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 they can always negotiate the prices. If you regularly ship packages in large volumes, you can ask carriers to lower the rates. For example, a good time to ask your partner carrier for some concession is Christmas. As the demand for Christmas gifts increases, negotiating a better deal with them is reasonable.

Don’t think you can’t negotiate for lower prices if you ship a small volume of packages. Remember that shipping carriers do not want to waste space regardless of whether they’re transporting cargo by land, sea, or air. 

Gather data that you can use to present to your partner courier. They may even give you a grace period for you to meet the desired goals. That way, you can reap the benefits of low shipping costs and scale your business to gain more customers. 

Also, when you’re negotiating 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 negotiate shipping prices is to build a relationship with your shipping partner. 

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

Aside from the package volume, you can negotiate other things with your partner carrier. Some of the factors that affect the shipping cost include fuel surcharges, minimum package charges, and accessory charges. 

You can negotiate with your shipping partner about these additional fees, but be sure to do your research first. Compare the rates of each shipping carrier. Then, ask your carrier for a better deal 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 the ocean freight. On the other hand, if you are shipping high-value and consumable goods, pick air freight. Take note, however, that air freight is more costly than ocean freight. 

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. 

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. 

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!