If you’re the owner of a small, local business that’s growing slowly but surely, the last thing you need to have is trouble with shipping and delivery. Shipping Companies rarely disappoint, but if you streamline your shipping, all may be more than well. Shipping is the last service you can give your customer before they receive your goods. If they feel they’ve paid too much for delivery, they won’t repeat buy.
It’s worth taking time to compare rates for delivery and shipping. Remember, you don’t have to be sending vast amounts of product in order to negotiate a discount. It’s always worth a try. Shipping Companies want your business (small or large) and are often only too ready to oblige with a price adjustment for your trade. You should also think about having your packages picked up, so as to save time from schlepping them to the Post office. As a small business, try to avoid adding “Handling costs” which (to the customer) often just looks like a way of heaving up the price.
Another way of delivering product if you’re running a small business is to try something called “Drop Shipping”. This can help a small business which suddenly gets a large order. The idea is that, instead of sending the shipment to the retail store, the shop keeper can arrange for the merchandise to be shipped straight to the customer. Lots of sellers on eBay use this method because they profit from the difference between the winning bid and the wholesale price. Ebay allows sellers to list items that are not actually in their possession on the understanding that they follow eBay’s pre-sale item policy. It certainly appears to make running a small business a lot easier and profits a lot greater!