If your business is centred around shipping goods to customers, finding the most cost-effective means is important. Just as importantly, offering shipping around the globe can make a huge difference. But when shipping to Canada, you have to be careful or things can get expensive quickly.
If you are looking to offer shipping to your Canadian customers, there are a few tips that you should be following. Here are four things that you should be offering to customers when you ship north of the border.
1. Provide Different Shipping Options
As a customer, one of the most frustrating things is when you want to choose a specific shipping option and only one is available. When you add international shipping into the mix, that frustration only grows.
This is why it is so important to offer a variety of courier options and rates. That means including customs duties as well so that customers can be prepared for any potential taxation that may come with their order. Customers who get surprised by customs duties are unlikely to go with you again in the future.
2. Multiple Courier Options
While it would be nice to save with each shipment, that isn’t necessarily possible. Where you can become better in the eyes of the customer is by not only offering different shipping options but also offering multiple courier options. Rates change all the time, for instance, and one may come to be better than the others.
By offering multiple couriers, you give the customer the peace of mind of going with who they prefer. If they feel more comfortable going with one courier over another, it could mean the difference between ordering a product from you and choosing to go with a competitor.
3. Keep Track of Costs
Shipping costs depend on quite a few things. Destination is obviously the biggest factor, but weight and dimensions of the package can be just as big of a factor. When it comes to shipping to Canada, make sure that you take note of each product and what they cost to ship.
These costs can and will fluctuate over time but they should remain fairly consistent. This way, you can provide accurate shipping cost estimates to the customer, limiting any ugly surprises when they get to checkout. Half the battle is providing consistency for the customer.
4. Print Accurate Customs Forms
Finally, when you are shipping north of the border, make sure that any customs forms included are as accurate as they can be. This will help to eliminate any possible errors that could prevent the package from arriving at its destination.
There are several print services out there that can streamline things such as customs to ensure that they are not only accurate, but easy to use as well. It is about finding a process that is comfortable for both your business and the customer and creating a simple process that covers all the bases when shipping anywhere in the world.
