6 Tips and Tricks to Get the Best Price for International Shipping

Shipping from one place to another is costly. No matter how much you want to lower the shipping cost, there are only a few trustworthy shipping providers that you can rely on. Some offer really low prices, but you can never be sure about the quality of their service. They may do your packages more harm than good. 

You may also wonder, “Is international shipping free with Amazon Prime?” Unfortunately for you, the answer is yes, and that’s another customer perk you have to beat.

So, how are you going to stay competitive and on top of the game?

If you want to get the best price for international shipping, you need to learn how to negotiate shipping rates. Here are some tips when you’re aiming for a lower shipping cost. 

1. Use the package volume to your advantage.

Businesses don’t realize that shipping companies offer more advantages than just providing cheap shipping rates. If you regularly ship packages in large volumes, you can ask your chosen carrier if they offer other perks, like free pick up services. . For example, a good time to ask your partner carrier for some concession is Christmas. As the demand for Christmas gifts increases, getting this kind of perk will prevent you from experiencing heavy holiday traffic.So, you can allot more time to your business. Plus, you can save on gas costs big time.

If you think you can only ship a small volume of packages per week, you can still find a way to minimize your shipping cost. Ask the shipping carrier if they offer programs, like referral systems or the like, to help you earn points for your next shipping transactions. 

Don’t be embarrassed by asking questions. That way, you can reap the benefits of low shipping costs and scale your business to gain more customers. 

Also, when you’re inquiring with your shipping carrier, be courteous and let the data speak for itself. Highlight trends in your data that prove your value. But the best way to ask shipping prices is to build a relationship with your shipping partner. 

2. Look at other factors that inflate your shipping cost.

Some of the factors that affect the shipping cost include fuel surcharges, minimum package charges, and accessory charges. 

However, with the right shipping partner, you can subtly escape these costly charges. Each carrier may have different terms and regulations, so be sure to ask properly about it. Compare the rates of each shipping carrier. Then, ask your carrier about it to get an affordable international shipping fee. 

3. Check out other shipping methods.

When it comes to shipping goods, there are a variety of choices you can choose from. Each mode has its advantages and disadvantages, but you have to pick a method that works best for your business. International priority shipping is costly, so try to consider other options. 

To get the best price for your shipping, you can choose the mode that will give you excellent results at an affordable price. What works for you will depend on your shipment, so gather data about that. 

If you want to ship packages that a customer doesn’t urgently need, pick standard shipping. On the other hand, if you are shipping high-value and consumable goods, pick express shipping freight. Take note, however, that express shipping is more costly than standard shipping. 

4. Reduce the shipping distance.

The general rule is the farther the destination is from the point of origin, the higher the shipping fee. Shipping carriers also use shipping zones to determine the distance and rate. 

What you can do to lower the shipping cost is to avoid shipping to higher zones as much as possible. Better yet, partner up with companies that have multiple fulfillment centers. This way, you can store your inventory near the point of destination, thereby reducing the shipping cost.

5. Get discounted shipping rates.

You may not know this before, but shipping companies offer several pricing discounts. Discuss these with your shipping partner. The most common form of discount is when you ship a particular number of parcels each month. Some also offer loyalty discounts instead of volume discounts. 

However, with a shipping partner like Stallion Express, you do not have to reach any number or volume of packages per week to avail the big discounts. You will automatically receive enormous discounts as they offer shipping rates half the price compared to other leading shipping companies. 

6. Don’t make empty promises.

If you have good reason to believe you can’t reach the number of packages you promised for a given month, tell it honestly to your shipping carrier. Otherwise, you can rack up penalties and additional fees if it turns out you overestimated your shipping volume. 

Also, if your business still doesn’t have stable sales, state at the outset of your partnership that you are not making any volume commitments. Be honest with your carrier and set achievable terms. 

But again, you don’t have to leave any promise to your shipping partners like Stallion Express. Since there are no quotas you need to reach, you won’t leave anyone hanging. Plus, it will be less stressful for you because you only have to deal with your marketing and product development.

Conclusion

To get better shipping prices, apply the tips we shared above. However, if you want a shipping partner that will offer you affordable shipping rates for the best services, then pick Stallion Express. 

Here at Stallion Express, we believe in giving our customers our best. With us, you don’t have to worry about your packages getting lost or damaged during shipment. You can also estimate your shipping fee using our international shipping rate calculator.
To know more about our services, contact us today!

Diana Zheng

Diana leads the growth marketing initiatives at Stallion Express. As a personal trainer turned digital marketer, Diana is obsessed with equipping eCommerce entrepreneurs with everything they need to scale their online businesses. You can catch her doing yoga or hitting the tennis courts in her spare time.