USPS Flat Rate Shipping: Complete Guide For Ecommerce Shops - 2022

You work very hard to ensure that your consumers have a positive experience. With the intention of making your consumers happy, you review the photographs, make adjustments to your store, and write emails.

However, you undoubtedly still have the question in your mind, "How can I transport my products to customers?" Your business's shipping strategy for online sales is crucial. It's the moment a buyer actually sees your product in person and depending on your ecommerce shipping strategy, and it can also be a significant investment for your company.

What Is Flat Rate Shipping?

The US Postal Service's USPS Priority Flat rate shipping service offers 1-3 day delivery services for a single flat charge. Many shippers find flat-rate services appealing since they essentially do away with the requirement to weigh your products in order to determine shipping charges. Your package can ship with USPS Priority Flat Rate service if it weighs less than 70 pounds.

Why Shipping Flat Rate Is The Best Option For Ecommerce Shops

Based on how shipping prices are usually determined, a flat shipping rate is a desirable shipping option for a few reasons.

First, it usually costs more to transport orders over longer distances or to different shipping zones, and this cost only rises with the weight of the order.

In addition, dimensional weight, a widely utilised pricing strategy, is determined by multiplying a package's length, width, and height. Freight companies like USPS, FedEx, and UPS base delivery costs on the greater of the package's actual weight or its estimated dimensional weight.

Flat-rate shipping greatly streamlines the process and maybe a fantastic choice for some businesses, particularly those who are more modest in size and self-fulfil orders.

Note: The term "flat rate shipping" can also refer to a method of determining how much to charge for shipping when you apply a set shipping fee to each purchase. We are referring to the USPS flat-rate shipping service for the purposes of this article.

How Does Flat Rate Shipping Work?

The term "flat rate" refers to the fact that the cost of shipping is independent of the item's weight, size, or shape. It depends on how much you can fit inside the box provided by USPS. By doing these actions, e-commerce enterprises can ship their products for a fixed charge.

1. Get a USPS flat-rate box

Choose from a range of flat rate boxes at your neighbourhood USPS office rather than packaging items in your own box. Flat rate boxes come in sizes small, medium, and large; the larger the box, the more expensive the shipment will be. The most weight permitted is 70 pounds.

2. Pack your items and address your box

Fill the USPS flat rate box with your items, then label the package.

3. Ship your items

You can ship your flat rate box with Priority Mail by bringing it to a USPS location.

Advantages of Flat Rate Shipping

Among the different carriers that are accessible to online retailers with a presence in North America, the USPS provides some of the most alluring possibilities.

Consider using USPS's flat-rate and prepaid flat-rate packages and envelopes for the following seven reasons.

• Free boxes: Flat-rate boxes from USPS are free. Merchants place free orders for them and begin shipping. While merchants will still need to buy packing peanuts or other forms of cushioning material, saving as much as $1 per box can be a significant financial benefit.
• Known costs: Despite the accuracy of shipping calculators, there are occasions when a package's actual delivery costs end up being higher than the merchant had anticipated. Flat-rate boxes have a fixed price; there are no hidden fees.
• Priority delivery: The Priority Mail service used by the USPS for flat-rate boxes means that packages often arrive in two to three days. The USPS system also provides special treatment and added care for Priority Mail packages.
• No surcharges: In a time of rising fuel prices, the USPS does not tack on fuel, residential, or Saturday delivery surcharges to any cargo.
• More addresses: Every address in the U.S., including post office boxes and official addresses like APO, FPO, and DPO, is serviced by the USPS (Diplomatic Post Office, for U.S. embassies). Only when the postal service provides the last mile can other U.S. carriers get to these destinations.
• Security: The only organisation permitted to put packages in mailboxes is the USPS. Additionally, the USPS will occasionally try to redeliver large parcels, unlike some carriers who leave things on the porch. Avoiding parcel abandonment could aid in reducing purchase fraud and theft.
• Law enforcement protection: U.S. law enforcement protects flat-rate USPS shipments, which again reduces fraud and theft.

Conclusion

Only if your products are sufficiently heavy to make the flat rate less expensive than the standard rate may flat rate shipping, a common USPS mail type, be a useful tool for lowering shipping costs. By comparing the flat rate to the amount you are presently paying to ship your products, you may decide whether flat-rate shipping is beneficial for your business. You can also just hire the best shipping agency to help you out.

You can also use eCommerce shipping services by Sobel Network Shipping. They will help you easily ship your packages and manage your shipping needs. They'll help you with legal and financial regulations, among other things.

USPS Flat Rate Shipping FAQ

Does Flat Rate shipping include tracking?

Yes. One of the few eCommerce shipping necessities is tracking. As a result, all widely used carriers offer to track along with all shipment options.

What can't be shipped with USPS Flat Rate shipping?

Regardless of the transportation method, couriers have restrictions on what can be shipped. These include weapons, booze, gas, airbags, and explosives. The only other limitation for flat rate shipping is that the package's weight cannot exceed 50–70 pounds, depending on the courier.

Where can I purchase Flat Rate boxes?

From the websites of your preferred carrier, such as USPS, FedEx, and UPS, you can order Flat Rate boxes. Contrary to the majority of shipments, which let you use any box, flat-rate shipments need the usage of a flat-rate box. This is so that the box's function as postage is preserved.

Is insurance included with Flat Rate shipping?

All packages from couriers have some level of insurance, and the Flat Rate is no different. For instance, USPS automatically insures shipments up to $50. You must buy insurance along with your shipping label if you want more protection.

Is there a weight limit?

Yes. For flat-rate delivery, different carriers have different weight limitations. FedEx and UPS both have a 50-pound flat-rate package weight limit, whereas USPS has a limit of 70 pounds.

Can I use my own box for USPS Flat Rate shipping?

Only if you are using UPS for shipping, if you use USPS or FedEx, you must buy boxes from the provider.