The difference between flat-rate and standard shipping This makes can flat-rate shipping a highly useful shipping method for online sellers who are looking to optimize their shipping strategy. The purpose of flat-rate shipping is to offer businesses a way of standardizing their shipping costs, controlling for the large variations that can occur due to DIM weight, shipping distance, and seasonal peaks. This means that merchants can ship a variety of different items to different locations for the same price, so long as it fits the shipping box and maximum weight prescribed. Some shipping carriers will also charge a flat rate regardless of the end destination. Flat-rate shipping is also generally exempt from peak season surcharges, making it an affordable option during the holiday season. What is flat-rate shipping?įlat-rate shipping is a method where the cost of e-commerce shipping is determined by the size of the box or envelope, rather than by the dimensional (DIM) weight of the item(s) being shipped. In this post, we’re going to weigh up the pros and cons of flat-rate shipping, how it works, and the different flat-rate shipping services available to your business. So, when is it cheaper for merchants to use flat-rate shipping – and when is it not? While it can save you money, flat-rate shipping methods can also be too standardized to cater to the unique needs of every merchant. But this doesn’t mean that flat-rate shipping is a one-size-fits-all solution for every e-commerce business. This is why it’s essential to have an optimized shipping strategy that provides the right cost savings in the right places.įlat-rate shipping is a popular shipping method for merchants who are looking to simplify their shipping strategy and their fulfillment process. The higher your shipping costs are, the slimmer your profit margins will be. Shipping is one of the biggest fulfillment costs that you’re going to shoulder as an e-commerce business. Written by Beth Owens on November 3rd, 2021 Simply fill out a short webform and we’ll put you in touch with top postage meter suppliers.E-commerce Omnichannel Retail Technology Transportation Your business will benefit from lower costs of metered postage as opposed to buying online or in branch.Įxpert Market can help you compare postage meter quotes. Postage meters help you to weigh and calculate postage costs for all your packages without having to buy stamps from the Post Office. If that’s the case, renting or leasing a postage meter is the way to go. But if you want complete control over how your mail looks, you may prefer to ship using your own packaging, rather than the USPS-branded boxes and envelopes. If your mail matches the required dimensions for USPS’s Flat Rate Priority Mail service, great. Bear in mind that boxes and envelopes ship within two to eight days of ordering.
USPS FLAT RATE ENVELOPE FREE
This means, if you so choose, you can order free packaging from USPS, then use it to ship your mail with a completely different delivery service. However, the actual Flat Rate boxes and envelopes are free. The costs above apply to shipping with USPS. To put that in perspective, here are some things that weigh about 70 lb: There’s a weight limit of 70lb for all packages shipped via USPS Flat Rate. (Be aware that Post Office pricing is the same as purchasing online): Packaging USPS Flat Rate Envelope Shipping PricesĬurrent USPS Flat Rate Priority Mail envelope prices are: PackagingĬurrent USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate box prices are as follows. If you’re not familiar with costs for USPS Flat Rate postage and packaging, read on. The service simplifies calculating the costs of mailing your clients and customers, and saves you time and money by reducing the administrative burden of sending your business mail. USPS Flat Rate is one of the best value postage shipping solutions.