Shipping is the backbone of your eCommerce store. It’s the make-or-break factor for customer satisfaction, conversion rates, and managing fulfillment costs. If you’re a Shopify merchant, you need to decide: either stick with Shopify Shipping or go with your own negotiated rates. We’re here to break it down for you without fluff and just facts.
What is Shopify Shipping?
Shopify Shipping is a built-in shipping solution offered by Shopify. It provides a straightforward way for merchants to manage shipping and fulfillment.
Key Features of Shopify Shipping
- Integration with Shopify: Seamlessly integrates with the Shopify platform, offering a cohesive user experience.
- Discounted Rates: Access to discounted shipping rates from major carriers like USPS, UPS, and DHL.
- Label Printing: Allows for easy printing of shipping labels directly from the Shopify admin.
- Order Tracking and Insurance: Provides tracking information and insurance to customers without needing additional apps.
Strengths of Shopify Shipping
- Ease of Use: Shopify Shipping is designed for simplicity, making it easy for merchants to set up and manage shipping without technical expertise.
- Cost-Effective: Included with all Shopify plans, providing a no-additional-cost solution for shipping management.
- End-to-End Solution: Manages everything from label printing to order tracking and insurance.
- Bulk Order Fulfillment: Supports bulk order processing, which benefits high-volume merchants.
Weaknesses of Shopify Shipping
- Limited Carrier Options: Supports only 12 carriers including USPS, UPS, DHL, and Canada Post.
- Geographical Restrictions: Available only in a handful of countries including US, Canada, UK, and Australia.
- Lack of Advanced Features: Missing capabilities like LTL (Less Than Truckload) shipping and precise dimensional weight calculations.
- Limited Customization: Limited ability to customize shipping options and rates based on specific business needs.
Using Your Own Negotiated Rates
Integrating your own negotiated rates into the checkout offers greater flexibility and control over shipping and fulfillment.
Key Features of Using Own Rates
- Custom Rates: Merchants can negotiate directly with carriers to get the best possible rates.
- Advanced Shipping Rules: Allows for complex shipping rules based on a combination of product dimensions, weight, and destination.
- Carrier Flexibility: Access to a wider range of carriers, including regional and specialized shipping services.
- Rate Shopping: Compare rates from multiple carriers to offer the lowest options to customers.
Strengths of Using Own Rates
- Platform Agnostic: You don’t need to be tied to a specific eCommerce platform if it’s not working for your business.
- Cost Savings: Potential for significant savings by negotiating rates directly with carriers and building a long-lasting relationship.
- Customization: Greater control over shipping options and pricing, allowing for tailored shipping strategies that meet specific business needs.
- Scalability: Better suited for businesses with unique shipping requirements, such as oversized or heavy items.
Weaknesses of Using Own Rates
- Extended Assistance: Requires more effort to set up and manage compared to the out-of-the-box solution offered by Shopify Shipping.
- Additional Costs: This may involve additional costs for third-party apps or extra services.
- Carrier Relationship Management: You must manage relationships and accounts with multiple carriers, which can be time-consuming.
Elevate Your Shopify Shipping Strategy with ShipperHQ
Not to brag, but did you know that ShipperHQ was the first Shopify Plus Certified app for shipping? Needless to say, our tools work well with Shopify and Shopify Plus to help online merchants reach their full potential through shipping excellence.
For Shopify merchants looking to leverage their own rates, we offer no-code comprehensive solutions that enable you to deliver on customer expectations.
