raised their expectations regarding how fast companies can deliver. There has been an increased demand for same-day and next-day deliveries. Of course, some customers still prefer free over fast.

Sellers need to ask questions on how fast logistics companies can deliver their products. After all, the faster the products can get to customers, the more money you make. 

Your Logistics Carriers Should Be Easy to Contact

You should be ready with questions like, “How to ship from the US to Canada?” Delays are inevitable in the online selling business and customers know that too. However, it’s vital that your logistics carriers are easy to contact in cases like this. Why? Because you can’t do anything about a product being delayed but you can at least give your customers an idea on when they can expect delivery. Giving them nothing to go on is a recipe for disaster. You can kiss your positive feedback goodbye.

A better solution would be finding a company using their own shipping software. Having this streamlines the whole process from packaging the product to delivery. This software can help you avoid mistakes like mislabeling products, choosing the wrong delivery option, or forgetting to include items for an order. 

Know the Prices and Surcharges

As a seller, having real-time information on how much it costs to ship somewhere is key. You can give your customers accurate information on shipping costs if you’re armed with this information without losing money. That’s why a shipping calculator is a big plus for shipping companies. For example, there are questions like, “what’s the cheapest way to ship from Canada to the US?” You can answer those questions using a shipping calculator. Be careful of surcharges related to minimum volume, residential deliveries, weekend deliveries, etc. Learn to read the fine print. You’re here for profit, after all. 

Look for Companies with Online Tracking

We’ve already established that information is key in this business. The advantage of logistics companies with online tracking is you can check where your products are real-time and monitor your operations. Since delivery is one of the major drivers for seller reviews, it should be an aspect of your online selling business that shouldn’t be neglected. This way, you can give delivery information to customers or better yet, give the tracking code so they can check the delivery themselves. This plus offering the cheapest shipping rates in Canada is a good recipe for any logistics company.

Check the Shipping Company’s Reviews

Sellers need to be smart about this. The only way to know if a shipping company delivers on promises is if you look at their past customers. Don’t expect a spotless reputation (it’s rare but possible). A company getting 80% positive reviews is pretty good. That means their customers’ opinions matter to them. Anything higher than 90% could mean several things. It could mean the company is very good at their job and they’d be a perfect choice. It could also mean they don’t have a lot of customers yet, though they’ve made their customers happy. Do your research.

Key Points

We can all agree that price is a major consideration in looking for a shipping carrier. However, it’s not just about the cheapest shipping rates in Canada. It depends on what values you consider important. Some would be willing to pay more for fast deliveries to their customers. Others would pay more for a more convenient shipping process. 
If you want to know more about shipping within Canada and international shipping, please email us at [email protected].