Whether you're just starting your business or have been running one for quite some time now, you know why excellent customer service is a must.
After all, without knowing how to please the people who buy your products, you can't grow your business. Remember that satisfied customers eventually become loyal customers if you create a pattern of exceptionally good service, and they're the ones who'll keep referring your business to their friends.
Now, part of customer service is making sure you're avoiding shipping mistakes. Here, we'll discuss some common mistakes in shipping, how these affect your business and customers, and what to do about them.
1. Incorrect Packaging
Not using the right boxes for your products or skimping on cushioning for heavier or fragile items may cause your goods to be damaged while en route to your customers. Of course, this doubles the cost of shipping since you'll have to replace these damaged items.
Now, if you're not familiar with the different options for packaging items, you can consult a professional. These experts can also help you with branded packaging, which can help your products stand out from the competition.
2. Wrong Delivery Addresses
Spending some time to double-check addresses, carrier codes, and freight info is always time well-spent. Especially for cross-border deliveries, you wouldn't want to reship products to get them to their rightful owners.
Think about how much time and money that would cost you, not to mention how dissatisfied your customers would be if they don't get their orders in time.
3. Not Offering Different Shipping Options
Free shipping is good, but don't forget that some of your customers may not mind paying for shipping as long as they get their parcels on time or even earlier.
You also have to consider those customers who would willingly spend on extra features such as package security, guaranteed delivery, and so on. Bottom line, make sure to give your customers options when it comes to receiving their orders.
4. Relying on One Carrier
It's not just your customers who need shipping options. You should also consider partnering with different carriers for practical reasons.
For one thing, if one of your shipping partners experiences operational problems, you don't have to worry about your products not being delivered. This arrangement also allows you to check and choose rates that are better for your business.
Plus, some carriers might not offer some services you need. For example, if you require a moving container delivery but your current shipping partner doesn't offer it, you'll have to look for companies that can provide it.
5. Ignoring Other Shipping Mistakes
Aside from the ones already mentioned, other shipping mistakes you need to avoid include not tracking your packages, not automating the shipping process, and so on. The good news is you can always do further research on this topic. You can also consult a logistics expert to help streamline your shipping processes.
Want More Shipping Tips and Advice?
Now that you have some idea about which shipping mistakes to avoid, are you ready to optimize your shipping processes?
For more tips and advice on shipping your products, feel free to check out our other posts. We publish a wide variety of articles on logistics, storage, transportation, delivery, and shipping mistakes to avoid making.
