Monthly Archives: November 2017

Use These Tips To Master Great Shipping Habits!

If you are an online seller, it is pertinent that you establish an understanding on how to ship items efficiently in order to maintain your business. Practicing poor shipping habits can definitely hurt your business significantly. After reading this you will have established an understanding on how to keep your customers happy when it comes to shipping their products.

The first important factor to great shipping habits is shipping the items on time. Once you have received the customer’s order, please try to ship the items the same day, if possible. Generally when customers order an item they are eager to receive. Procrastinating on shipping the customer’s order will definitely irritate them which is not good. Shipping orders in a timely fashion is important in order to establish loyal repeat customers!

Free shipping is also important when it comes to attracting and maintaining customers. Free shipping allows the customer to feel as though they are getting a deal which attracts them to buy more items since there isn’t shipping cost. Free shipping can be provided through using promotional codes or it can be a policy in general for your business. Many sellers feel as though they are losing money from providing free shipping; however, in the long run it is actually more profitable since it attracts more customers.

It is also important to search what you are shipping. Research the shipping cost on the item you are selling before it actually sells. FedEx USPS and other websites have free shipping tool calculators that can help you calculate the shipping cost of your item. It is also important that you choose the correct shipping boxes for your items. Choosing the incorrect shipping box could cause it to lose money. When searching for shipping boxes be sure to choose a box that is the perfect size for your item.

Also essential factor to being a great shipper is being as transparent as possible with the customers. Some companies have shipping policies that are multiple pages long. This is not ideal for the customer; this actually deters customers from wanting to order anything from the company. Customers enjoy content that is easy to read and access. So when it comes to your shipping cost, return cost, and other shipping factors please be as clear as possible so that your customer will know the expectations for shipping.

Shipping insurance is also very important as a seller. You want to always protect yourself as a shipper. Sometimes items can become lost, damaged, or stolen when being shipped to a customer. Usually insurance is affordable for items and it is a great investment. With insurance if a package is lost or damaged it will be covered. Purchasing insurance will keep you and the customer happy and protected. It is best that the seller covers the package insurance, if your customers pay for shipping, insurance cost can also be factored into the shipping cost.

When it comes to shipping internationally please be as careful as possible. Shipping internationally is great because it allows your business to be diverse; however, it can also be problematic since shipping internationally open doors for a greater risk of fraud.

After reading this article, you should have a great understanding on practicing great shipping habits. Use these tips to develop a plan to become a better shipper!

How to Hire The Best Professional Movers

Certainly, moving to a new home is stressful. Most people would like a smooth move to their new home without any hassle. Consequently, they might decide to hire a professional moving company. Of course, taking the DIY route would take time and you require the right supplies to make the move. So, you think about the moving truck, cheap moving boxes, and other supplies required and start to shake your head. Perhaps, hiring a professional mover is the best for your back and your wallet. Here are tips on hiring the right professional movers.

Decisions
First, it is important to sit down with your family and discuss moving. Go over the pro’s and con’s associated with hiring a professional moving company. Is it within your budget? Could you handle the move for less? Are you moving long distance or short distance? Are there time constraints involved? Are some items to heavy to lift without professional movers help? This should help remove any apprehension over the move.

The Cost
The next step is determining the cost for your move to a new location. It is also important to remember that in order to get a true picture of the cost, the movers must come to your home and review the items involved with the move. This will give the movers or their representative enough information to estimate the cost of the move. Remember, it is only an estimate. Other factors might occur that raise the price.

Get The Best Deal
Of course, you would like to save as much money as possible on the move. Therefore, don’t settle for just one quote from one professional moving company. Try to get multiple quotes from professional movers in your location. The moving business is very competitive and some might offer you a really good deal to get your business. Don’t just settle for the best deal. Check out the company background and history before hiring the moving company.

Home Survey
You might contact a mover via email or over the telephone. Since the mover would like to reel you in quick and get your business, they give you a quote over the telephone or through email. Here is a warning. Don’t fall for this con. Any estimate that the company gives you in this manner is not a true or accurate estimate. Legitimate, professional movers will visit your home and survey the items in the move. This is the only way to give the customer a true estimate.

Warning Signs
A lot of con artist or rogue movers are looking for victims to cheat. Don’t become a victim. Watch out for movers that refuse to come to your home and give you an estimate. This is a definite red flag. Watch out for movers that low ball all the other quotes you’ve received. Remember, if the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is not worth the effort. This tactic is common among deceptive movers that raise the price later.

Research
Thanks to the Internet, it is easier than ever to research online and find out more about a moving company. Sources like the U.S. Department of Transportation, American Moving and Storage Organization, and the Better Business Bureau are good starting points to research a moving company.

More Tips
Ask your selected moving company if they carry moving insurance. In addition, don’t just settle for the estimate. Try haggling for a lower price. Don’t be afraid to question the company about the move too. For example, do you supply cheap moving boxes, moving supplies?

A Heavy Haul Guide For No Stress

The heavy haul is for the loads that are too immense to be handled by normal trucking equipment and interspersed with the typical traffic flow. Something like manufacturing equipment can often exceed the dimensions that are allowed according to state and national guidelines, and there will usually have to be some type of a large transporter fitted for the task. There are some tips that can make this type of transportation easier so that the trip goes smoothly, and the following advice details seven of them.

1. The Dimensions Are Important

All of the basic measurements are important when deciding on the options: height, length, width, and weight. A team hauling a load that has dimensions large enough to require a heavy haul permit will need these figures in order to determine exactly which permit is to be applied for. The carrier has to get this, and if the dimensions subsequently change then a revised permit will need to be received. This can change the cost, and the shipper will need to pay the differences.

2. Loading Technique

One should understand the type of load and how it will be placed. The fragility or odd dimensions of some things can make a significant difference. A crane or oversized forklift might be the best option, and whatever is used will have to be available at the destination as well.

3. Special Requirements

The type of the load may require considerations for things like taping, bracing, tie-down points, and flags. A fragile load may need to be strapped down appropriately in order to keep everything secure during transit.

4. Plan For The Future

The hirer needs to ensure that they have allotted weeks or even months in advance so that the carrier will have time to take care of all of the necessary considerations without undue haste.

5. Permits Are Carrier’s Responsibility

The shipping fee that is charged will almost always include the price of permits within, and so it will be the responsibility of the carrier company to handle the process of applying for and receiving this legal paperwork. This should be one of the questions asked when considering the options.

6. Ensure That The Carrier Is Reliable and Experienced

The easiest way to make certain that everything goes as planned in a heavy haul is to make sure that the carrier, online freight company, or broker has the necessary experience and reliability to make it so. References should be checked beforehand, and there need to be questions asked about the specifics so that everything is covered. Pictures and evidence can help to prove that the company has done this before and knows how to proceed. Online research is the best bet when it comes to getting some client feedback about a specific company, and it also helps to verify that their insurance is the proper type for the haul. This dialog will help to set minds at ease about the haul if the company is appropriate.

7. The Unexpected Sometimes Occurs

Things like unforeseen escort services and additional permits can often be needed during a haul, so there should be some type of allocation for the unexpected just in case.

A heavy haul can require a significant amount of different permits that vary at the state level, the county level, and even municipal level. All of this needs to be received as required. Support vehicles and things like unexpected construction zones might also be encountered. The weather may also end up being a concern. However, following the above tips can help a heavy haul with shipping boxes go accurately and smoothly.

The Ins and Outs of Fall Relocations

Relocating during the fall season doesn’t have to be hard. It doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg, either. If you want your fall relocation project to be hassle-free and inexpensive, there are numerous things you can do. Fall generally is a great moving time. People tend to move a lot during the summer months. That’s the reason summer moves are usually so costly. Summer moves can often be rather uncomfortable due to excessive heat as well. Winter moves generally are rather economical. They can introduce their own weather-related discomfort, however. That’s because winter moves are often full of issues such as snow and severely low temperatures. Fall relocations cost more than winter moves. They’re still a lot more economical than summer relocations, though. Fall weather typically is much more manageable as well. People who are serious about successful and smooth fall relocations should pay close attention to the following suggestions.

Clear all of your walkways. Clear walkways are vital for moves regardless of the specific season. It’s important to keep all of your pathways 100 percent clear at all times. Make sure that your walkways are devoid of clutter and debris. Make sure that they’re devoid of anything that can make people susceptible to potentially dangerous falls and slips. Fallen leaves can be a serious risk for people who are in the middle of the moving process. They can be particularly risky right after it rains. People frequently trip on leaves that are on the wet side, after all.

Smart packing practices are essential for people who want their fall relocation projects to go off without a hitch. Organization is key during the packing process. Don’t put items inside of boxes without having a clear and in-depth plan. If you lack a plan, you’ll set yourself up for many headaches at a later time. It can be confusing and overwhelming to go through boxes that are seemingly full of things that make no sense and that are not arranged in an orderly and systematic fashion. Smart packing practices can help minimize the number of boxes you have to get in the first place as well. Your objective should be to get cheap moving boxes. It should also be to get as few of them as possible. Relying on too many boxes can get stressful rapidly. You should strive to place similar objects inside of the same exact boxes. You should also strive to label everything appropriately and in a clear and straightforward way.

It’s also critical to think about all transportation factors during your fall relocation. People frequently move when the month is about to come to an end. Moving rates, as a result, are usually a lot higher around that time. If you want your fall move to be as economical as possible, you should steer clear of that timeframe if at all possible.

Ample planning and care is vital for people who want their fall moves to go well. Lack of planning can lead to confusion and headaches galore. It’s essential to organize all of your utilities prior to relocating. It can be frustrating and unpleasant to live in a home that lacks heating, air conditioning, water and electricity even only for a short period of time.