Ecommerce shipping is an ever-evolving and ever-expanding part of the online business. There’s always much to learn but not enough time to sift through every nugget of information. Everywhere you will see advice, tips, and lists on what to do and what not to do. While this can be helpful, it sure is overwhelming. 

That is why we have curated a definitive list of Dos and Don’ts to help you better navigate the world of eCommerce shipping. 

Why is eCommerce Shipping So Important?

To answer that question, first ask yourself, what’s the most important thing for a successful eCommerce business? Customer Satisfaction of course. Happy customers are repeat customers. And to ensure you deliver a smooth experience to your customers, your shipping services should be top-notch. 

Shipping is the last link that will directly connect your brand with your customers and represent it.  A positive experience will reflect positively but a negative one will have consequences on brand reputation, trust, customer retention, sales, and such. 

All this to say, the importance of eCommerce shipping cannot be overstated. You will have, not only, immediate but long-term benefits by properly investing your time and resources in eCommerce shipping. 

However, before you take any actions, it’s better to know beforehand what to do and what not to do, and that will help you strategize.

The most handy list of dos and don’ts for eCommerce shipping

List of DOs for eCommerce Shipping

•  Keep shipping rates as low as possible

One sure way to drive off customers is by charging high shipping rates. To compete against big retail giants such as Amazon and like, keeping your standard delivery rates as low as possible is a must. Thanks to them, customers have come to expect free shipping on their orders. 

While you will face monetary losses for individual orders, you have to think of the big picture. Never lose the forest for the trees. 

However, you do not have to offer free shipping on every order. That is like running straight into a financial crisis if you do not have enough budget. Offer free shipping during promotions, festivals, or above certain maximum orders, and such. Give it as an incentive. 

To help you ship your orders at an affordable cost and keep a healthy margin, you can check our services. Parceldeck has the lowest rates in the industry for eCommerce shipping. 

•  Invest in Packaging

It is not just an essential but an integral part of eCommerce shipping: doing your packaging right. It will save you a ton of money on damaged products. And besides, hardly any customer will appreciate shabby packaging. You need to be extra careful on delicate and expensive items. To know more about packaging, read our blog on,  Common packaging mistakes made by eCommerce Businesses

When it comes to investing in anything, you should be extra careful, right? That is to say, be aware of where and how your money goes when it comes to packaging. For example, using large boxes for small items is a big no-no. 

On other hand, it does not always have to be about practicality. 

Yes, that box does not have to only carry the orders but can be a great marketing tool. It is your chance to represent your brand through clever and unforgettable design, logo, or tagline. 

•  Automate to cut down costs and work

Let’s be real, eCommerce shipping involves m any repetitive, mundane tasks, whether it is managing orders, keeping track of them, or simply writing shipping labels. All of those can be easily automated and in turn can save your and your employees valuable time, which could be applied to more productive and strategic work. 

Indeed, as the demand grows and your company expands, automation is the only solution to keep up and scale up. 

•  Provide shipment tracking

There should be no uncertainty and anxiety in customers’ minds regarding their orders. They should know exactly where their order is, and when to expect it. For that, provide order tracking services to your customers. 

Now that we know what we must do, let’s look at the list of what not to do. 

List of DON’Ts for eCommerce Shipping

•  Don’t overpromise and underperform

While it is natural to offer promises of discount rates, free shipping, and expedited delivery to entice more customers, it is all a waste if you cannot actually deliver on those. 

You might attract customers, but you can hardly retain them without putting your money where your mouth is. Therefore, be realistic with your goals and be smart with your decisions. Transparency with your customers will take you a long way. A loyal customer base is always better than a large but short-lived surge in sales. 

•  Don’t neglect your customer service

We might sound like a broken record but customer satisfaction is where it is at. And customer service is the bridge that will connect their voices directly to you. Ignoring their grievances, complaints, and even negative reviews will slowly but surely impact trust in your brand and ruin its reputation.

If your customers have no way of reaching out regarding their orders thanks to bad customer service, that is a big loss for your business in the long run.  

•  Don’t wing your eCommerce shipping

Not being prepared and not anticipating demands will have you losing out on big opportunities and growth. Also, not having a proper strategy will greatly reduce your chances of scaling up. 

Proper planning and research will go a long way. It will help you know your areas of growth and what mistakes to avoid. Not every customer is looking for free delivery, they will rather have it sooner and pay extra. You can only know this and act on it when you have a solid strategy in place. 

•   Don’t charge for return orders

Returns should be processed smoothly and quickly without being charged anything. It should be simple and convenient.

To Sum Up

Yes, eCommerce shipping can be hard but it does not have to be overwhelming. By doing the right things and avoiding the wrong ones, you can simplify the whole process a great deal. Here at Parceldeck, we always aim to make shipping as convenient and economical as possible.