What is the best shipping solution for a small business?

Question

I've researched Stamps.com, Pitney Bowes, Endica, UPS, but I am still unsure. Stamps.com is more expensive but they seem to be more straight-forward about their fees.

I go to the post office 6 times a week, mailing 5-15 packages. The post office is only 5 minutes away but it adds up as far as gas goes.

Answer 1

You say,  going to the PO 6 times a week at 5 minute per trip does add up.  

While that's a reasonable statement you need to remember that by using the post office over a  courier service, delivery  cost are lower.

Yes maybe the customer is paying these delivery cost.  

If so you need to understand that by adopting  a new method in place of post office you are raising the cost of doing business with you,  yet you wont earn any extra income.

If you lost just a single customer,  will the lost profit be greater than the saving you made by not leaving the office for 20 minutes a day?  

(I have allowed 5 minute trip each way then 10 minutes parking and time used inside the post office)

While you remain in the office will that extra 20 minutes a day be used to generate extra income to offset the loss?

Answer 2

Depends on the size of your packages but I highly recommend downloading the shipping assistant program from the United States Postal Service. It is 100% free and and let's you compare the options available for each item as far as cost and prints the lables not to mention you save 50 cents on all delivery conformations. We have found the USPS to have the best rates until you get into the larger and heavier items then UPS all the way. Pitney Bowes is not a shipping solution they just want to sell you a postage machine

Answer 3

We have our post picked up by the Post Office.

Answer 4

Unless you have UPS or some other service actually pick up the packages at your office, you're still going to have to make a trip to the post office.  Were you aware that you can actually pay for postage and print labels through usps.com?

https://www.rethinkyourshipping.com/reth...