What is standard shipping? Standard shipping is a cost-effective option for delivery of a small to large standard package that doesn’t include overnight or any other special requirements to deliver products quickly.
Usually, standard shipping is done via couriers with orders possibly needing a day to process. Standard shipments usually reach their destination within seven business days. Find out more about the standard shipping meaning here…
Why shipping is so important?
In the commercial marketplace shipping is the only means through which your goods can get from origin to final destination. The type of shipping you offer can make your products more attractive to existing or potential buyers. You’ll need to be fully informed about the shipping carrier you’ll be using, the date of shipment, and expected arrival date so that your customers are able to stay up-to-date.
What does standard shipping mean?
By using standard shipping, you can save money by getting quotes that suit your requirements precisely. Standard shipping is designed for small companies or individuals who send shipments that range in size and weight. It also allows shipping to many different destinations, including worldwide operations – see standard international shipping data below.
Standard shipping normally comes with a reasonable delivery time and a full tracking option to enable both the sender and the receiver to see when the package has been delivered in real-time. Three to five business days is the norm, but if the destination is remote it may take a little longer for the goods to arrive. Standard shipping is normally completed by road.
Standard shipping costs depend on the size and weight of your parcel, and the destination. By using an online quote calculator you’ll be able to compare costs from many shipping companies to get the best deals. It’s well worth considering courier services that pick up from your home or workplace, and drop-off options where you can leave your goods at a nominated store – both will have your goods safely delivered from one to five working days.
Differences between standard shipping and express shipping
Express shipping is also known as expedited shipping where deliveries are made overnight or the next day – usually by air couriers. In some cases, the delivery can be made on the same day so is perfect for urgent and fast delivery needs. Prices and rates can be a great deal higher as the average time taken for goods to leave the warehouse as one to three days – with standard shipping this time can be up to eight days.
Some advantages of express delivery within the commercial industry include:
- Clients receiving their orders much faster-improving customer satisfaction
- Products are guaranteed to arrive safely
- It can be done by any type of store reducing less inventory in storage
- This fast form of shipping has full tracking options
Differences between standard shipping and flat rate shipping
Flat rate shipping is the term used for the purpose of unifying your shipment. This basically means that you can choose the smallest parcel size that your item will fit into and if the weight doesn’t exceed the allowance you can send it as a flat rate. Other benefits of flat-rate shipping include:
- Fixed delivery time and fixed price determined by the carrier
- One price for all shipments
- Affordable when shipping to a particular local destination
- Ideal for businesses with identical shipments
- Time-saving as there’s no need to weigh and measure the parcel
Differences between standard shipping and standard international shipping
When it comes to international shipping the location plays an important part in the shipping costs and the transportation times. Standard international shipping companies work alongside reputable international couriers to provide a full range of services including international pick up and drop off options.
Using a single transport company to ship globally will provide you with everything you need to deal with the specific requirements within your marketplace. You’ll get help with sourcing effective supply chains, access to multimodal freight shipping, and handling of all relevant documentation.
Paperwork required for standard international shipping may comprise of:
- Proforma or commercial invoices detailing all appropriate costs
- A packing list to enable identification of packed items
- Certificates of origin specifying what country the goods originated from
- Shippers Letter of instruction containing all the information needed to successfully move your goods
- Bills of lading applicable to inland, ocean, or air
- Dangerous goods form if applicable
- Bank draft which includes details of transactions related to the transfer of funds
With standard shipping, a standard shipping note is a document you need to complete that gives details about the contents of a consignment. Carriers, receiving authorities, and forwarders will all be made aware of the subject matter.
By using this note you can complete the same standard document for any consignments no matter which depot they may be going to.
Based on your customers’ needs you’ll now be able to confidently offer different options for shipping that are required and make the right shipping approach choices.