Shipping Fulfillment

Companies wanting to spend more of their time on their core business often outsource shipping fulfillment. Whether you're a small eBay entrepreneur or a multi-million dollar business, you likely sell goods that need to be shipped to customers across town or around the world. If you don't know proper packing and shipping procedures, you risk damaging the merchandise and losing money. The challenges inherent in running an efficient shipping fulfillment operation make it an excellent candidate for outsourcing.

Test any box or package for strength by dropping it from 5-feet. If the item inside is still in one piece, it should fare well along its journey. Don't count on "FRAGILE" stickers or stamps to protect the package - it is your duty to ensure you provide safe shipping fulfillment of your parcel. If you use packing materials like peanuts, newspaper or bubble wrap, use it properly. Bubble wrap should be wrapped around the item with the bubbles facing in, toward the item. Peanuts and newspaper should fill all the gaps in the box. These are just some of the basics of shipping fulfillment.

Shipping fulfillment carriers should be chosen with care. Packages up to four pounds are well handled and least expensive when shipped via USPS (United States Postal Service.) FexEd and UPS are great carriers for heavier packages. One of the bonuses sending with USPS is their online service which allows you to print mailing labels, including postage and free delivery confirmation, from your home or office PC.

A benefit of fulfillment shipping with USPS is their many choices and prices of distribution. You can send books and other media via their very inexpensive Media Mail option. It takes longer but a package can usually make it from the Atlantic to the Pacific within 9 business days. They offer first class and parcel post shipping methods, both with their own advantages and disadvantages which must be evaluated for your shipping fulfillment. The Priority Mail option by USPS comes in three flat-rate sizes (same cost, regardless of weight) ranging from $4 to just over $8. Priority Mail usually takes up to 3 days to make it across the US. Express Mail is usually next day and is their premium (and most costly) option. USPS provides shipping fulfillment containers for Priority and Express Mail options free of charge.

These are just some of the myriad of complex decisions that must be made with regards to shipping fulfillment. In the end, the vendor you choose for your shipping fulfillment will affect your customer service, shipping and handling costs/profit, efficiency of your business, cash flow, inventory investment and more. That's why you need a good partner.

As you can see shipping fulfillment can be a real headache unless you have sophisticated systems with experienced managers making critical decisions on a timely basis. TRG can manage your shipping fulfillment needs for you, alleviating the need to devote your valuable time and resources to shipping fulfillment. TRG treats clients like partners, our success is your success.