When having to ship items to customers, you want them to arrive safe and in a timely manner. As a result, you need to put a lot of time and effort into the courier you choose as they have a lot to do with achieving these goals. Below are 5 factors to consider when choosing a courier.
1. Reputation
When it comes to the courier service that you choose you want one with a reputation of being quick, caring, and focused on customer service. Because you may not have any contact with your customer after the initial sale, they will attribute your business to the experience they have with the courier.
To ensure the courier you are considering has a good reputation, do some research. Ask family, friends, and fellow business owners who they turn to for shipping needs. You can trust these people to give you a recommendation you can trust. Also read online reviews from people who have used the courier in question. People tend to be brutally honest with these so you can trust what they have to say.
2. Cost
When you offer shipping for your items, one of two things will occur. You will either offer the option to customers to choose what type of shipping they want or you will offer free shipping and you will be expected to foot the bill. In the first instance you want shipping to be reasonable or customers will not follow through with purchases. In the second instance, you want shipping to be cheaper because you will be paying for it for all purchases.
When searching for a courier, try to find a happy medium when it comes to prices. A cheaper courier may mean hidden fees and inexperience that will lead to a poor customer experience. A price too high will interfere with your ability to do business and you will be overpaying for a service you could get somewhere else for cheaper.
3. Methods offered
Like most businesses, you probably make a lot of sales online. Because these customers making purchases are from all over the world, you need to be able to ship to anywhere.
To be able to get your items to customers, ensure your courier is able to make domestic and international deliveries. Make sure the courier’s services match the ones that you offer customers. For example, if you offer next-day delivery, confirm the courier can do this. Otherwise, customers will be paying for shipping methods that in reality are not available, leaving them frustrated, disappointed, and unlikely to give you their business in the future.
4. Insurance
Most times, items sent via courier arrive safely. However, things can go wrong and if they do, you want to be able to reassure your customer on the receiving end that the situation will be remedied as soon as possible.
The courier that you choose should offer insurance coverage. Most larger couriers will have an insurance policy, they only usually cover up to a certain amount. Therefore, you need to find one with an option that allows you to purchase additional coverage that matches the value of the item being sent. Failing to do so will leave you having to replace the damaged item and your reputation will take a hit as well.
5. Tracking
As the sender, you want a method to see where your shipment is in transit to ensure it is moving and know when it is delivered. As the buyer, you want the peace of mind to know when it is shipped, where it is, and when it can be expected.
Your courier should be able to provide tracking for all of your shipments. By offering shipment your customers will have the reassurance that their item is en route and you can act quickly if the shipment is held up or lost.