Regular shipping is a basic shipping method where the cost of shipping items within a certain location is fixed. For example, you might charge ₦3,000 for shipping to any location within Lagos or £5 for shipping within the United Kingdom. It simplifies the process by offering a single fee for various locations.
However, when it comes to shipping items based on their weight, there are different approaches that can be used. In this article, we will explore the concept of weight-based shipping and its three approaches to help you understand which method suits your business needs best.
Weight-Based Shipping: A Flexible Solution for E-commerce Businesses
Weight-based shipping is a method that calculates shipping costs based on the weight of the items being shipped. This approach offers more flexibility and accuracy in determining the shipping fees for your customers. Let’s dive into the three common approaches to weight-based shipping:
Approach 1: Fixed Cost for a Range of Weights
With this approach, specific weight ranges are assigned fixed shipping costs. For instance, you can charge $5 for weights ranging from 1 gram to 5 grams, and $10 for weights ranging from 6 grams to 10 grams. This method provides a clear and straightforward pricing structure.
Approach 2: Base Shipping Rate + Weight Range
In this approach, a base shipping rate is established, and an additional cost is added based on the weight of the items.
For example, you might set a base rate of $5 and charge $1 for every additional gram.
- If a shoe weighs 4 grams, the total shipping cost would be $9 ($5 base rate + $4 additional cost).
- For two shoes (8 grams), the total shipping cost would be $5 (base rate) + $8 (8 grams * $1) = $13.
Approach 3: Base Shipping Rate + Weight Range (Activated over a Certain Weight)
This approach is similar to the previous one, but it only applies the weight-based pricing once the weight exceeds a certain threshold.
For example, the base rate is $5, and there’s a cost of $1 per gram, but it only applies if the weight is over 20 grams. For weights between 1 and 20 grams, the shipping cost is a flat $5. For weights above 20 grams, the additional cost per gram is added.
For example, if you have a shoe weighing 4 grams:
- The shipping cost for one shoe would be $5. The same applies to two shoes (8 grams), three shoes (12 grams), and four shoes (16 grams).
- Six shoes weighing 24 grams would be $5 (base rate) + $4 (4 grams over 20 * $1) = $9.
- Ten shoes weighing 40 grams, the total shipping cost would be $5 (base rate) + $20 (20 grams over 20 * $1) = $25.
- Twenty shoes weighing 80 grams, the total shipping cost would be $5 (base rate) + $60 (60 grams over 20 * $1) = $65.
Limits:
Additionally, there is an option to set a maximum charge to prevent high shipping fees that might discourage customers. For example, you can set the maximum charge at $50. This means that regardless of the calculated shipping cost, the maximum fee displayed on your website for a single order will be $50.
So, using the example of twenty shoes weighing 80 grams, the total shipping cost would be $65. However, the website will display the maximum configured amount of $50 instead of $65.
Conclusion:
- Weight-based shipping provides a more accurate and tailored approach to pricing your shipping fees. By considering the weight of the items being shipped, you can provide your customers with transparent and fair pricing.
- Logistics companies like DHL/FedEx/UPS/similar can provide us with their API, enabling your website to automatically retrieve live rates straight from them. This ensures that you always have accurate and up-to-date rates at all times, providing a reliable shipping experience for your customers.
Additionally, at BeeTcore, we specialize in building amazing e-commerce websites that can integrate weight-based shipping seamlessly into your online store. If you’re looking to enhance your e-commerce business and provide a superior shipping experience to your customers, check out our e-commerce page and feel free to reach out to us through our contact page.
Take your e-commerce business to the next level with efficient and customer-friendly shipping methods. Choose the right shipping approach that aligns with your business goals and enhances the overall shopping experience for your customers.
We hope you found this information helpful. If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us or ask using the comments field below.