2022 Survival Guide for Handling Holiday eCommerce Shipping

Imagine the hundreds of customers ordering from your store after you announce a 50% off sale! Your phone may be buzzing with notifications for orders to be fulfilled while others inquire about your product. How do you handle the holiday rush and the plethora of Christmas sales? Don’t worry because we have created this survival guide for handling holiday eCommerce shipping. 

The Holiday eCommerce Shipping Timeline

Before we talk about the best practices in holiday shipping, let’s first understand the eCommerce shipping timeline. Knowing when holiday shopping starts will help you foresee the number of orders and marketing tools you will need. Based on Statista, holiday retail sales in the U.S. have grown since 2008—prepare and don’t miss out on the surge! 

Black Friday is the unofficial start to holiday shopping. It started in 1924 with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. While holiday shopping is a huge moneymaker every year, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, consumers are opting to shop online for holiday gifts and are starting earlier than ever.

The New York Times reported that around 3 billion packages were shipped during the holiday season of 2020. That’s about 800 million more than in 2019! 2022 isn’t looking to be much different, and if you and your customers don’t want to avoid delays you’ll need to inform them of holiday shipping deadlines.

At Stallion Express, we’ve created a list of holiday shipping deadlines and holiday hours for our estimated delivery before December 25. Do you need help shipping your parcels? Worry not, because Stallion Express can help you during the busiest time of the year. Connect with our dedicated support team to access all the eCommerce shipping software and tools available to sellers like you. 

It’s best to take note of the holiday shipping deadlines because, just like your customers, you and your team also want to spend a stress-free Christmas with your families. By setting up a strategy and teaming up with Stallion Express, your business will be prepared for the massive influx of holiday shipping. 

Holiday Shipping Strategies and Best Practices

Having a strategy in place will help you prepare for the busy holiday season. There will be thousands of customers who will be shopping, and businesses will be offering their best deals. To stand out from the competition, you need to amp up your game plan. Below are shipping strategies and best practices to survive holiday shipping eCommerce style. 

Stock up on inventory 

This is probably one of the most important steps you need to take. As soon as October hits, you’ll need to stock up on inventory. From Halloween until December 25, there will be hundreds or thousands of orders to fulfill. The lack of inventory can affect the flow of your fulfillment process and leave your customers angry and upset.

If your suppliers are living abroad, it may take a while before you receive the stocks. Order before the holiday season and prepare your warehouse. Incorporate new software into your system to ease the workflow. It’s also best to prepare for January and February in case of shopping surges and delays.

Prepare the packaging supplies

Aside from ordering inventory, you will also need to prepare packing supplies such as boxes, tape, labels, and bubble wrap. Shipping orders to customers without any damage is critical to the success of your business. It’s even more important during the holiday season because the items will be gifted to family and friends. 

To ensure the safety of your product, you need to invest in the best packaging materials. Don’t know where to start? Many carriers sell packaging in-house, or you can always do some research online to find the best packaging for your needs. However, you have to note that every carrier has its own policies on shipping methods and packaging restrictions. It’s best to keep a cheat sheet for the important details. 

Promote early shopping

To avoid the holiday rush, promote the holiday shipping deadlines on your website or social media accounts. In this way, customers are informed and are encouraged to begin shopping earlier. 

Offer free shipping

Customers love free shipping. They often search for products that give the best deals. However, the price of an item isn’t enough to attract the customer. When many see a high shipping price, they will abandon their cart and look for another store. 

If you want to avoid the risk of cart abandonment, offer them affordable or free shipping. You can price the item higher to cover the shipping cost. Before offering free or low-cost shipping, ensure that it will not hurt your profit margins. 

Offer expedited, same day, and next day shipping

Aside from free shipping, you can offer other eCommerce shipping options. Although free shipping is the option that customers love, fast shipping is also important during the holidays. Hence, customers often pick expedited shipping to deliver gifts. The reasoning behind this is that they want to make sure that their gifts arrive in time for Christmas. 

To lessen the worry of customers, offer them next day or same-day shipping options. Same-day doesn’t mean that the customer receives the order on the same day they purchased it. It means that the parcel will be shipped within 24 hours after the customer places an order. There’s a high chance the customer will receive it in just a few days. Plus, it boosts your brand image.

Enhance the checkout process

If you want customers to purchase your items, you need to make their buying experience easy. How? Optimize the checkout process! Make it easy for a customer to buy a product. Redesign your website to capture the holiday season. Also, make it mobile-friendly. 

Most customers often buy items using their mobile devices. Capitalizing on this growing trend will help you grow your business. This means that you’ll need to give them the best mobile shopping experience.  

Another way to improve the checkout process is to add an address verification system. This will minimize the chance of failed delivery and unhappy customers. Lastly, show all the fees. Customers don’t like surprise fees when they receive their package. 

Identify the best eCommerce shipping solutions

There are a number of shipping solutions you can choose from, but it’s best to work with a trustworthy and reliable shipping solution. Stallion Express helps you deliver your products on time to your customers.

You don’t have to worry about your package being lost or damaged during shipment because we always handle them with care. You’ll also love our shipping insurance coverage and shipping cost that’s more affordable than other shipping solutions. To know more about us, you can visit our website or contact our dedicated customer support team. 

Hook your customers with the best holiday shipping offer

The holidays are the perfect opportunity for you to offer discounts, coupons, and giveaways. You can run a number of giveaways on your social media sites. Another good way to attract new customers is to give coupons to those who recently purchased from your store. Everyone loves a sale or a BOGO (buy one, get one) promo.

Deliver an incredible unboxing experience

We all know packaging is important to protect the item. More than safety, a beautiful and exciting packaging experience has a direct impact on the customer experience. You’ve probably even watched several unboxing videos on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. Like the vloggers, your customers also get excited when they unwrap a gorgeous package. 

As a seller, you need to capitalize on the packaging: use it to showcase your brand and think of it as a first impression to your customers. When they see beautiful packaging, they feel excitement and think positive thoughts about the brand. In the future and whenever they think of your store, they’ll instantly remember that first impression. 

Win them with your return and refund policy

Let’s not forget about the return and refund policy. Offering easy returns helps convince a customer to buy your product. It’s because customers want to easily return a product when they aren’t satisfied with the item.

Buying a gift for someone else can also be tricky. Customers want to make sure that the person they are giving the gift to is happy. Having a return and refund policy allows them to return the item and exchange it for a different one without any complications. 

Give them the best customer service experience

There may be delays or concerns during the shipment process. Oftentimes, customers will bombard you with questions and follow-ups. You need to exercise patience and understanding with your customers. Be kind and courteous, and don’t snap at them or ignore them. It won’t do you any good to have angry and annoyed customers. 

Provide tracking numbers for their orders

To avoid customers from constantly asking you when their package is going to arrive, give them tracking numbers. The tracking number will be typed into the website of the shipping company, and they can view their package’s location in real time. The information provided assures them that the gifts they bought will arrive on time. 

Conclusion

Planning your shipping strategies is important for a successful holiday season. You need to be prepared for shipping thousands of items and answering hundreds of customer emails. By applying efficient workflow and following these strategies, you can survive the busiest season of the year. Moreover, working with a shipping solution like Stallion Express can boost your sales and quicken your delivery time. To know more about our services, contact us today!

Let Your Business On Top of the Game with The Best Shipping Company for Small Business

Due to many factors, a small business owner finds it challenging to compete with other businesses. Many cannot keep up with the constant trends, while some find it tricky to find another efficient method to attract customers. Because of the tough competition, you have to create a qualified marketing plan and partner with the most reputable companies in the industry to stay on top of your game. 

You achieve this goal by building a shipping plan. It is crucial to have a detailed shipping plan, as this can be a troublesome part of the business. You can accomplish the shipping process easily with the help of a shipping partner. Let your business be on the top of the game with the best shipping company for small businesses. 

How Important are Shipping Partners? 

Before the pandemic started, many people found joy and convenience in purchasing online. Customers don’t have to go to physical stores to buy the essentials. However, some customers don’t have the patience to wait for their items. That’s why, as an online business owner, you need to partner with your company with a shipping company that can offer fast and reliable shipping service. 

Your goal is to bring the products to the buyers as fast as possible, and you can only make this happen with the help of a credible shipping partner. A shipping partner will provide you with the most suitable small business shipping solutions. They will also provide you with the cheapest shipping rate you can find in a shipping company. 

Moreover, shipping partners will provide you with the cheapest way to prepare your orders for shipping. They can assist you in finding ways to save money on shipping.

What Qualities Should You Look For Before Choosing the Best Shipping Company For Small Business Canada to Anywhere Else?

While we understand that you can test the waters to find the right shipping company, the fast pace of the business world will not allow you to waste time, money, and effort doing trial and error. Instead, analyze the shipping service, options, and everything your prospective carrier offers. This way, you can minimize the trouble of understanding how the shipping process goes. 

You should consider five determinants before settling in one shipping company.

a. Reliable Customer Service

Number one on your checklist should be customer service. You don’t want to connect your business with a shipping solution that offers lousy customer service. Of course, you will have some questions about their services that can help your shipping needs. You need someone enthusiastic to help you since shipping is not an easy task to take. 

b. Reputable Shipping Experience

As an entrepreneur, you should have a critical mindset to analyze the experience of your partner companies. Find a carrier that has a good reputation in the industry because it can also pose a positive light on your business. 

c. Flexible Shipping Service

ECommerce shipping needs more than just someone to deliver the items. It will be great to choose a shipping carrier that can adjust to all of your shipping needs at a given moment. If you want to expand your business, finding a shipping partner who can assist you with cross-border shipping or international shipping would be great. Furthermore, it would also be helpful to have a shipping partner that offers various shipping services and postage options.

d. Swift Delivery

The reputation of your company does not only rely upon your hands. As mentioned, there can be different factors that can affect your small business, and one of them is your delivery time. You might not believe this, but many customers consider the delivery time part of your overall service. So, to avoid a negative implication, choose a shipping company that offers fast transit times, even if it is not for priority mail. 

e. Money-Worthy Services

Lastly, finding a shipping partner will be your most significant investment for your business. So, find a shipping solution that you will not regret. Always check their terms and conditions, price rates, the services they offer, and the shipping process. Plus, don’t forget to check the price too! Sometimes, business owners fail to price check their prospects because they rush. While you need to hurry up, don’t end up choosing the least desirable. Compare the shipping cost your shipment may incur to see if the services are worth it.

How to ship packages for small businesses

How to Ship Packages For Small Businesses?

As a small business owner, you have the option to choose how you want to ship the package for your business. You can either ship the parcel yourself or have a shipping company do the shipping process instead. Regardless, there are advantages and some disadvantages you might encounter by choosing either of these options. 

If you ship the small package yourself, you have to obtain the necessary documents for shipping, like Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice, Certificate of Origin, Bill of Entry. While you might learn more about the shipment process if you personally ship the packages, getting these files will eat your time and money. 

On the other hand, having a shipping partner, such as Stallion Express, will take the burden of processing the documents from your shoulders. With the help of a shipping partner, you don’t have to get all the documents yourself. So, you can allot your time planning for your small business. 

What Shipping Strategy Works Best for Small Businesses?

Putting up a strategy can be exhausting and confusing. However, you will feel the fruit of our labor once you find an efficient shipping process.

1.) If you can offer free shipping and other shipping promos, then provide one. Customers will always find a way to save money, so giving them free shipping or shipping promos will attract them.

2.) Find cheap packaging materials. However, cheap doesn’t always mean low-quality. Choose items that can endure the long travel.

3.) Get a shipping partner offering smooth shipping software to avoid technical issues on your end.

4.) Create a packaging system, from accepting the order to putting the shipping label. 

How to get the best shipping rates for small businesses

How to Get the Best Shipping Rates for Small Business?

As mentioned, always PRICE CHECK! Plus, don’t forget to compare each parcel shipping service. While you can find the lowest shipping rates possible, it’s not the only factor you should consider to prove that you could save money. The valid proof that you were able in the shipping cost is to see if the shipping service, delivery times, and customer reviews are worth the price. 

Does Stallion Express Have It Takes to Be the Best Shipping Company for Small Businesses?

ABSOLUTELY! Stallion Express is the leading Canadian shipping company offering the best shipping service. Not only that you can get the cheapest shipping rates, but you can also have the packages delivered in no time! Through the partnership with multiple carriers, who have established an excellent reputation in the industry, you don’t have to worry about the service quality. 

Moreover, you don’t have to switch shipping partners when you decide to expand your business because Stallion offers domestic, cross-border, and international shipping!

To know more about what Stallion Express has in store for you, check www.stallionexpress.ca to get the latest updates and information about the company.

A Seller’s Guide to Amazon.com’s Shipping to Canada Through Amazon FBA

Canadians are a big fan of the American eCommerce giant, Amazon, and they especially love shopping on their American site. With affordable prices, great deals, and a wide selection of items, it’s not hard to see why Canadians prefer to shop on Amazon.com. Amazon has earned $1.18 billion last 2018 from Canadian shoppers.

It’s no surprise that American companies are deciding to expand globally; maybe you’re one of those companies considering a wider market, starting with Canada. Read on to know about the Fulfillment by Amazon program and how shipping globally plays a huge part in your business’ success.

What is FBA’s Role in Amazon.com’s Shipping to Canada?

Before enrolling your business into an FBA, you must first understand what it is and how it will benefit your business. Fulfillment by Amazon is an exclusive program that helps sellers scale their business internationally. Amazon picks the package up, packs it, ships it, and provides customer service for your business, cutting down all your work almost in half.

Selling internationally used to be a pipe dream for most small businesses. The only businesses that could sell internationally were big established brands, but with the FBA initiative, small businesses can now compete internationally without breaking the bank. Amazon will handle all the tiring parts, making it easier for you to reach a foreign market. Amazon FBA’s shipping rates are made more affordable, guaranteed to ease your customers’ shipping concerns and issues.

How Does FBA Work?

In simple terms, Amazon FBA works this way: you sell the item, and then Amazon ships it. You can easily understand Amazon FBA by knowing how their process works:

  1. Send your goods to Amazon, where they will be stored in a fulfillment center.
  2. Once Amazon receives your item for inventory, you can now easily track all orders on their tracking system.
  3. A customer can then order your product from Amazon or any other eCommerce platform where your goods are available.
  4. Upon notification, Amazon picks the item and packs it.
  5. Amazon sends the item according to the customer’s shipping method. They also provide you with updated shipping information.

Amazon’s involvement in this transaction also includes superb customer service, return management, and of course, Amazon FBA’s shipping rates that are not only cost-effective for small businesses everywhere but also a good long-term investment. It doesn’t end with just shipping the products and ensuring that you and your customer are satisfied with the overall transaction.

Among the most common misconceptions both buyers and sellers have with Amazon FBA is that its functionality is limited to the platform. Brands swear by the program for its massive scope—utilizing Amazon FBA to fulfill orders from other eCommerce stores is why most people opt for it. 

After all, Amazon stores all your inventory in fulfillment centers and ensures proper management as soon as they are placed. You might want to look into this, especially if you have a growing site and are currently having trouble managing all your orders. Shipping rates are also priced lower due to added accessibility. Here are other top benefits that may convince you.

The Top Benefits of Selling With Amazon FBA

When enrolling in the Amazon FBA program, you are entitled to many benefits that greatly help your business expand in the north. These are benefits exclusive only to Canadian Amazon FBA sellers.

There’s less competition up north.

Because the Canadian market is smaller than its southern counterparts, the competition is also smaller. You have more wiggle room to set prices and set the online retailing game on your terms. Be the big fish in a small pond when you move north with Amazon FBA. 

The opportunity for higher profit margins exists.

One thing that might help you push your expansion to Canada is that its Amazon FBA market is less intense than other markets since there are a few sellers and less competition for you. Once you realize that your online market success relies on how sellers see your products, you have more room to increase your prices, giving you higher profits. But make sure to take note of the USD-CAD exchange rate.

It offers world-class customer service.

Scaling a business comes with its own set of worries; handling inquiries, returns, and complaints aren’t something you can handle alone. It’s time you step up your mindset and delegate these tasks to the professionals as your business grows bigger.

With Amazon FBA, you have the ability to let your customers voice their concerns and issues with the stellar customer service that FBA can provide you! With Amazon’s experienced team of professionals to provide you with customer support 24/7, you’ll have fewer worries on your plate!

Besides, sellers under Amazon FBA also have the “Fulfillment by Amazon” seal displayed on their listings. This seal helps ease and assure customers that an excellent and smooth experience is expected from packing to delivery to customer service.

Storage won’t be a problem.

If you’re currently keeping some of your inventory at home, then you know how much space it takes up every month. Besides, improper storage is often the reason why a product gets damaged. Avoid all that with Amazon FBA. Let them handle your inventory by keeping all of it in their fulfillment centers. 

With Amazon FBA, you’ll no longer have problems with storage, in addition to letting you focus more on running your business and ensuring you’re scaling your business the right way! You will also have the option to ship directly to Amazon FBA.

Factors to Consider When Shipping to Canada

Much like starting a business, starting a partnership will also feel like an investment. Think of Amazon FBA as more than just your fulfillment center and shipping partner but also as a business investment that can either grow or fail your business. In line with that sentiment, we have prepared a few factors you should consider:

The shipping costs in Canada might break you.

Unlike the US, Canada’s population is more diluted, so shipping costs are comparatively higher than the south of the border. You might want to calculate the shipping costs for your products and price them accordingly. If you opt for Fulfillment by Amazon, its Amazon fulfillment services tracking feature will help you out big time!

Consider the product’s worth in Canadian dollars.

Setting prices in Canadian dollars might be a bit more challenging than you initially think. However, there are tools online you can use to set up, handle, and manage your Canadian market prices. So, you won’t have to worry about going through this alone.

Make a list of products that you can actually send up north. 

Amazon.com has a much wider range of items in comparison to Amazon.ca. Besides the item’s cost, there’s another factor that you should consider: forbidden imports. Before diving into expanding your eCommerce store to Canada, you need to research the various items that fall under this category. A little digging also helps in knowing if you can ship directly to Amazon FBA.

Now, these factors will help you decide whether or not scaling your eCommerce business to Canada is worth it. You must plan this to ensure that the business runs smoothly.

Should You Sell With Amazon FBA?

Amazon.com’s shipping to Canada with Amazon FBA comes with its own set of considerations you need to think about. So if shipping to Canada is where you need your business to be right now, there are a few more things you should know.

Whether directly or through an Amazon fulfillment center, Sending goods to Canada will require you to register for a Canadian business number. Register online through Canada’s website business registration page. Once you have this number, get an import and export license from the Canada Border Services Agency. Take taxes and duties into account when selling your goods in Canada.

Explore shipping options using the Fulfillment by Merchant or any other self-fulfilling route. Amazon also recommends that you take advantage of shipping companies like UPS, USPS, or courier companies that come with product tracking features, Stallion Express included. You will be listed as the exporter in the official records.

When choosing to go with FBA instead, you’ll learn that sending goods with the help of customs brokers and freight forwarders is a more affordable option for sending goods anywhere in Canada. Besides, these establishments simplify the shipping process, which lightens your overall load.

Is FBA Worth It?

Even if many sellers take advantage of Fulfillment by Amazon, it doesn’t mean you should be using Amazon FBA, too. Deciding whether or not Amazon FBA is right for you is a tough choice. Researching beforehand is advised to ensure that your processes continue to operate smoothly despite the new integrations.

Convenience also plays a huge role in why most sellers opt for Fulfillment by Amazon. Besides, it’s also a way for sellers to avoid delays with customs clearances and ensure they all comply with their sales tax. This, alone, makes the added cost worth it. Stallion Express can help you weigh your options to guarantee that your eCommerce business stays a huge success! On top of our fully-featured local and international shipping services, we also offer Amazon FBA services that will help you expand your business. Learn more about how we can help by visiting our website.

From Canada by Land, Sea, or Air: International Shipping Information You Must Know

It’s no secret that eCommerce is a booming industry all over the world, but most especially in North America, where online marketplaces such as Amazon consistently rank amongst the top-visited websites year after year. North Americans take such a large slice of the eCommerce pie that experts predict the North American online retail market will exceed 1 trillion U.S. dollars by 2022!

With all that money pouring in, many sellers from Canada (large and small alike) are choosing to enter the online retail game. However, while big corporations mostly handle end-to-end product management in-house or with a dedicated shipping partner (which brings down costs), smaller independent sellers, unfortunately, don’t have that luxury. After factoring in the distance through land, sea, and air, international shipping can get prohibitively expensive.

One option for independent sellers that a marketplace like Amazon provides is fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). This lets Amazon handle shipping, storage, and fulfillment for your store in exchange for a fee. The price tag Amazon charges can still be quite steep for a beginner, however, and it comes with a host of problems such as delayed fulfillment during busy times and during times like this pandemic.

Many beginners and other retailers who don’t sell on Amazon choose to use third-party independent shipping options to deliver their products instead. While it sometimes isn’t as simple as letting a corporation like Amazon handle your customer fulfillment, it can also save on a ton of costs and headaches.

Land, Sea, or Air: International Shipping Options

As a small seller with a booming eCommerce business, one of the top concerns on your mind will undoubtedly be which shipping option to pick. This article will break down common shipping methods plus the popular providers that ship from Canada so that you can have the most informed solution for your business.

1. Land Shipping Through Road and Rail

Land shipping (also known as ground shipping) can be made by train or truck, with a mix of both being a very cheap option for shipments made across the North American continent. Private railroads and highways that stretch out through Canada and into Mexico provide easy solutions to your shipping needs and without the strict weight restrictions that come with shipping via air cargo.

While there are economic downsides to cargo shipping by road over long distances, truck shipments prove to be the cheaper option when shipping to less developed areas and door-to-door deliveries. It’s also a more cost-effective method for short-distance shipments, like destinations right across the Canadian border.

Rail shipping, on the other hand, is a quick and inexpensive way to get cargo across long distances. However, shipping delays are often expected when crossing the border due to changing rail operators.

Both shipping options are often combined to provide a seamless door-to-door delivery option. Keep in mind that in both road and rail shipping, seasonal changes and extreme weather can affect delivery times.

2. Over the Sea—A Cost-Effective Shipping Solution

Ocean freight transport is the most common shipping option for retailers, with approximately 90% of all packages worldwide being shipped by sea. While this is the slowest mode of shipping, it is also by far the cheapest, making it a great way to ship less valuable items, extra-large items, or items in bulk.

Some freight companies now offer expedited services over quick ocean liners and routes that can be a convincing option for those who are willing to pay a slight increase in price for a much faster delivery time.

3. Cargo by Air: International Shipping Time Saver

By far the fastest solution to shipping internationally is through air freight. As an example, a package from China to North America via ocean cargo will usually take 20-30 days but can easily be cut down to 2-3 days by air.

For an even quicker option, you can ship with an express shipping company like DHL or FedEx, which handles your delivery door-to-door. In comparison, international air freight shipping (another form of air shipping) may use two or more companies to handle your packages. As you can imagine, the latter is a cheaper yet slightly slower alternative.

Most modern carriers will use intermodal shipping options. This means a combination of all three (land, sea, and air) is used to get your packages across countries. The shipping industry is the bread and butter of North American commerce, with more than 25 million containers being shipped across the continent yearly.

What Companies Ship Internationally?

Now that you’ve made your decision on which shipping mode is best for you and your product, it’s time to look at what companies ship internationally from Canada.

  1. DHL

As one of the top international shipping companies worldwide, it’s no surprise that DHL is a strong contender for shipping small products internationally. In exchange for high rates, DHL can do intermodal shipping under one carrier so that you can get your packages shipped as quickly as possible.

DHL offers door-to-door service and expedited air shipping as well. Internationally, DHL has extensive logistic services making it very easy for sellers to ship from Canada elsewhere. As a downside, DHL doesn’t have a large network in the USA which can account for slower shipping times to and from the United States.

  1. FedEx

FedEx Canada offers three international shipping services: FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, and FedEx Freight. Each of these three services provides different shipping times and prices giving you many options to choose from.

Like DHL, FedEx ships your package under one carrier. It also has a large network across the United States which makes it a reliable option for sellers shipping from Canada to the USA. Internationally and outside North America, DHL provides slightly faster shipping, making it a more popular choice for Canadian sellers looking to break into Asian or European markets.

  1. UPS

As an established American logistics company, UPS is another viable option for shipments made internationally. Just like DHL and FedEx, UPS offers a variety of shipping options under their name so that you can choose the right option for your business. Worldwide, UPS ships to more than 220 countries and territories, making it one of the best and most trusted global shipping companies.

These logistic powerhouses each have their pros and cons and offer similar options and rates. All three use intermodal shipping to get your package delivered in the safest and most convenient way under one international shipping tracking number—this makes the fulfillment process as hassle-free as possible for your business.

Shipping with Smaller Logistic Companies

More and more small sellers are looking towards independent logistic companies to handle their shipping. The economic benefits of this are obvious: smaller shipping companies can price more competitively since they often partner with multiple larger companies. Instead of having one logistics company handle your package, independent companies contract separate couriers so that sellers can get the best price per route instead of relying on one carrier’s rates.

Stallion Express is a trusted seller that operates from Canada to other parts of the world. We partner with larger logistics companies such as UPS, USPS, Canada Post, and others to ensure that you get the best, most reliable shipping services without breaking the bank.

With Stallion Express, you get uncomplicated door-to-door shipping, seamless integration with your online store, and an international shipping tracking number. We even work with small businesses who choose to sign up with Amazon FBA to get their products to the Amazon warehouse without all the extra fees.

What are the Packaging Requirements for International Shipping?

Stallion Express takes care of your package so you can feel safe shipping with us. However, and as with most courier services, we do request that you pack your valuables in a certain way to ensure they get delivered without any complications.

Our packaging dimensions have a maximum length+width+height limit that cannot exceed 48 inches and 50 lbs. Penalties will apply for sizes that exceed our maximum.

Please follow general packaging requirements for international shipping, such as using a sturdy outer box for your goods. Ensure that your products fit snugly within the box, and excess space is stuffed with crumpled paper or foam peanuts to avoid getting your items shaken during shipping.

Place goods that need to be kept dry inside clean plastic bags and loose objects inside tightly-sealed containers. Finally, ensure that your box is secured with packing tape and labeled correctly. Stallion Express provides appropriate packaging supplies for sale on our website.

International Standard Shipping vs. International Priority Shipping

We offer competitive rates on international priority shipping, with packages reaching their destination in as little as 4 days. In comparison, our quickest international standard shipping option takes around 5 to 16 business days to fulfill.

Although standard shipping rates are much more budget-friendly, we strongly recommend our priority shipping for a faster, smoother, and better overall experience.

Final Thoughts

Choosing an independent courier for your goods might just be the most cost-effective way to ship internationally from Canada. At Stallion Express, we partner with trusted logistic companies to help small businesses ship internationally without exceeding the budget, unlike other larger carriers.

We provide the simplest way to get your package to your buyer’s doorstep with a mix of land, sea, and air international shipping routes provided by our partners. Much like the businesses we work with, we pride ourselves on being a small, Canadian-owned business with excellent services that won’t break the bank.

If you’re interested in shipping with us, register an account on our website to get started. Otherwise, we’d love to answer any questions or comments you may have, so please feel free to reach out at any time!

Economy International Shipping vs. Standard International Shipping

With the various social media networking sites available and the rise of messaging platforms, it’s no surprise that technology has truly made communication easier no matter where you are in the world. 

The same goes for shipping. Sending packages, mailing letters, and purchasing different items online is made easier with international shipping. Just like the rest of the world, Canadians love shopping online too, especially with Canadian shipping service providers making everything more accessible and affordable. 

Besides businesses and eCommerce stores, many have benefited from these types of services. If you like hanging around on online shopping sites, then you’re probably familiar with how international shipping works.

However, there might be one piece of information you don’t know about international shipping, and that is the existence of economy standard options for this particular service—and simply knowing the different options for international shipping service isn’t enough.

As a business owner, you’ll likely want to dive deeper into economy international shipping vs. standard international shipping! In line with this, we have prepared a quick guide for you to better understand the concept of international shipping.

Economy International Shipping vs. Standard International Shipping: How It Works

At first glance, not everyone can see which option most businesses and buyers will benefit from. It’s always better to learn more about each shipping option to maximize your options and choices. With the option you choose, you should be able to quickly and easily integrate it into your business plans for today and, of course, in the future. Running a business tends to become a lot easier as you start getting ahead of everything—from logistics and shipping, to increasing sales and creating better marketing campaigns.

Opening your business to the world requires more than just strategies. With shipping becoming the lifeblood of most businesses across the globe, creating a solid shipping strategy that fits your financial needs becomes invaluable. It might sound daunting at first, but shipping will eventually become second nature to you.

Economy International Shipping

Understand just how much time and energy people spend shopping online, scrolling through shopping apps only to see a high shipping cost. No matter how much they want the item, many people will choose to abandon their carts. High shipping costs are huge deterrents, and for many sellers this means finding alternatives to their current shipping option. 

Luckily, there’s always the economy international shipping option. You’re even luckier if there are couriers in your country who provide this shipping service. Many customers opt for this service due to its affordability and reliability. 

Economy international shipping is usually the most cost-effective way to ship a package internationally. Despite how long the service takes to send your items, it still manages to provide an excellent means of transporting your goods to anywhere in the world. 

The slow shipping solution also gives you the flexibility to offer customers a wider range of prices for your items. Other shipping options can’t give you the same kind of flexibility, making it ideal for eCommerce businesses and individuals who are not sending time-sensitive parcels. Although international shipping will always come at a high cost, it feels great to have a more affordable alternative to make ends meet.

How long does it take?

Compared to standard and expedited international shipping options, economy international shipping takes at least 6–15 days to major destinations across the globe. However, not all shipping companies follow the same time frame. Take note that delivery times vary depending on your shipping zone and the location you’re shipping the item to.

As with most shipping options, shipping a package domestically is always quicker than shipping it internationally. However, do account for delays. These delays are commonly caused by factors such as harsh weather conditions, customs, and serious fortuitous events.

Shipping and logistic companies are constantly finding ways to improve shipping times by streamlining their processes to prevent delays. To help you navigate shipping costs and times, utilize the wealth of shipping rate calculators available online. These can guide you in planning your deliveries and creating a budget.

When should you choose it?

Despite the fast-moving world we’re in, there are still people who wouldn’t mind longer, yet cheaper, shipping. To give customers more options, other companies offer expedited shipping at an additional cost. Still, not every item needs to be shipped fast, and maximizing low-cost shipping for your business can help you deal with shipping bulky items or non-urgent packages to buyers overseas.

If you’re still unsure whether or not economy international shipping is the right option for you, below we’ve listed the advantages of opting for the more affordable option when it comes to sending items internationally.

Low shipping rates

We’ve already mentioned how affordable the rates for this option is. If you’re following a tight budget, then this option is the right one for you. The price of the economy international shipping option is the primary reason why most people opt for it rather than other shipping options.

Enough delivery time

This option works by shipping items in bulk to ensure low and affordable prices, which means the time it takes for your goods to arrive is longer than with standard international shipping. However, it does guarantee that your package will be received by your customer within 15 days, assuming that there are no unexpected delays on their end.

Primary real-time updates

Economy international shipping’s tracking features aren’t as detailed or updated, unlike with other shipping options. However, this varies depending on what shipping and logistics company you’re working with. Some companies ensure customer satisfaction by offering real-time tracking on all of their shipping options.

Conclusion

We know that keeping a business at bay is difficult enough—many small businesses struggle financially, especially at the beginning. Still, once you take logistics in hand, you’ll see that you have many more options to help save you, and your customers, money.

Standard International Shipping

Besides having a solid strategy for your shipping operations, you’ll need to find the right shipping company to work with. With the influx of couriers in the shipping and logistics industry today, finding the right one is a daunting and challenging task that you’ll need to accomplish to ensure a seamless process. If you’re confused with all the available shipping options out there, knowing how the whole process works might ease you into making a decision. 

First, you’ll need to know your priorities. Are you looking for the best value for your money, or are you looking to make a speedy delivery? Not many people know how to choose the most appropriate shipping option that brings them the most benefits, but knowing what your options are helps in making your decision.

When shipping internationally, another option gives you the best of both worlds—the standard international shipping option. Like the economy international shipping option, this option is an affordable option that guarantees faster shipping than the former. 

You’re probably familiar with this option if you’ve been in touch with various shipping companies for a while. Many shipping companies offer this standard shipping service option, making it the most usual option that businesses and individuals choose, unlike the economy international shipping option.

How long does it take?

In general, express shipping is faster than standard shipping, while standard shipping is faster than economy shipping. While all these shipping options are equal in reliability, the only difference is how fast your package will get to its recipient and at what cost.

The difference between standard international shipping and economy international shipping is that standard shipping takes around 2–10 days. Like with economy standard international shipping, the package’s size and dimensions, along with the distance between the country of origin and the destination, affect the total cost you’re required to pay.

When should you choose it?

Businesses should give customers multiple options to choose from when it comes to shipping. Standard international shipping offers your buyers the best value for their money. Letting them choose whichever they would prefer also gives them the idea of how valuable your business makes them feel.

As a customer, if you’re not interested in the small window of time difference between economy international shipping and standard international shipping, choosing either one would work for you. After all, a few days isn’t much of a difference if you’re not in a hurry to receive your package.

Why opt for standard international shipping?

Seeing many options available at your disposal is overwhelming. Sometimes you’ll begin to wonder if your choice really matters, as there’s not a lot of difference between the options. To help you out, we’ve outlined the advantages of standard international shipping below.

Affordable rates

Standard international shipping still comes at an affordable price despite being a faster option than economy international shipping. Although it’s affordable, its price may not be the primary reason why people choose this option. Its affordability, together with how much time it takes for your buyer to receive the package, makes it an efficient option.

Shorter delivery time

A shorter delivery time makes sure that your customers enjoy their product at an earlier time. Although the difference is only a few days, having the option to receive their goods earlier is something many customers appreciate.

Quick, real-time updates

Buyers and sellers receiving quick, real-time updates on their item’s location is possible with the standard option. It is especially useful with the various details each update brings—for example, detailed updates notify you of any delays and issues that your shipping provider encounters.

Conclusion

Standard international shipping isn’t for everyone, but it can benefit you in growing your business and satisfying your customers. After all, fast shipping doesn’t have to be expensive. Having a general idea of what your buyers need will also help you decide whether standard international shipping is the right choice for your business.

Final Thoughts

While you can’t see a huge difference between economy international shipping vs. standard international shipping, these two options will both provide you with the best value for your money. Regardless of which option your pick, if you’re shipping within the same area packages and goods usually arrive within 5 days. 

Most shipping services also offer packing and tracking services, which businesses are sure to enjoy. These services help businesses keep track of which item goes where and to whom. But international shipping can be a ton of work, and looking at convenient shipping options can help you out immensely.

If you’re an eCommerce seller, you might want to make things easier by giving Stallion Express a try! From domestic shipping to international shipping—and from Canada to anywhere in the world—Stallion Express provides you with the necessary tools that you can quickly and easily integrate into your platform.

Interested? Reach out to Stallion Express to know more about how we can help you!

The Best eCommerce Shipping Options for your Online Store

The rise of the eCommerce industry has encouraged consumers to buy online rather than physically going to the mall to purchase their necessities. Amazon has grown even more when  COVID-19 started, where everyone is advised to stay inside. Moreover, it has put extra emphasis on convenience and shipping. Even though the two go hand-in-hand, we can’t deny that shipping is one of the essential components for a successful online store. If you want to stand-out in a saturated market, you need to offer different eCommerce shipping options to your customers.

Standing out and staying relevant is a must to a constantly changing industry. As more businesses sell online, you need to learn to innovate and create new offers for your customers. As we all know, what works today might not work tomorrow, so you need to be on top of the game. In this case, having a desirable shipping option can be highly beneficial. 

Based on the 2018 Pitney Bowes Global eCommerce study, 91% of customers leave their cart once they find out the shipping isn’t free or fast. Also, 36% of consumers shop somewhere else after a bad experience. Clearly, having a well-executed shipping plan where customers can receive the product in a timely manner can drive sales and create return customers. 

In this article, we are going to talk about the best shipping options you can offer to your customers, border shipping services, and small business shipping in Canada. 

  1. Free Shipping

Free shipping is one of the most popular shipping options due to Amazon’s free shipping for Amazon Prime members. Customers love free shipping and for good reasons too! They don’t have to pay for the shipping fee, and it increases the conversion rate on your part. Studies have found out that 73% of respondents stated that free shipping affects their decision in purchasing a product. So, if you want them to purchase a product in your store, you need to offer them free shipping. 

However, the shipping cost is free on your customer’s part but not to you! You have to pay the carrier and make enough to cover the shipping costs. That’s why you see stores that only offer free shipping for a certain price. If you do plan to offer free shipping, make sure that the orders will cover the cost of shipping so that it won’t affect your sales. Lastly, exclude products that are too heavy for your free shipping offer.

  1. Flat rate shipping

To avoid the challenges of free shipping, you can offer the flat rate shipping option to your customers. Flat rate shipping means your customer pays a fixed fee regardless of order value. Flat rate shipping is best if your product line has the same weight and dimensions. 

  1. Live rates from carriers

If you want to offer the best possible rate for your customers while still covering your costs, choosing live rates from carriers is the best option. Using live rates helps you charge customers the exact amount based on the weight of the product and their location. It avoids overcharging and undercharging your customers. 

If your customer lives near your warehouse or location, they will have a cheaper shipping cost than those who live internationally. Integrate the shipping carrier’s system to your store, so you can keep track of the orders. You may also use an international shipping rate calculator for customers living abroad. Aside from the shipping cost, you can add the packaging cost to the total delivery fee.  

  1. Table rate shipping

It’s not fair to charge a customer located a few miles away from the warehouse the same fee as the one located abroad. A customer living in your country expects a cheaper shipping cost and faster delivery service. Hence, table rate shipping is a good option, especially for customers living halfway across the world. With a table rate shipping option, you can set a rate based on the shipment size, weight and location. It will allow you to provide more affordable shipping for the customers located closest to you, while still offering fair rates to those located abroad.

  1. Mixed and alternative shipping options

You always think outside of the box for your shipping option. Try mixing and matching different shipping options for a more effective shipping service to your customers. Furthermore, it allows you to balance your revenue needs with promotional opportunities. For example, you can offer live rate shipping for overnight delivery while free shipping for standard business days shipping.

  1. Local pickup option

The local pickup option allows your customers the opportunity to pick up their items from you in person. If you have multiple warehouses, you can schedule a pickup on a specific location. Moreover, if you have a storefront, they can pick it up there. 

Through the local pickup option, you’ll be able to save time and money on shipping, and customers will have the option to visit the location closest to them to get their products quicker. Plus, if you offer a discount for local pickups, they might be more motivated to visit you in person, and perhaps buy again in your store. 

  1. Ship to multiple addresses

There may be a time when your customers ask to ship parts of their orders to different locations. This happens when they don’t have the opportunity to meet with a friend or loved one, and decides to send them a gift. By offering multiple addresses in the same order, your customers don’t have to place multiple orders to send gifts to different people. And if they find out that you offer this service to them, they will be encouraged to buy at your store. Try multi-address shipping when you plan to increase your sales during the holidays and have a number of customers who have requested this feature. 

  1. Conditional shipping

Expanding their business is every seller’s dream when they start their eCommerce business. Targeting the international market is the right step towards this goal. However, it can get tricky if you are selling items that aren’t available in all parts of the world, or the shipping fee is too high. 

Conditional shipping is the way to go. This prevents customers from ordering items that aren’t available in their country, restrict specific payment gateways, and prevent purchases that are too costly to ship. Moreover, conditional shipping is helpful if your store follows specific compliance with licensors or external payment solutions. Instead of manually screening, or cancelling orders, adding a conditional shipping plug-in can streamline the process. 

Next steps after choosing your eCommerce shipping options

Even though you have already chosen your shipping options, you must keep in mind that what works for you now may not work in the future. As your business expands, you need to try out new things to look for the best fit for your store. Just try to be as open to new ideas and learn to appreciate the feedback of others. 

Now that you have chosen your shipping options, here are a few steps you can take to help you start your eCommerce shop:

Start researching manufacturing companies, so you have an idea on who will be developing your product. It will also help you check the quality of your product and understand the terms of the agreement. 

Knowledge is power. You can’t run a store without arming yourself with the necessary information to run your business. Hence, you can check out Seller Interactive’s blog to learn more on Amazon. You also check out the Stallion Express blog for eCommerce shipping advice and tips. 

If you haven’t chosen an eCommerce platform yet, then we suggest picking Amazon. Amazon has over 2.5 million active sellers on the platform and has generated $53.76 billion in 2019 from third-party sellers. Amazon also has a lot of programs that you can avail such as Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), Amazon Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertisement, Amazon Prime, and many more. 

Conclusion

Picking a shipping option is a great idea for your online store. It allows your customers to pick a number of shipping options that will suit their needs and gives you the opportunity to increase your sales. You can pick two or more shipping options based on your store’s needs. 

Just don’t forget to tweak it as time goes by because you also have to think about what’s best for your customers. Moreover, you have to look for a reliable shipping carrier that can offer these shipping options. So, which shipping service is cheapest? Stallion Express! 
Stallion Express offers the cheapest and most reliable shipping service. You can save up to 50% when you’re shipping across the country, and the delivery period is 2 to 8 business days. Plus, you can integrate your store with Stallion Express to keep track of orders. It’s no wonder Stallion Express is the preferred shipping service of Canadian businesses. If you want to know more about our services, give us a call now!

Everything You Need to Know About Amazon FBA Shipping Service

Let’s face it. If you want to compete with other Amazon sellers, you need to bring your A-game. You need to offer your customers the most affordable and high-quality products and fast shipping service. The  best way to do it is to give them the shipping option of free two-day shipping. Yes, free two-day shipping! And we know you can only do it if you use of Amazon FBA Shipping Service. If you want to know about FBA, how to sign up for it, and how much is Amazon shipping, read below. 

What is Amazon FBA, and Why Do You Need it?

Fulfillment by Amazon is one of the appealing and popular programs by Amazon. In fact, there are more than 2 million people selling products on Amazon worldwide. In addition to that, out of the top 10,000 sellers, 66 percent of them are Amazon FBA sellers. Pretty inspiring, right?

When you choose the Amazon FBA program, you get access to the largest fulfillment network in the world and removes the burden of fulfilling orders on your shoulders. So, how does it work? Basically, sellers ship the products to Amazon’s fulfillment centers while the employees store, pick, pack, and ship the products to the customers and offer customer service. There are 175 fulfillment centers across the globe, 110 of which are in North America and employ 250,000 full-time employees. 

Aside from lessening the work on the seller’s part, Amazon offers FBA sellers access to Prime members. Amazon Prime is an annual subscription service. There are more than 100 million American Prime members as of 2018. Many customers sign-up for Amazon Prime because they can use of free two-day shipping, access to TV shows and movies through Amazon Prime Video, and get free books, magazines and audiobooks through Kindle and Audible. 

Since more sellers are trying the program, Amazon has enforced strict guidelines.when it comes to shipping inventories to fulfillment centers. All products must be properly shipped, labeled, and prepared for the safety of the item as well as for the employees handling them. If you plan on availing of the program or you’re a current member, you need to stay in compliance with the rules or risk facing fees. 

How to Ship to Amazon’s Fulfillment Center

To ship products to Amazon’s warehouse, you need to create a shipping plan. The shipping plan will identify:

Step 1: Set the Quantity

The first step in fulfilling your shipping to Amazon FBA plan is to set the quantity. Indicate the quantity of all inventory you have in stock and want to send. If you’ve never sent a product to Amazon’s warehouse before, you need to create a new shipping plan. 

Click to create a new shipping plan. Next is you will choose the packing type, select “individual products” or “case-packed products,” which applies when you send large quantities of products in boxes called cases.

Click “Continue to shipping plan.” Next, you’ll be asked how many units you want to send. Enter the quantity and change the shipment name. You can try renaming it to the date, the quantity, and the product name.

Step 2: Prepare the Products

We mentioned earlier that Amazon has strict guidelines when it comes to packing and shipping products to the warehouse. Check the packaging and preparation requirements for you to know the guidelines. Also, if you didn’t select Amazon to prepare your products, you must do it yourself. 

Many sellers will have their manufacturer or carrier prepare their products to save time and money. If you ask them to prepare your items, make sure that they know FBA’s guidelines and requirements. For the packaging, you may be required to use any of the following:

Step 3: Label the Products

Amazon uses a barcode system to track products. Hence, all products must be carefully labeled. Some of the labeling options you can choose are the following:

Make sure to follow all FBA product barcode requirements. This includes using the right printer, paper stock, and proper label placement. If your manufacturer has already printed the labels, then this allows you to save time and money. However, your manufacturer must still abide by Amazon’s guidelines. 

To help you know which products need labels, check the “Labeling required” tab. If you’ve chosen Amazon under the Who labels column, you must use the FBA Label Service. Applicable fees will appear in the Label cost column. Once this information is set, it’s time to create your barcodes. Click Print labels for this page and make your selections. 

Step 4: Review Your Shipment

After packing the orders and printing the labels, it’s time to check the shipment details. Check your shipment ID and the destination fulfillment center code. Since your package may require multiple shipments to different warehouses, you need to double-check this part. 

Remember that Amazon assigns you a shipment name, and you’ll see the quantity of each MSKU (unique product identifiers) in the shipment. You can’t make any changes at this point because it will affect your listing. 

Once you approve shipments, the View Shipments page will appear. Your shipment plan is now set, and your shipment needs to be sent to the designated Amazon fulfillment center or centers. To proceed, click Work on shipment.

Step 5: Prepare Your Shipment

On the Prepare Shipment page, you can now:

When shipping to Amazon FBA, it’s important to meet all shipment packing requirements. You can choose different shipping methods such as Small Parcel Delivery, Less than Truckload, and Full Truckload. Small Parcel Delivery (SPD) is for items packed in individual boxes. Less Than Truckload (LTL) refers to boxes that are secured on pallets. Full Truckload (FTL) is the same as LTL, but it goes straight to the fulfillment center. Remember that each shipping method has specific requirements you must follow. Read and understand each requirement.  

Next is picking a shipping carrier. You can choose Stallion Express, FedEx, and UPS. Afterward, Amazon shipping costs will be calculated. Then, ship them to Amazon. 

The last step in the shipment creation workflow is the Summary page. It provides an overview of your shipment and the status of your parcel. Once the product has been received by Amazon, it’ll be available for purchase. Your order fulfillment will now be taken care of by Amazon’s FBA team.

Shipping to Amazon’s Fulfillment Center from China

Shipping from China to Amazon FBA is an efficient and common business strategy. You can save time and money when using this strategy. However, it can be a bit more complex than you think. For one, communication and language is a common issue. Although a lot of Chinese suppliers are already adept at Amazon FBA, you’d still want to brief them. 

If you do plan to ship your stocks from China straight to Amazon’s warehouses, there are the pros and cons you need to look into before you finally make a decision.

Pros

Cons

Things you must need to check before sourcing from China.

Many products on Amazon came from China. Marketplaces, such as Alibaba, have made it possible for these products to be accessible to multiple companies regardless of their size. New sellers would certainly want to know how they can source their products from China and ship to it Amazon. Before you can start picking a product, here are a few tips you need to note of. 

Tip #1: Check the products if they comply with the country’s standards

Amazon sellers think that big suppliers in China automatically meet all legal requirements. Some of them do, but it’s still best to check  before ordering several products. Suppliers often do not check their articles on intellectual property or on existing patents by law. As long as they sell their products, these matters do not concern them.

If something goes wrong and the products are already in your warehouse, you have no other choice but to destroy the entire inventory. Furthermore, the legal provisions differ according to the type of product and also to the country in which they are to be sold. 

China has different country standards. The same with the United States, where they also have their own provisions. What you can do is to check the brands and trademarks that are already registered with the Amazon Brand Registry Search. 

Tip #2: Check the suppliers and manufacturers

Before you order from a supplier or a manufacturer, you need to verify first if they are real or not. Flying to China simply isn’t an option because it’s too expensive. What you can do is contact an agent or intermediary. The agent will be useful for the seller because they can contact the supplier and help them with shipping and export concerns. 

Tip #3: Verify how the product was made

As an Amazon seller, you must know how the product was made and the team behind it. If the product requires to be assembled, you should know how to assemble it. It’s also best to know the materials used when creating the product because certain components can be banned from a specific country.

Tip #4: Send for prototypes

When it comes to new products, you should ask for product samples or prototypes. This allows you to check the quality and usability of the product you are selling. It can also help you decide if the product meets the expectations of potential customers. You can ask your friends and relatives for their honest opinion on the product. 

Tip #5: Never pay for the entire stock in advance

Instead of paying the whole amount, negotiate with your supplier to pay 50/50. Initially, pay 50% of the total amount at the start and pay the balance once the product has been shipped. It is safe to pay small in advance than the whole amount. Besides, 50/50 deals are quite common. 

Best Amazon FBA Shipping Service

Whether you are shipping from China or your own location to Amazon’s fulfillment center, choosing the best shipping service that will give you fast and proven results is a must. It’s a good thing that Stallion Express is here to help you out. 

Stallion Express is Canada’s #1 Shipping Service. To help you make up your mind in picking us, below are five benefits of partnering with Stallion Express. 

  1. Affordable Shipping Service

At Stallion Express, you can ship your products for only $20.00 CAD. The standard carrier is $155.76 CAD, but here at Stallion Express, you get 80% off. You can also get an estimate using the shipping rate calculator. 

Plus, our handling fees for FBA shipments are as follows:

2. Easy tracking of customer orders

Here at Stallion Express, you can integrate your eCommerce store into our system. It will help you streamline your shipping process and manage your orders in one place.

3. Handles customs clearance

You don’t have to worry about customs and export declaration because we’ll take care of it for you. Just attach the shipping label and FBA QR code because we’ll handle the rest. 

4. Offer Stallion Protection

Stallion Protection is our very own insurance for your packages. Adding this to your packages ensures your packages are protected from damages and theft. The terms of Stallion Express are: 

Conclusion

Amazon FBA is a good program that sellers should try. It reduces the burden of fulfilling your orders while giving you the chance to expand your business. It’s a good thing that Stallion Express can help sellers in shipping products from Canada to the US, as well as from Canada to abroad. If you want to know more about our shipping services, contact us now!

Top 5 Best International Shipping Services for Amazon Small Businesses

If you are an Amazon seller, you’ll probably understand how shipping is pretty much an essential part of your business. Getting the best international shipping service for small businesses that carefully handles your packages and timely delivers to your customer’s doorsteps is a significant factor in the success of your e-commerce business. 

Based on Amazon’s Small Business Impact Report, American Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) sold more than 3.4 billion products on Amazon and averaged 6,500 products sold per minute. Amazon small business owners’ success came from working closely with creators, delivery business, and IT solution partners. With the e-commerce business continuously growing, the need for a reliable international shipping service is a must. 

Amazon small business owners have to work with third-party shipping to help ship and deliver their products. It may be daunting since you will be putting your trust in these shipping services. Fortunately, we have evaluated different reputable international shipping services. 

But, before we discuss the details, you need to understand the costs of shipping a product. 


To get the most value for your money, let’s know the factors for your shipping cost:

Shipping Size

The shipping size of a package is one of the most critical factors determining the cost of a package or container. The smaller and lighter is the package, the cheaper the cost. The same way if a package is more extensive and heavier, it will be more costly.

Whenever you plan on shipping a package, take note of the measurement and weight of the product. You don’t want an angry and furious customer calling you for a wrong shipping cost assessment. Try investing in a postal scale to help you with the weight of your packages.  

Cargo

The type of product you ship will affect the packaging, shipping size, and price. Most shipping services will charge higher if you plan to ship food or hazardous materials. It costs more since the items need to be insulated during delivery. 

Shipping Volume

The volume and frequency of your shipment can also affect your shipping cost. We can observe that sellers who ship daily get better rates than those who ship once or twice a month. Sellers who ship frequently can negotiate for cheaper deals or bundles because they’ve already built a good working relationship with the shipping company.

The shipping company will also greatly benefit from the bulk of packages received from the seller. There are also added benefits given to those who frequently ship, such as cash-on-delivery and loyalty points. 

Packaging

Packaging and shipment sizes work together when it comes to calculating the shipping cost. The size and weight of the product you will be shipping will affect the packaging. Small-sized packages that are lighter than others can be placed in a small-sized envelope or packages while larger items should be placed in boxes. 

Foam and paper cushions  also add to the cost since these ensure that your package will arrive neatly and in good condition on your buyer’s doorstep. It is nice to note that other shipping services offer flat rate shipping. Flat rate shipping is when a single rate is charged to all packages. 

If your item can fit a medium-sized box despite being heavier and bigger, your shipping cost will be based on the medium-sized box. A flat rate can help you save money whenever you plan to ship more items. 

Delivery Time

The usual standard time for shipping orders is 1-5 business days. But what if your customers want to receive their package at a speedier time frame? The general rule is: they’ll have to pay higher than the standard rate. 

The cost can depend on the destination, but most shipping services can offer you overnight shipping or same-day delivery shipping for a price higher than the standard rate. You’ll also have to decide if you want to pass the cost to your customer. 

Shipping Method

The shipping method can affect the time of delivery because some shipping methods are faster than others. Your customers’ packages can be shipped via land, air, or sea. Some customers have the choice if they want to ship through air or sea, while others do not. It is up to you if you wish to make the decision or let your customers decide on the shipping method they prefer. There are also different prices for each shipping method. 

Distance Being Shipped

The distance you are shipping the product can affect your shipping cost. Most shipping services have an estimate on how much it will cost to ship to a specific destination from your location. It is best to note these details for your customer to be aware of the possible shipping cost.

Insurance 

Shipping insurance is a protection for shippers against lost, damaged, or stolen packages. If a package wasn’t delivered, or arrived broken on the buyer’s doorsteps, then the shipper is reimbursed equivalent to the declared value. 

Most shipping services will provide a basic insurance package for your shipments. It is up to you to choose and buy additional insurance for your delivery. Also,  note that the coverage will also depend on the value of the item, shipping destination, and shipping method.

Carrier liability insurance is the most common type of shipping insurance you’ll get. This insurance covers up to $100 of the shipping cost in the event the item gets lost or damaged. You may also purchase shipping insurance from a third-party provider.

Different shipping services will charge you different shipping rates based on these factors. 

Before you plan on choosing a service provider, understand what your business is about, the goods you will be shipping, and the areas you will be shipping to. 

Once you can answer these questions, you may now pick an international shipping service for your business. 


5 Best International Shipping Services for Small Businesses

1. United States Postal Service

Best for small businesses looking to ship small items.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is a shipping service that offers you the best price for a package under five pounds. If you plan to ship small and lightweight products, this is the best option. Regardless of the size, packaging, destination, and delivery time, they will offer you an affordable deal. 

The standard delivery period for USPS is 2-8 business days. 

Some of the services offered are Priority Mail Express, which offers daily overnight express; USPS Retail Ground, which delivers in two to eight business days; Media Mail, which provides the distribution of books and periodicals; and a flat-rate option based on the packaging of the product. 

The commercial price for a priority mail envelope is $6.95, while a large box is $19.95. If you are a high-volume shipper, USPS can offer you a lower price. As for the pick-up and delivery, you can download your postage and shipping labels from the USPS website. Afterwards, just leave the item for pick-up, or you can drop it off at any USPS offices or drop boxes. 

If your item is less than 5 pounds and you want an affordable option, you can pick USPS. 

2. United Parcel Service (UPS)

Best for shipping large packages.

United Parcel Service (UPS) is best for shipping large packages. Items that are heavier than five pounds shall be shipped under UPS. They offer better deals for larger packages. However, they don’t provide flat-rates, unlike USPS. The standard delivery period for UPS is 1-5 business days. 

Some of the services UPS offers are their overnight, international, and ground shipping. Their UPS eFulfillment solution allows you to focus on your work while they fulfill your orders. What you can do is send your inventory to them, and they pick, pack, and ship everything to your customers. 

To make it even easier on your part. You can integrate UPS in your store. Simply use UPS Marketplace Shipping Solution to help you manage your shipment in various platforms. Lastly, UPS allows insurance of up to $100. 

3. Federal Express (FedEx)

Best for rush shipping. 

Federal Express or FedEx is a shipping service known for its fast delivery period. If you need  rush shipping, then pick FedEx. Their services include overnight shipping, cross-country same-day shipping, and regular delivery for domestic and international shipping. The standard delivery period for FedEx is 1-4 business days.

FedEx also offers flat rate shipping. As for the cost of shipment, FedEx is slightly cheaper than UPS. To ship using FedEx, you may pay a fee for the item to be picked up at your place, or you may drop it off a service location.  

FedEx packages also have insurance of up to $100. Similar to UPS, FedEx can be integrated into your e-commerce platform for speedy fulfillment. 

4. DHL

Best for international shipping.

DHL has delivered to more than 220 countries in the world, and they have an online quote generator to know the cost of shipping the package. You may pay online, with or without a DHL account, and schedule a pick-up.  

Due to the nature of the shipping condition, the standard delivery period is 3-8 business days. Insurance is highly advisable if you’ll be shipping to different parts of the world. Lastly, you can talk to their brokerage offices to ask for aid in custom-related queries. 

5. Stallion Express

Cheapest international shipping service from Canada.

If you need the cheapest international shipping from Canada, then Stallion Express is your answer. We closely work with APC Logistics and PostNL to bring you the fastest and trustworthy international shipping service to grow your market worldwide. We will offer you competitive rates based on the package size!

If you plan to ship internationally, you’ll only pay as low as $6.20 instead of $41.74! Check more of our cheapest pricing offers here. Plus, your packages will be shipped within 4-12 business days. You also have full tracking options to monitor your packages. Among our other services is their insurance package, where they offer you full coverage protection on your packages. 

You may integrate Stallion Express to your online store too, and help ship your packages to Amazon FBA. If you need a reliable, friendly, and cheap international shipping service, then Stallion Express is for you. 

Key Takeaways

Choosing a reliable and affordable international shipping service is an important part of the success of small businesses. The delivery of your products to the doorsteps of your customers is equivalent to taking care of them. Putting your trust in a shipping service to handle the delivery of packages is a privilege and a responsibility. 

We hope the factors and shipping services discussed above can help you pick which shipping service you’ll need. Keep in mind that you can use a combination of two or three shipping providers. Also, your customers should be aware of your shipping terms, so explain it to them or post more information online. 

Here at Stallion Express, we provide the cheapest international shipping service to sellers. If you need to know more about our service, you can call at +1 877-863-7447 or email [email protected].