How do you determine the best shipping rates?

Payments + Shipping & Fulfilment

Topic summary

Seller planning to ship large-format art pieces (under 20 lbs; box ~55" x 50" x 4") faces very high UPS quotes (~$409) plus packaging costs, making free-shipping competitors seem unviable. Seeks ways to achieve affordable rates and remain competitive.

Key strategies suggested:

  • Negotiate discounted rates with major carriers (UPS, FedEx) based on anticipated shipping volumes; “negotiated rates” are volume-based discounts.
  • Consider specialist carriers focused on large/heavy items that may price oversized parcels more favorably.
  • If in the USA or Canada, explore Shopify Shipping’s negotiated rates.
  • Look for postage resellers that offer discounted UPS rates.
  • Evaluate more affordable shipping options available locally.

On free shipping, some sellers absorb part or all of the cost, often only for orders above a certain value.

No definitive resolution yet. Suggested next steps: contact carriers to discuss discounts, compare specialist and reseller options, review Shopify Shipping if applicable, and decide on a sustainable free-shipping threshold or cost-sharing approach.

Summarized with AI on December 30. AI used: gpt-5.
2

Hi Robert. Typically, the way I’ve seen some of our own customers ship larger items at a lower cost is through negotiated discounted rates with their carriers. If you’re just starting out, you might not get the lowest rates, but it’s worth discussing with carriers like UPS, FedEx, and others to see if any discounts are available based on anticipated shipping volumes. There are also specialist carriers who focus on shipping larger/heavier items too, which may be an avenue worth considering.

Then with free shipping, some sellers opt to absorb some of that shipping cost with orders over a certain value, or just cover it entirely.

I hope this is helpful! Happy to discuss more if required.