Here are some tips to help you with your
Internet auction shipments.
1. Ship Small, Lightweight Products
The heavier and bulkier the product, the more it will cost
to ship. Pick light items in preference to heavier items. Of course, downloadable e-books
are the lightest product of all. On the other hand, if your customers want your heavy and
bulky items badly enough, they should be willing to pay for the extra shipping charges.
2. Ship Nonphysical Products
Having to ship physical products means more work. You need
to pack and label your products, calculate shipping charges, and arrange for the orders to
be shipped. Again, electronic downloads eliminate the hassles of physical shipping.
However, tangible goods seem to have a higher perceived value. That being the case, you
won't want to eliminate physical products entirely as they can be real profit makers for
you.
3. Drop Shipping
Another way to avoid some of the hassles of product
fulfillment is drop shipping. There are suppliers who will ship one item at a time for
you. You don't have to stock any inventory. You simply pay your drop-ship supplier out of
the money you receive from your auction sale. They will ship the product directly to your
customer.
4. Recycle
If you receive bubble wrap, styrofoam peanuts, bubble bags,
or appropriate cardboard boxes, you may be able to reuse them for your shipments.
5. Bulk Buying
If you do a lot of auctions, buy your packaging supplies in
bulk to receive better pricing.
6. Free Shipping Supplies
Your post office or courier company may supply free
shipping cartons for certain shipments.
7. Use Online Automated Tools
You can determine shipping charges from PayPal, the postal
service and courier companies by visiting their websites and using the online automated
shipping calculation tools. In many cases, you can even create prepaid shipping labels and
then arrange for pickup or drop-off of your shipments.
8. Avoid Fragile Items
Obviously, fragile items need to be packed with more care
than unbreakable items. Pick durable items in preference to delicate items to reduce
damage claims.
9. Insure Valuable Shipments
If you can't afford the loss of a lost, stolen, or damaged
product, be sure to insure your shipment. While you're at it, request a delivery
confirmation, preferably with signature required.
10. Prepare Foreign Shipments Properly
Be sure to prepare the proper Customs Declaration for
international shipments. Keep in mind that there are items you can't legally ship. Even
your packing material should be considered. As an example, items shipped in a box labeled
"liquor" or "munitions" might be delayed at Customs. |
