Online business owners understand that making sales requires significant effort. The numerous online suppliers operating in today's market create an extremely challenging atmosphere for competing against them to boost sales. However, your delivery period stands as a unique element that can position your business differently in the market. For this reason, your shipping procedure requires you to make an essential decision about which delivery service you will utilize. Such an approach allows you to deliver improved customer satisfaction while securing market advantages.
In the past, in order to ship heavy or bulky items, you must visit a shipping store and wait in queues to receive shipping labels. But now, online shipping has started dominating the market and making shipping processes accessible to everyone. This article reveals the process of handling shipments online without leaving your home. Also, Learn about different shipping options that provide affordable rates. Continue reading for more information.
How to Buy Postage Online
Many shipping companies provide services for mailing packages to their customers. Of all the prominent shipping companies, USPS and UPS, together with FedEx, stand as the best recognized ones. All shipping companies provide their online delivery services which allow users to easily send their parcels at affordable prices.
Utilizing the online delivery service requires completing particular steps. The primary task involves buying postage through an online service to generate a shipping label. After creating the shipping label you should attach it to your shipping box before bringing it to the nearest post office or shipping center.
Follow these steps to handle an online shipment:
- Create an Account
- Enter Shipping Details
- Select Suitable Shipping Service
- Choose Extra Shipping Features
- Make a Payment
- Attach the Label and Ship the Package
Below are the details of each step.
- Create an Account
Create an account through the website of the chosen carrier before starting your shipment process. You should visit the official USPS website to create your account since USPS is your preferred carrier.
- Enter Shipping Details
After account registration on the carrier's website, move to the information entry stage. Users need to provide both locations and their corresponding zip codes during the registration process.
You will need to provide details about your shipment, which includes your selected shipping service, weight and shipping date during this stage. Ensure the shipping label date matches when you send out your package.
- Select a Shipping Service
To proceed, select a shipping service which you will use to send your parcel. The shipping service needs to suit your specific delivery needs. First Class Shipping serves as the optimal shipping option for delivering lightweight items together with envelopes.
- Choose Extra Shipping Features
Users can select extra shipping features that allow users to get notifications when their parcel leaves the facility and an option to store packages for collection.
- Make a Payment
Press the print receipt button to complete payment for your shipping label, after which you can proceed. You have the option to select the hide postage feature in the shipping label process to keep postage rates hidden from package recipients.
- Attach the Label and Ship the Package
After making your label, you can print it to place on your shipping package. The shipping center requires you to visit on the day your label specifies for parcel drop-off. For customers who choose the Pick-Up service, their package will be collected directly from their residence or workplace.
Types of Shipping Services
The choice of shipping service depends on what your shipment needs. The shipping carriers present different service options with varying rates and delivery schedules to customers. Several shipping options exist with specific features explained below.
- Priority Shipping
Priority shipping services offer consumers the fastest way to ship packages through their reliable delivery network. The choice of a priority service lets you get packages delivered within a short duration of one to three days. The price of your shipment will be higher than Economy shipping services when you choose priority service.
- Flat Rate Shipping
Flat Rate shipping provides customers with the opportunity to ship their items at fixed rates despite package dimensions. The shipping cost depends on the dimensions of your package box instead of item measurements and weight. A Flat Rate shipping service provides cost-effective package delivery, which makes it your perfect choice when looking to move your products at low costs.
- Standard Shipping
Consider Standard shipping services whenever the speed of delivery doesn't matter to you. Your package needs approximately seven days to travel to its end destination. Standard and economical shipping from USPS will cost customers less than priority shipping services even though it delivers slower than priority shipping services.
Conclusion
Several online delivery services exist that you can select to handle your package deliveries. These services deliver both national and international package shipments. You can achieve trouble-free parcel delivery through a selection of suitable shipping options combined with package tracking.
The use of a shipping calculator should be your first step before service selection to discover reliable delivery times. These guidelines provide valuable assistance for selecting appropriate shipping services regardless of running an online business or shipping personal orders.