8 Useful Tips to Find the Cheapest International Shipping

Congrats, you've made a sale! And, whoa, the order came from an international customer. It is like you've hit the jackpot when a customer from another country patronizes your products. It just means they acknowledged how awesome your product is. But don't rejoice yet because they expect the product to be delivered to their home, which is located thousands of miles away. Now is the start of the hunt for the cheapest international shipping.

Wait. Is there such a thing as cheapest international shipping? Delivering packages abroad has never been cheap, but shipping fees can be reduced, here's how:

1. Search for couriers that offer flat-rate shipping

If you want to save yourself the hassle of calculating mailing costs and determining each package's weight dimension, choose flat-rate shipping because of its more straightforward approach. You don't have to make adjustments as it doesn't depend on the item's size, shape, or weight. Moreover, it is cheaper than shipping based on weight. Your customers will also be grateful to you since they know how much they will spend on shipping costs without any surprise at the checkout page. Remember that shoppers don't like any surprises when they are ordering. Be as transparent as possible.

2. Purchase inventory in bulk

Similar to when a customer is ordering online, the more you buy, the higher the discount. You know that since you've been doing a lot of promotions to advertise your products. This is why it is essential to ask the courier or shipping company first if they allow shipping items in bulk at a reasonable discounted price.

3. Reuse shipping supplies

You need to be shipping-savvy if you want to get the cheapest international shipping. One of the ways to do this is repurposing the boxes and shipping materials you have received. However, make sure that they could pass the packaging requirements for international shipping. For example, don't forget to rip off the old shipping labels before placing your own. 

4. Use environment-friendly packaging

Since we are on the topic of recycling your old shipping supplies, why not be an all-out Earth warrior by utilizing eco-friendly packaging? Contrary to what others believe, nature-friendly packaging is more affordable than traditional packaging. Examples of eco-friendly packaging are biodegradable packing peanuts, corrugated bubble wrap, cornstarch packaging, mushroom packaging, seaweed packaging, and organic fabrics. You will not only help reduce carbon footprint but also show customers that you are environmentally conscious.

5. Maximize your packaging

You've already recycled your old packaging. Now, incorporate eco-friendly packaging in your shipping materials. What you need to do is to reduce the size of the box and shipping weight to avoid additional charges from your courier in case you don't opt for flat-rate shipping. The boxes must fit your products but can still keep the item securely. If you don't fancy environmentally friendly packaging, you may also consider your chosen courier's standard size packaging so you can save time and money sourcing custom box sizes.

6. Ship a bit slowly but surely

Customers hate slow deliveries, right? Not exactly. What they hate is the delay in shipment or orders that they have never seen in the flesh. You are good as long as you provide them with accurate and realistic shipping information when their delivery will arrive. No hidden fees. No shipping delays. No surprises. They also want to be presented with various delivery options like air international shipping, ground shipping (for local deliveries), and sea shipping. 

7. Door to port international shipping

If you are conscious about delivery times, find a courier that offers  door to port international shipping. It is a shipping type where the freight forwarder picks up your package from your door (or office) and delivers it to the seaport at the destination. 

8. Get shipping insurance

Avoid unexpected and unwanted costs due to lost, stolen, and damaged goods by investing in cargo insurance. However, keep in mind that while couriers offer services that can protect your packages, it is only in the form of declared value coverage and not shipping insurance. Declared value coverage or liability insurance sets only a specific amount on how much it can cover many exclusions. But with shipping insurance, you will get a complete and comprehensive level of protection that provides you with greater peace of mind.

Wrapping up

If you are still having a hard time reducing your shipping cost, don't hesitate to get help from experts who have vast experience and knowledge in getting the cheapest international shipping. When it comes to meeting your customers' expectations, you should not gamble with the order fulfillment part of your business. Yes, you can still try the tips above, but it would be better to develop a reliable international shipping strategy based on an expert's opinion. 

Look no further because we offer the most reliable and cheapest international shipping in the market at Stallion Express. We also provide full tracking options and returns service. For inquiries, you can call +1 877-863-7447 or email [email protected]. 

Tom Davison