Thursday, December 30, 2010

2011 USPS Rate Change Information

blog_pact-act_usps-logoDon’t forget – the US Post Office will be raising rates for the following mail classes effective January 2, 2011:

  • Express Mail®
  • Priority Mail®
  • Parcel Select®
  • Express Mail International®
  • Priority Mail International
  • Global Express Guaranteed®

On average, rates will increase by 3.9% for retail prices (3.2% for Stamps.com/Commercial Base customers).  Rates for First Class Mail®, Media Mail, and Parcel Post® will not be changed.

As a reminder, FedEx and UPS will be increasing prices for their ground services on January 3, 2011 by an average of 4.9%.

Small business owners should note the following USPS price changes starting Sunday, January 2, 2011:

Express Mail – 2011 Shipping Rates

Domestic Flat Rate Products

Retail

Commercial Base

Commercial Plus

Regular or Legal Flat Rate Envelope

$18.30

$17.40

$12.72

Priority Mail – 2011 Shipping Rates

Domestic Flat Rate Products

Retail

Commercial Base

Commercial Plus

Regular, Legal, or Padded Flat Rate Envelope

$4.95

$4.75

$4.70

Small Flat Rate Box

$5.20

$5.00

$4.95

Medium Flat Rate Box

$10.95

$10.50

$9.97

Large Flat Rate Box

$14.95

$14.20

$13.67

Large Flat Rate Box (APO/FPO)

$12.95

$12.20

$11.67

If you are a Stamps.com customer, your shipping rates will will automatically be updated by Stamps.com.  This includes shipping labels printed with Stamps.com prior to Januay 2nd but marked with a ship date of January 2nd or later.  All Stamps.com customers have access to Commercial Base Pricing (or Commercial Plus Pricing depending on volume).

Click here for more information on the 2011 USPS rate change.

Bookmark and Share

We hope this information is helpful.

Sincerely,
Jason Archambault

www.fastpack.net
www.FastPackOutlet.com

Posted via email from Shipping Headlines & Tips by Fastpack.net

Thursday, December 16, 2010

New LOWER, UNBEATABLE Prices on Poly Courier Mailers - ALL SIZES!

We have just SLASHED pricing our Poly Courier Mailers! When we say SLASHED, we mean it! We dare you to find a lower price on CASE quantities, and if you do, we will do our best to beat it!

http://www.fastpack.net/Shopping.idc?ProductCategory=17

 

Sincerely,

Jason Archambault

www.fastpack.net

www.FastPackOutlet.com

Posted via email from Shipping Headlines & Tips by Fastpack.net

New size Kraft Self Seal Bubble Mailers / Envelopes 4"x5" #MINI by Fastpack Packaging Inc.

We are pleased to announce a new size kraft self seal bubble mailer / envelope, it is 4"x5" interior dimensions. It is considered a #MINI. If you think you might be able to use this small, (maybe the smallest bubble mailer / envelope available ever), send us an email we would love to send you a free sample.

Why use a #MINI you might be asking yourself? Less envelope equals less weight, you can ship a smaller envelope at a lower cost. Shipping costs are reduced. Also, if you have a few coins, baseball sports card, small jewerly etc, you really do not need the larger envelope, this helps save paper and trees. Also, of course savings on the cost of the envelope!

 

Sincerely,

Jason Archambault

www.fastpack.net

www.FastPackOutlet.com

Posted via email from Shipping Headlines & Tips by Fastpack.net

Friday, December 10, 2010

Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day in Danger of being "Popped" in 2011

You heard right! Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day (BWAD) 2011 is in Danger of being popped!

First let's answer a few questions. Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day? Huh? Yes, there is such a day! See more about that here: http://www.fast-pack.com/bubblewrapappreciation.html

Ok, back to the popping part. Every year on the 4th Monday of January people from all over the world celebrate BWAD, including us here at FastPack. Every BWAD we have a HUGE Bubble Wrap® Sale in which we offer FREE SHIPPING on rolls of Bubble Wrap®. Clear Bubble Wrap®, Purple Bubble Wrap®, Green Bubble Wrap®, Blue Bubble Wrap® and the original Clear Bubble Wrap®.

As anyone in shipping knows, every year, like clockwork the major small package shipping companies announce increases. The upcoming 2011 shipping increases have already been announced by FedEx, UPS, and the USPS. Year after year shipping costs have increased, and our Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day sale still continued. This year it has become impossible to absorb the full shipping costs due to the increase set to hit all small package shippers the first week of January. So our Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day sale has been "POPPED", almost.....

We will no longer be able to offer FREE SHIPPING on rolls of Bubble Wrap on that very special day, as in years past. HOWEVER, the SALE MUST GO ON! January 24, 2011, the upcoming BWAD, we will offer highly discounted shipping, 50% off of shipping or higher at the very least, but we are working to make sure that the big day goes on!

For more details see:
http://www.fastpack.net/Shopping.idc?ProductCategory=414
http://www.fast-pack.com/bubblewrapappreciation.html

Sincerely,
Jason Archambault
President/CEO
Fastpack Packaging Inc.

www.fastpack.net

Posted via email from Shipping Headlines & Tips by Fastpack.net

Tracking Freight Shipments - Freight Carrier Tracking Links

Below is a comprehensive list of carrier websites to track your cargo shipments.

FREIGHT CARRIER TRACKING LINKS

A. Duie Pyle
AAA Cooper
ABE Cargo Express
ABF Freight System
ABX Logistics
ACI
ACL
Aeronet
AES Logistics
Airnet Express
AIT Worldwide
Alianca
All-In Logistics
AMI
Amstan
Amtrak Express Parcels
ANC
ANL
APL
APX
Aramex
ASF
Atlanticargo
Australian air Express
Averitt Express
Balaji Shipping
Benton Express
Bridgehead
BTX Air Express
Business Post
Bullet Freight
CAI
California Overnight
Canpar
Capital Lease
Cavalier Logistics
CCS Express
Central Freight Lines
Central Transport
CGL
Chronopost International
City Link
Comair
Concordia International
CON-WAY
COSCO
Countrywide Express
Crossflight
Daily Express International
Dayton Freight
Dawes Transport
Day & Ross
Delbros
DFDS Transport
DHL Fashion Nordic

OCEAN CARRIER TRACKING LINKS

thin shipping insurance spacer

AIR FREIGHT TRACKING LINKS

ABSA Aerolinhas Brasileiras M3 549
Adria Airways JP 165
Aegean Airlines A3 390
Aer Lingus Cargo EI 053
Aero-Charter DW 187 (use format: 187-88888888)
Aeroflot SU 507 (more tracking)
Aerosvit VV 870 (more tracking)
Aeromexico Cargo AM 139 (more tracking)
Aeromexpress Cargo QO 976
AeroUnion 6R 873
Africa West FK 858
Air Algerie AH 124
Air ALM LM 119
Air Armenia QN 907
Air Astana KC 465
Air Baltic BT 657
AirBridge Cargo RU 580 (changed from VI 412)
Air Canada AC 014
Air China CA 999 (more tracking
Air Europa Cargo UX 996
Air France AF 057 (more tracking) (from USA: Air France tracking)
Air Greenland GL 631
Air Hong Kong LD 288
Air India AI 098
Air Jamaica JM 201 (more tracking)
Air Macau NX 675
Air Madagascar MD 258
Air Malawi QM 167
Air Malta KM 643
Air Mauritius MK 239
Air Moldova 9U 572
Air New Zealand NZ 086 (more tracking)
Air Niugini PX 656
Air Seychelles HM 061
Air Tahiti Nui TN 244 (flight tracking only)
Alaska Airlines AS 027 (more tracking)
Alitalia AZ 055 (more tracking more tracking )
Allied Air 4W 574 (more tracking )
American Airlines AA 001
Amerijet International M6 810
ANA All Nippon Cargo NH 205 (more tracking)
Arrow Air JW 404
Asiana Airlines OZ 988
Atlantic Southeast Airlines EV 862
Atlas Air 5Y 369
Astral Aviation 8V 485
ATS Arctic Transportation Services ?? ???
Austrian Cargo OS 257
(multiple AWB tracking) (alternate site)
Avient SMJ 757
Azerbaijan Airlines J2 771
Biman Bangladesh BG 997
British Airways BA 125
British Midland Airways BD 236
Brussels Airlines SN 082
Bulgaria Air FB 623
Buraq Air Transport UZ 928 (Arabic only) (more tracking)
CAL Cargo Air Lines 5C 700
Cameroon Airlines UY 604
Canadian Airlines Int´l CP 018
CargoItalia 002 2G (alternate)
Cargolux Airlines CV 172
Cargolux Italia C8 356
Caribbean Airlines BW 106
Cathay Pacific Airways CX 160
Cayman Airways KX 378
Centurion Air Cargo WE 307
China Airlines CI 297
China Cargo Airlines CK 112
China Eastern Airlines MU 781
China Southern Airlines CZ 784
Cielos Airlines A2 529
Comair OH 886
Continental Airlines CO 005 Condor Flugdienst 881 DE
Copa Airlines Cargo CM 230
Coyne Airways 7C 575
Croatia Airlines OU 831
Cyprus Airways CY 048
Czech Airlines OK 064 (more tracking)
Delta Air Lines DL 006 (more tracking)
DHL Aviation/DHL Airways ER 423
DHL Aviation / European Air Transport QY 615
Dragonair KA 043
Egyptair MS 077
EL AL LY 114
Emery Worldwide EB
Emirates EK 176 (more tracking)
Estonian Air OV 960
Ethiopian Airlines ET 071
ETIHAD Airways EY 607
EuroAtlantic Airways MM
Eva Airways BR 695
Far Eastern Air Transport EF 265
Fedex FX 023 (more tracking )
Finnair AY 105
Florida West International Airways RF 330
Garuda Indonesia GA 126
Global Aviation and Services 5S 301 (more tracking)
Grandstar Cargo GD 800
Great Wall Airlines IJ 989
Gulf Air GF 072 (more tracking)
Hainan Airlines HU 880
Hong Kong Airlines N8 851
Iberia IB 075
Icelandair FI 108 (more tracking)
Indian Airlines IC 058
Insel Air Cargo 7I 958
Iran Air IR 096
Jade Cargo International JI 189
Japan Air System JD 234
Japan Airlines JL 131
JAT Airways JU 115
Jet Airways 9W 589
Jetairfly TB 754
Jet Club 0J 254
Jubba Airways 6J
Kalitta Air K4 272
KD Avia KD 093
Kenya Airways KQ 706
Kingfisher Airlines IT 090
KLM Cargo KL 074 (more tracking)
KLM Cargo for US-Customers
Korean Air KE 180 (more tracking)
Kuwait Airways KU 229
LACSA Airlines of Costa Rica LR 133
LAN Chile LA 045
LAN Chile – track multiple airwaybills
Lauda Air NG 231
LIAT Airlines LI 140
Libyan Airlines LN 148 (unfinished) (more tracking )
LOT Polish Airlines LO 080
LTU (Leisure Cargo) LT 266
Lufthansa Cargo AG LH 020
Malaysian Airline System MH 232
Malaysian Airline (more tracking)
Malaysian Airline Homepage (click Shipment Tracking)
MALEV Hungarian Airlines MA 182
Mandarin Airlines AE 803
Mario’s Air M2 552
Martinair Cargo MP 129
MASAir MY 865
Middle East Airlines ME 076
MNG Airlines MB 716
National Air Cargo N8 416 (multiple AWB tracking)
Nippon Cargo Airlines KZ 933
Northern Air Cargo NC 345
Northwest Airlines NW 012 (alternate site)
(more tracking)
Olympic Airways OA 050
Pakistan Int´l Airlines PK 214
Philippine Airlines PR 079
Polar Air Cargo PO 403
Pronto Airways ?? ???
Qantas Airways QF 081
Qatar Airways QR 157
Royal Airlines R0 ???
Royal Air Maroc AT 147
Royal Brunei Airlines BI 672
Royal Jordanian RJ 512
SAC South American Airways S6 817
SAS-Scandinavian Airlines System SK 117
SATA Air Acores SP 737
Saudi Arabian Airlines SV 065 (more tracking)
Shandong Airlines SC 324 (Chinese)
Shanghai Airlines FM 774 (more tracking)
Shanghai Airlines Cargo F4 825
Shenzhen Airlines ZH 479 (Chinese)
Siberia Airlines 421 S7
Sichuan Airlines 3U 876
Singapore Airlines SQ 618
Sky West Airlines OO 302
South African Airways SA 083
Southwest Airlines WN 526
South Winds Cargo D4 883
SriLankan Cargo UL 603
Starlight Airlines QP 321
SunExpress XQ 564 (more tracking)
Swiss LX 724
Syrian Arab Airlines RB 070
TAAG-Angola Airlines DT 118
TAB Cargo B1 901
TACA TA 202
TAM Brazilian Airlines JJ 957
Tampa Airlines QT 729
TAP Air Portugal 047 TP
Thai Airways TG 217 (more tracking)
Thomson Airways BY 754
TNT Airways 3V 163
Trans Mediterranean Airways TL 270
Turkish Airlines TK 235
Ukraine Int´l Airlines PS 566
Uni Airways B7 525
United Airlines Cargo UA 016
UPS Air Cargo 5X 406
USAirways US 037
VARIG Brazilian Airlines RG 042/183 (more tracking)
Vietnam Airlines VN 738
Vensecar Internacional V4 946
Virgin Atlantic VS 932
Xiamen Airlines MF 731
Yangtze River Express Airlines Y8 871
Yemenia Yemen Airways IY 635

Related Posts

This a a great list of many Shipping firms, and a direct link to the tracking sections of their website that we came across.

Sincerely,
Jason Archambault
www.fastpack.net
www.FastPackOutlet.com

Posted via email from Shipping Headlines & Tips by Fastpack.net

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Recycled Bubble Wrap Just added to Inventory!

* 50% Pre-Consumer Recycled Content
* Economic & environmentally sensible
*Consistent Sealed Air® Barrier Bubble® technology for optimum performance
*Addresses carbon footprint and raw material preservation
*No additional color additives or dyes have been added
*Tint will vary by region, based on available recycled resin color composition mixture, may be clear, gray or any other color. If color matters, please email or call us to confirm the current color.
*Meets all requirements of commercial item description CID-A-A549

It is available here:

http://www.fastpack.net/Shopping.idc?ProductCategory=2

Posted via email from Shipping Headlines & Tips by Fastpack.net

Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Unishippers

Estes
Estes will be closed or have limited operations on the following days:

  • Thursday, November 25, 2010 - Closed
  • Friday, November 26, 2010 - Closed
  • Thursday, December 23, 2010 - Limited Service
  • Friday, December 24, 2010 - Closed
  • Friday, December 31, 2010 - Closed

R+L Carriers
R+L Carriers will be closed on the following days:

  • Thursday, November 25, 2010 - Closed
  • Friday, November 26, 2010 - Closed
  • Friday, December 24, 2010 - Closed
  • Friday, December 31, 2010 - Closed

Saia®
Saia will be closed on the following days:

  • Thursday, November 25, 2010 - Closed
  • Friday, November 26, 2010 - Closed
  • Friday, December 24, 2010 - Closed
  • Monday, December 27, 2010 - Closed
  • Friday, December 31, 2010 - Closed

YRC
YRC will be closed on the following days:

  • Thursday, November 25, 2010 - Closed
  • Friday, November 26, 2010 - Closed
  • Friday, December 24, 2010 - Closed
  • Monday, December 27, 2010 - Closed
  • Friday, December 31, 2010 - Closed

For our customers that ship via LTL Carrier, we wanted to pass along this information on LTL Closures this holiday season.

Sincerely,
Jason Archambault
www.fastpack.net
www.FastPackOutlet.com

Posted via email from Shipping Headlines & Tips by Fastpack.net

FREE SHIPPING on 20 Packs of Bubble Wrap to end December 31, 2010

We are sorry to announce that FREE SHIPPING on 20 Packs of Bubble Wrap will end December 31, 2010. Due to the cost of shipping going up on all shipping services we will be unable to continue Free Shipping on the 20 roll packs of Bubble Wrap. We hope to be able to offer some kind of special shipping price, but not FREE Shipping. Please make note of this, and if you require this item, purchase BEFORE December 31st 2010 to receive Free Shipping!

 

http://www.fastpack.net/Bubble-Wrap/20_Rolls_230x12_Small_Bubbles_Bubble_Wrap_FREE_SHIPPING_Blue_Red_Purple_Green_or_Clear

 

Posted via email from Shipping Headlines & Tips by Fastpack.net

Monday, November 29, 2010

Sensor test reveals which shipping company has gentlest touch - Ecommerce - BizReport

BizReport : Ecommerce : November 24, 2010


Sensor test reveals which shipping company has gentlest touch

Ever wondered if the shipping company you use has kid gloves or butter fingers? A recent test, using sensor technology to measure the ups and downs of a package's passage, gives a little insight into some U.S. carriers.

by Helen Leggatt

By equipping a package with a sensor that measures the temperature, flips and drops along its journey, Popular Mechanics set out to determine which U.S. shipping company handled their cargo with care.

Their targets - FexEx, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service - were all unaware of the test which took place across a select number of routes and using variables such as packages marked "Fragile" and overnight versus day shipping.

The findings are interesting, although not strictly statistically viable as only a handful of trips were analyzed.

The U.S. Postal Service was found to have the gentlest touch with an average of just 0.5 hefty drops per trip compared to an average of 3 and 2 per trip for FedEx and UPS respectively.

However, the U.S. Postal Service was also the most active handler with an average of 12.5 position changes per trip compared with 7 for FedEx and 4 for UPS.

All three carriers did a good job at maintaining a stable temperature, but FedEx got the top rating, with an average change of only 26.01 degrees, compared with 26.8 degrees for UPS and almost 32 degrees for the USPS.

It seems that labeling a package "Fragile" or with instructions on which way up it should be kept does little to help smooth its journey. In fact, Popular Mechanics found such packages were handled more roughly than those with no marked instructions.

If you've ever wondered what happens to your packages once they leave your hands, check out Popular Mechanics' infographic.

Tags: delivery, e-commerce

Comments (1)

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Good information to know when you ship fragile items.

Sincerely,
Jason Archambault
www.fastpack.net
www.FastPackOutlet.com

Posted via email from Shipping Headlines & Tips by Fastpack.net

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Stamps.com Blog » 2010 USPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines

shipping_deadlines_2010

The USPS recently announced their package shipping deadlines to ensure delivery by December 25th.  If you are planning to use the USPS to send any mail or packages this Holiday season, be sure to mail by these deadlines.

Holiday Mailing Deadlines within the U.S.
Letters
& Cards
Priority
Mail®
Express
Mail®
Parcel
Post®
Anywhere in
the U.S.
Dec 20 Dec 21 Dec 22 Dec 15
Holiday Mailing Deadlines for International Mail
Addresses to
countries in…
Letters
& Cards
Priority
Mail®
Express
Mail®
Global Express
Guaranteed®
Canada Dec 10 Dec 13 Dec 17 Dec 21
Asia &
Pacific Rim,
Australia &
New Zealand
Dec 10 Dec 10 Dec 16 Dec 17
Mexico Dec 10 Dec 10 Dec 16 Dec 21
Europe &
Carribean
Dec 10 Dec 13 Dec 16 Dec 20
Middle East Dec 10 Dec 13 Dec 16 Dec 17
Africa Dec 3 Dec 3 Dec 11 Dec 17
Central & South
America
Dec 3 Dec 3 Dec 11 Dec 20
Holiday Mailing Deadlines for Military APO/FPO Addresses
Addresses to the
following APO/FPO zips:
Letters & Cards Priority Mail® Express Mail®
AE ZIPs 090-092,
AE ZIPs 094-098,
AA ZIP 340,
AP ZIPs 962-966
Dec 10 Dec 10 Dec 18

Tips for ecommerce merchants

Be sure to post holiday shipping deadlines on your website to let your customers know their package will get there on time.  A message reading “Order by Dec. __ in order to receive your order by Dec. 25th” should be highly visible from most pages on your site, especially the homepage.  Another common practice is for merchants to give free or discounted expedited shipping as the deadlines pass for economy delivery classes.

Bookmark and Share

Remember these dates!
Sincerely,
Jason Archambault
www.fastpack.net
www.FastPackOutlet.com

Posted via email from Shipping Headlines & Tips by Fastpack.net

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

FedEx, UPS, & USPS Thanksgiving Holiday Closures

Just a reminder to our customers of the Thanksgiving Holiday closures by FedEx, United Parcel Service, and the United States Postal Service.:

USPS:

  • Thanksgiving Day – November 25, 2010

UPS:

  • Thanksgiving Day – November 25, 2010
  • Day after Thanksgiving – November 26, 2010

FedEx:  

  • Thanksgiving Day – November 25, 2010

FastPack will also be closed on (the website will still process orders, but they will not ship until the following Mionday):

  • Thanksgiving Day – November 25, 2010
  • Day after Thanksgiving – November 26, 2010

Be sure to get your packages mailed out before the Holiday closure happens.

 

Happy Thanksgiving,

Jason Archambault

Fastpack Packaging inc.

www.FastPack.net

www.FastPackOutlet.com

 

Posted via email from Shipping Headlines & Tips by Fastpack.net

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Stamps.com Blog » 10 Tips for Holiday Shipping for Small Business

holiday_shippingTo help you prepare for the busy holiday season, here are our ten best holiday shipping tips for ecommerce merchants.  Feel free to leave your own tips in the comments section at the end of the article!

Tip #1 – Ship your products as fast as you can

When a customer orders any product, anticipation for delivery can be high and patience for delays can be low.  To keep your customers happy, be sure to send your products out as fast as you can but be mindful of daily cutoff times for carriers.  If a USPS collection box is picked up at 5 PM, it makes no difference if the package is dropped off at 11 AM or 4:59PM; either way, the USPS won’t start moving that package until 5:00 PM.  If you ship with multiple carriers, make sure you know the daily cutoff times for each carrier to help you prioritize which packages to prepare first.

Tip #2 – Pre-pack your orders if possible

To help prepare for the holiday rush, try and get as much done as possible during the calm before the storm.  One of the best things you can do to prepare is pre-packing orders and marking their weight on the outside of the box.  By making sure everything is ready to go out the door as soon as you throw in a packing slip and slap on a shipping label, you will be ready for orders that come in at the last minute.

Tip #3 – Stock up on supplies before it’s too late

The last thing you want to be dealing with during a busy holiday season is having a sale and the inventory, but nothing to package your order in.  One way to avoid this problem is by ordering enough free USPS supplies today to get you through the holiday season.

Tip #4 – Use the right size box

When planning for your holiday shipping, make sure you have your products in mind.  Obviously, it’s impossible to ship an item in a box that is too small, but small products in a big boxes can be a problem as well.  With FedEx and UPS, you may be overcharged based on the package’s dimensions instead of its weight; for USPS, using the wrong Flat Rate box can more than double the amount you spend in shipping.

Tip #5 – Find the cheapest shipping rate

Another cost-pitfall to avoid is using the wrong delivery method to send your package.  Because there are so many factors that can affect your price (weight, size, dimensions, home delivery, distance, delivery speed, and more), it’s important to do your homework to see what the cheapest option is for each of your products.  Make sure you compare rates using tools like Stamps.com or your carrier’s websites to  get this figured out now so you are ready to focus on generating revenue during the peak of the season.

Tip #6 – Check the delivery address

Sending packages quickly and on the cheap is moot if the package doesn’t end up in the hands of the proper recipient.  To help make sure the address is valid, be sure to use some type of an address cleansing tool like Stamps.com or the USPS zip code lookup tool.  If the address doesn’t cleanse, your best bet is to ask the customer to confirm their address.  Once you have a valid address, make sure you present the address clearly on one side of the package, ideally using a printed shipping label.

Tip #7 – Protect your product

If any of your products are fragile or are in any way at risk of being damaged during transit, be sure to take extra care to properly package these products.  For vases, mugs, or glass cups, make sure you stuff the inside of the item with newspaper or box fill and use bubble wrap or packing paper to protect the product.  For items containing batteries, be sure to remove the batteries if possible to prevent them from dying in transit and to prevent any ticking or beeping that may cause a stir at the Post Office.

Tip #8 – Protect yourself on big packages

If the thought of a lost package or a damaged item has you stressed, there are tools you can use to help you sleep at night.  Signature confirmation, which is available from the USPS, FedEx, and UPS can be used to prove not only that your package was dropped off at a particular destination, but that it was actually received by someone.  The USPS even offers Restricted Delivery which requires the addressed recipient to sign for the package.  Another option is insurance which will allow you to recoup your losses in the event of a mishap.

But be advised as each tool has its drawbacks.   Many honest customers don’t like signature confirmation because if they aren’t home to take possession of the package, they have to go to the Post Office; this will likely be the last thing they want to do on December 24th.  As for insurance, while this can protect you from improper delivery or a problematic customer, it comes at a premium.  Many merchants prefer to self-insure if they can afford the loss rather than letting an insurance company eat into their profits.

Tip #9 – Skip the trip to the Post Office

The USPS will come and pick up your packages from you.  Take advantage of this service to avoid long lines.  For last-minute orders that need to get out same-day, you may  be able to extend your cutoff times by taking a Post Office trip to drop off your package, but for the rest of your shipments that aren’t under a tight deadline, pickup is the way to go.

Tip #10 – Free Shipping

With the majority of merchants offering some type of shipping promotion this holiday season, can you afford to make your customers pay for something they feel they can get for free somewhere else?  Aside from keeping up with your competition, free shipping promos may actually help you improve revenue.  On top of that, if you offer free shipping on December 17th, you can be a featured merchant on freeshippingday.com.

Bonus Tip – Encourage Repeat Business

Inserting flyers, coupons, and freebies into your packages are a great way to drive future sales.  During the holidays, this is particularly important because many orders are gifts so the recipient may not be the person who placed the order.  If they love your product, why not let them know where they can buy it for someone else

If you have any other shipping tips that we may have missed, please leave a comment and let us know!

Bookmark and Share

Don't forget to have enough Shipping Supplies on hand!

Sincerely,
Jason Archambault!
www.fastpack.net

Posted via email from Shipping Headlines & Tips by Fastpack.net

Sunday, November 14, 2010

50% & higher off Shipping Supplies in our Outlet Store

Be sure to visit our new Outlet Store, over 90% of the products are 50% or more off !!!!
www.FastPackOutlet.com

Posted via email from Shipping Headlines & Tips by Fastpack.net

Thursday, November 11, 2010

UPS vs FedEx vs USPS: Holiday Shipping Made Easy - Viewpoints

Holiday ShippingYou know that you are going to have to make at least one shipment this holiday season, and those shipping costs can add up fast! The alphabet soup of carriers can get confusing: U.P.S vs. U.S.P.S. Which is faster or most affordable? The important letters to remember are: O.P.T.I.O.N.S, and we’ve created this simple post to help you know what those are. By comparing the United States Postal Service (USPS), FedEx, and the United Parcel Service (UPS), we’ve found that you can save $28 just by choosing the right carrier. Check out all of the the recommendations below for easy holiday shipping.

Same Day Delivery

 Choose: UPS or FedEx

Why: Both offer same day delivery options. USPS does not offer this service. Same day delivery could cost hundreds of dollars. Pricing is customized for each same day delivery request so there is no real “ballpark” figure when considering same day delivery. If you desperately need something delivered by today, contact either UPS or FedEx to speak to a customer service representative.

Overnight Delivery

 Choose: USPS

Why: It’s cheaper. For typical holiday shipments like small packages and letters, USPS does the job with the least damage to your wallet. You can calculate overnight shipping costs online for all three shipping providers. Below you can see a sample price comparison for an overnight holiday gift shipment. We saved around $28, $27.83 to be exact, in this sample shipment by choosing USPS over UPS. (These calculations are based on shipping a 5 pound package from Pittsburgh, PA to San Diego, CA.) 

Price Comparison

 



Two-Day or More Delivery

 Choose: USPS or FedEx

Why: Again, either of these options is probably cheaper than UPS. If you do not need to deliver your package urgently it’s smart to calculate the price of your shipment online. USPS is still likely to be cheaper than other options but it’s worth it to check online before choosing which service to use.

USPS Rate Calculator: http://postcalc.usps.gov/
FedEx Rate Calculator: http://fedex.com/ratefinder/home
UPS Rate Calculator: https://wwwapps.ups.com/ctc/request?loc=en_US&WT.svl=PNRO_L1

International & Military Shipments

It’s important to remember that international and military shipments take longer than domestic shipments. Mail can be delayed during the holiday season so if you are planning to make a shipment to a loved one overseas you need to act early. Use the holiday shipping calendar posted by USPS to find shipment cut-off dates for international and military shipping. Even if you do not use USPS for your shipment, the deadline chart is a great resource to ensure that your package gets there in time. 

Convenience

Choose: USPS

Why: You can do all of your holiday shipping without ever having to leave your house! They offer an online shipment process in which you plan your shipment, order shipping supplies, and print postage at home. Once your package is ready to be shipped you arrange for an at-home pickup. FedEx also offers an at-home pickup service but the USPS online process is more user-friendly.

Sources: http://www.usps.com/holiday/shippingcalendar.htm, http://www.ups.com/, http://www.fedex.com/us/holiday/index.html,

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Do you have holiday shipping tips? Leave a comment below, or write your own review of FedEx, USPS, or another shipping service.

Great tips for shipping holiday packages!

Sincerely,
Jason Archambault
Fastpack Packaging Inc.
www.fastpack.net

Posted via email from Shipping Headlines & Tips by Fastpack.net