A smooth shipping process not only helps streamline your operations as an e-commerce seller, but also ensures your products reach your customers without undue delays. Moreover, you can focus your efforts on growing your business instead of dealing with customer complaints and questions around package delivery status or postage due at the time of delivery.
What can you do to ensure a seamless shipping experience from the time your package leaves your hands and reaches your customer? Follow these five easy USPS shipping guidelines!
Pay Attention To Your Package
Guideline #1 – Round up on Weights: Did you know that the USPS rounds up package weights to the nearest ounce or pound depending on the mail class used? To avoid underpaying for postage or even worse having your customer pay postage at the time of delivery, always round up your package weight. As an example, if your package weighs 10 lbs. and 5 oz., you should use the shipping rate for an 11 lb. package.
Guideline #2 – Check the Dimensions: Your package size can make a difference in how much you pay shipping! Dimensional (DIM) weight may apply to a USPS package that is larger than 1 cubic foot (12″ x 12″ x 12″). Pay attention to the dimensions of your package and avoid unnecessary empty space to lower shipping costs.
Does Your Shipping Label Match Your Package?
Guideline #3 – Verify the Mail Class: What mail class should you use to ship your package? This depends on the weight of your package, how soon you need it to be at its destination and also how much you want to pay for shipping. Remember, each mail class allows packages up to a certain weight limit only.
Guideline #4 – Double check the Shipping Zone: USPS Shipping Zones are calculated based on the distance between the origin and destination addresses. Stamps.com customers should verify that the origin zip code (the zip code for where you ship your packages from) is set up correctly.
Guideline #5 – Match the Label to the Packaging: Your shipping label should match your package! For example, based on the package weight, size and shipping zone of your package, if you have decided to use a Flat Rate Priority Mail Box for your package, make sure to choose the corresponding mail class while printing your label. Also, your Flat Rate label must only be used on a Flat Rate box.
USPS Shipping Made Easy With Stamps.com
When you ship with Stamps.com, you don’t need to worry about underpaying for postage. Use your Stamps.com digital scale to accurately weigh your package and the software will automatically use the rounded up weight and charge you the appropriate shipping rate. Next, enter the package dimensions so Stamps.com can determine whether or not DIM weight applies to your package. Select the correct package type or enter the dimensions of your package. Also, make sure to set up your origin zip code correctly. When you enter the destination address, Stamps.com automatically calculates the correct shipping zone for your package. Finally, choose your mail class and Stamps.com will print the appropriate USPS shipping label for your package.
