These days, you’d be hard-pressed to find something that can’t be purchased online. With a few simple clicks, virtually anything your heart desires can be paid for and on its way. However, this isn’t to say that online retailers are flawless. While being able to purchase a seemingly endless assortment of items on the web is undeniably convenient, some businesses leave a lot to be desired when it comes to shipping. Businesses interested in improving their shipping practices and increasing customer satisfaction should put the following pointers to good use.
Failure to Protect Precious Cargo
If your business specializes in large and/or delicate merchandise, it behooves you to prioritize safety when putting together packages. To ensure that items don’t become damaged or broken while in transit, make sure to include the proper amount of insulation and cushioning in your shipping containers. Furthermore, if you deal in large machinery or machine components that should experience minimal jostling and friction, consider equipping your shipping containers with dependable vibration sensors.
Failure to Use the Right Shipping Labels
If the contents of a package are delicate, the package’s shipping label should reflect this fact. When prepping fragile items for shipment, make sure to obtain the proper labels from your preferred shipping company. Packages that are labeled “fragile” or “delicate” receive special treatment during their journeys and are typically kept away from packages that can withstand a fair amount of wear and tear. Needless to say, if a package arrives at its destination damaged as a result of being improperly labeled, you can expect to be contacted by a justifiably disgruntled customer.
Failure to Use the Right Shipping Companies
Businesses that specialize in delicate merchandise should acquaint themselves with shipping companies that specialize in transporting delicate cargo. When shopping around for the right shipping company, limit your choices to companies that offer special transport and packing options for the type of merchandise you wish to ship. Relying on a company that’s unable to provide your packages with the care they require is practically guaranteed to result in damaged merchandise.
Failure to Ship Packages on Time
When shipments don’t arrive by the agreed-upon date, the blame sometimes lies with shipping companies. More often than not, however, this is the result of businesses failing to ship items in a timely manner. No matter how good your prices are, developing a reputation for late shipments will draw the ire of customers and earn you unfavorable reviews online. To prevent your business from being plagued by late shipments, make a point of sending out orders immediately after payments are processed. Online shopping is the way of the future. In light of how easy and convenient doing one’s shopping on the web has become, there’s little wonder as to why so many consumers prefer cyberspace to brick-and-mortar. Of course, this isn’t to say that online retailers don’t have their issues – particularly when it comes to shipping. Negligence in this area is practically guaranteed to result in damaged merchandise and disgruntled patrons. Fortunately, the tips discussed above can help your business nip shipping problems in the bud.
