International Shipping Rate Solutions...

[PrestinMyles]

Hi Folks,

I am running into the exorbitant international shipping rates for folks all over the world. I am wondering if there are third-party solutions or helpful ways to reduce the shipping cost for small items (2kg or less) worldwide? Also, why are similar products with the same weights showing different shipping quotes!?

None of this has made any sense to me... why is international shipping so expensive on Shopify!? Should I get a business account with DHL or UPS? If this would help, can I link it to my Shopify?

So many questions unanswered after 3 years of trying to get an answer from Shopify... any insights would be appreciated. Thank you!

[UjjawalS]

hi @PrestinMyles let me help you with the concerns around international shipping. The varying shipping quotes for similar products can be attributed to the different carriers, destination country, type of products you are selling, type of shipping service you are using, etc. Since you are checking the shipping cost of the products with similar weights, the reason can be attributed to the dimensions of the shipment. Even if the weight is the same, the product's dimensions can trigger dimensional weight/volumetric weight and influence shipping costs.

Regarding negotiating shipping rates with the carriers, I would recommend checking with the carrier directly. Carriers like UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc. have launched various programs catering to SMBs where they offer shipping discounts ranging from 75-80%. If you're shipping a significant volume, consider negotiating directly with carriers like DHL or UPS. 

Another thing that I would recommend is to reduce the size of your packaging to minimize shipping costs. Consider using lightweight materials and avoiding excessive void fill. You can also offer Free or Discounted Shipping. While this might seem counterintuitive, offering free or discounted shipping can attract more customers and increase sales, potentially offsetting the shipping costs.

Lastly, yes, you can link your DHL or UPS business account to Shopify. This allows you to access their discounted rates directly within your Shopify store. You can also utilize shipping apps like our Multi-Carrier Shipping Label app for Shopify. it helps you to connect your carrier account to Shopify and offer negotiated rates at the checkout. Feel free to check out the application as it comes with a 14-day free trial, and supports carriers like UPS, DHL, FedEx, etc.