The cheapest way to ship large items
Sometimes, you have no choice but to ship an oversized item – be it a futon, a life-sized Chewbacca statue, or a Chewbacca-themed futon.
While these items may prove difficult to ship and thus demand higher fees than smaller postage, there are still ways to save. In this article, we'll discuss a few measures you can take when shipping large items to ensure that you're getting the most affordable solution.
Choosing the right packaging size
Essentially, the fee you pay for shipping an item will depend on its freight classification, which itself depends partially upon the dimensions of your packaging. The larger the dimensions, the less dense your freight and the more space you'll take up per cargo unit. You'll receive a higher freight classification by taking up more cargo space and typically pay higher fees.
With that in mind, it's easy to see how using compact packaging helps to reduce costs. Try to choose boxes that fit the item without adding too much extra space.
Additionally, you could focus on making your packages more secure. By packing something without care, you put it at risk of damage, which comes with its own set of costs. Find the best type of packaging for your product type here.
Compare Carriers
When searching for carriers to ship your items, you'll find thousands of options online. Carrier comparison is helpful as a regular shipper because it allows you to compare rates among many service providers.
Consider using a comparison shipping software like Freight Club to determine which option offers the cheapest and most convenient service for your shipping requirements.
Use Multiple Carriers
Some carriers may have better access to certain regions than others or offer more affordable services for a given item. Because of these potential advantages of one carrier over another under certain circumstances, it's worth looking into using multiple carriers for your shipping needs.
Growing your network of carriers will give you more flexibility with shipping services and rates, depending on what you need to ship.
Preventing Shipping Losses
Preventing avoidable losses is another consideration for saving the most on shipping.
For those who ship often, damages are inevitable no matter how carefully you pack items. However, the average shipper only receives 25% of the damage value when filing damage claims.
To increase the payout, make sure to compile as much documentation of the damage as possible – the time the damage was identified, the area of damage on the product, etc. Doing this will help support your case when filing for claims.
Even more effective is seeking the expertise of a logistics professional to dispute a claim on your behalf. This is where Freight Club's claims team can help you retrieve up to 95% of the damage value in question.
Save when you can
While large-item shipping in general demands higher fees, you can still make efforts to minimize your overall costs. By taking care of packaging, comparing quotes, using multiple carriers, and preventing shipping losses, you'll have enough left over to buy another Chewbacca statue.