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Picking the best shipping app for your eCommerce guide is essential. A buggy or hard-to-use app could turn customers off at the critical moment of purchase and cause delivery issues. Some apps don’t show the shipping rates until too far into the process when suddenly shoppers are surprised by a higher price than expected.
One of the top reasons for abandoned carts in 2018 was high shipping costs, with 63 percent leaving their shopping cart. Shoppers also stopped mid-purchase because of long shipping times (36 percent) and having to re-enter their shipping information (25 percent). Choosing the right app can help you avoid these problems and close more deals.
Order Custom Size Shipping Boxes to Fit Your Exact NeedsBefore you make the decision, here are a few things to consider:
- Shippo is the best app, followed by Easy Shipping.
- Consider your budget since some apps have monthly fees while others are pay as you go.
- Make sure your app allows international customers to make and receive purchases.
- Use custom size shipping boxes to get lower shipping rates.
Although Shippo is the best shipping app for Shopify for most eCommerce businesses, several others may better suit your company, depending on whether you’re a new start-up or a larger, more established business.
What to Look For in a Shipping App
Different eCommerce businesses have individual needs. Before you can choose the best shipping app for you, consider what types of products you ship, where you ship to, your budget for shipping and what couriers you prefer to work with.
Shipping Materials Ensure Your Goods Arrive Safely and IntactRegardless of which shipping app you choose to work with, using custom size shipping boxes can help decrease your shipping costs by ensuring your boxes aren’t bulky or larger than necessary.
If your products are fragile or perishable, find an app that specializes in these types of shipments. Although it’s possible to ship liquids and certain hazardous materials, the process is slightly more complicated and may cost more. You’ll need special shipping materials, which you should confirm the shipping app has access to.
You should also check that the app allows you to use your custom eCommerce packaging for advertising your company and helping you create a brand.
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Not all shipping apps are accessible outside the United States. If you have international customers, ensure the app you choose allows orders from other countries.
Some shipping apps offer free trials, others have a pay-as-you-go option and others have set monthly payments, which can become costly for the premium plan. If you’re a start-up, stick with an app with no fees or offers free cancellation, while more established businesses can invest in a premium service.
Many of these apps work with specific shipping companies. Some have more partners than others, while others focus on creating relationships with two or three companies. Look at each of the companies’ shipping costs and check that their partners deliver to all your customers.
Not all these apps work with the full selection of Shopify themes. Head to the definitive guide to Shopify themes to determine which one is best for your eCommerce business and then confirm your app of choice works with the theme.
Top App Choices
1. Shippo
The best shipping app for Shopify is Shippo. They work with multiple shipping companies, including UPS, USPS, FedEx and DHL. They boast discounted rates with several of these companies, including an impressive 89 percent discount with USPS, making your customers more likely to complete a purchase.
They also have a free sign-up option, which allows you to test out the app without committing to an expensive monthly or annual subscription fee. If you like the app, you can choose from two payment structures: Pay As You Go or Volume Based.
The Pay As You Go option is excellent for start-ups because it doesn’t include any monthly fees, and you won’t need to pay any cancellation fees.
The Volume Based option is better for businesses shipping lots of products and includes customer support and the option to negotiate your costs.
2. Easy Ship
Another option for both start-ups and more established companies is Easy Ship. This app has a fantastic free sign-up offer that allows you to access everything. However, you can only ship 100 packages per month for free. If you’re shipping more than that, you must sign up for one of their plans, ranging from the cheapest at $29 monthly for 500 shipments to the Enterprise plan, which has an undisclosed price.
Easy Ship also works with hundreds of shipping companies and has partners worldwide, so you’ll be able to connect with customers all over the globe.
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Get the Best Packaging for Your Product
Having protective, attractive packaging can help your brand stand out. At Air Sea Containers, we have a large variety of packaging to ensure your product stays safe during shipping. We are also proud to offer customized boxes, which means your customers will know immediately your product has arrived. Call us today at (866) 596-9448 to learn more about our shipping materials and packaging options.
