How to Find a Reliable Shipping Company

When thinking of an ideal online store, the first point that comes to the minds of most sellers is how the store will look. They also consider the style, color scheme, products, and how they will offer a wonderful shopping experience. Afterward, they start considering how to increase the store’s online visibility.

Attracting quality traffic to your store is important. But finding a reliable shipping company to offer excellent service to your customers will help you gain customer loyalty. A user’s experience does not rely on shopping alone. After reaching your store, selecting the product(s), and making the order, the experience does not end there.

A vital part of it is the shipping activity. Therefore, it is important to hire a trusted courier service that can offer reliable shipping services to your clients, leaving them with smiles. This is usually one factor that many e-commerce businesses underestimate. You can click here to find out how to grow your e-commerce store.

Some business owners do not consider what happens the moment a product leaves their warehouse to the client’s location. When it is just a single order each day, it is not a problem; but when you start receiving 20 orders every day, the logistics become quite complex. Hence, there is a probability that you will make mistakes in clients’ orders.

Tips for Selecting a Shipping Service for Your Online Business

When you assign someone to deliver a product by hand, that person is seen as the physical representation of your business. Now, if a shipping company does not deliver the products appropriately, it is you who will get a bad reputation.

Therefore, you need to establish a solid partnership with a good shipping company. Here are some tips to help you find one:

1. Logistics Cycle

This refers to the amount of time it will take you to prepare the products for shipping and when they will finally get to your customer. This can go in two ways. 

First, the courier takes care of all logistics – provides a warehouse, manages the stock, does product pickup, packages and labels the product, and then delivers it to the customer. Second, the online store owner takes care of warehousing as well as product preparation. After that, the courier will pick up the package for delivery. This is common among small online businesses.

2. Reliability

Before you choose a delivery company for your store, ensure you read the fine print. Do your research and make sure they are trustworthy and can offer certain security and guarantees when you use their services. Also, they should deliver goods on time and handle packages properly.

3. Integrated Logistics

Some companies offer integrated logistics like product shipping, labeling, packaging, preparation of order picking, stock warehousing, and product receipt. This service is an invaluable aspect of an online business model. However, it still depends on the kind of store you operate.

4. Delivery Time

There should be a balance between the real delivery time and other logistics. It is better to inform your customers that they will get their products within 24 to 48 hours when they will likely arrive within 8 to 10 hours. In case there is a problem or delay, you will have enough time to fix the issue and deliver within your promised timeframe.

Additionally, some customers want their package to arrive within the shortest possible time. As a good practice, you can offer express delivery to such customers at a higher price. 

Every delivery service has a schedule for pickups, and you must consider that. Ensure you enquire about the available options, delivery times, reception logistics, and hours. Also, ask the courier how much notice they want from when you request a pickup to when the products actually arrive at the customer’s destination.

5. Coverage

The company will offer coverage depending on where your clients live. So if you deliver only within your area, you will not experience inconvenience when it comes to coverage. For instance, if you run your online store from New York, it is only ideal to look for packing and shipping services in NYC since they already cover that location.

However, when there is a need to expand your customer base outside your area (international or national shipments), you want a service that can meet your needs. Also, they should guarantee coverage as well as reliable delivery through their branch office in the location you are delivering goods to.

Furthermore, the company you choose should be one that already offers national coverage. It will help your business if they have a fixed price for national delivery. And it is even better if they are partnering with international delivery companies in case you get an international order.

If you decide to use well-known international delivery services like DHL or FEDEX, ensure they give you their price ratio concerning volumetric weight and destination. This will help you integrate the price in your online store’s pricing system. 

Most international delivery companies already have a stable shipping system, integrated logistics, and shipping tracking. Therefore, you can expect an integrated technology service based on the type of online store you operate.

6. Price

Offering competitive pricing is important. Again, the cost of shipping might be the gap between winning one new customer and losing them due to high delivery costs. However, selecting a cheap shipping option may just be a double-edged sword because cheap does not signify high-quality service.

When you select a cheap service, you are at risk of late deliveries, lost goods, or even damaged on arrival products. As a result, your customers will be unhappy. So what do you do?

Let’s say you sell fresh coffee grounds online. A high-quality 250g bag goes for $10, which is quite reasonable. But when you check the cost of delivery, it is $5 per order. For an average customer, it may ruin the experience. 

However, you can offer free delivery on a minimum number of orders. This will encourage the person to order more products since you are compensating them. Furthermore, the delivery cost may vary based on some factors, which are:

The Weight and Package Volume

The tariff varies on the volume of each product, which is the weight calculation based on dimensions (height, length, and width). 

The Distance Between the Company to the Point of Delivery

The shipment cost differs according to the location: international, local, regional, or national. As you continue receiving orders from customers, the cost may decrease. Some companies adapt shipment costs based on the shipping volume. Hence, they lower the price for more shipments.

7. Problems and Return Policies

Sometimes, a customer may not be at home when the package arrives. So you should find out how the delivery company reacts when faced with such situations. 

Will they contact the customer to schedule another delivery time? Will they return the following day and try to deliver the package again? Will they drop a notice in the mailbox, asking the customer to visit the courier office for the pickup? Or will they send the package back to you since they could not deliver it?

Now, what happens if the customer’s order arrives damaged? This is where you should check the company’s policy to know if they cover damages. Also, check how much can be reimbursed for damages.

How Your Online Business Can Save Money on Costs of Delivery

The following are simple tips to help you achieve low-cost product delivery:

1. Automate the Shipping

You can use software to automate the shipping. This saves you money and time. It also guarantees better rates and allows you to free up some human resources. You can then spend your working hours on boosting your store’s visibility and marketing strategies.

2. Always Look Out for Flat Rates

Imagine paying $20 to ship one product when you can spend the same amount delivering a package containing 5 of those same products; it is a bitter pill to swallow. Based on the items in each order and the average value of the order, you can consider the benefits of flat-rate delivery.

That way, you won’t bother about purchasing boxes to package the product or visiting a post office. All you need to do is to inform the shipping company about the order. They will package the products and deliver them to your customers. You can visit https://smallbusiness.chron.com/meaning-flat-rate-shipping-74086.html to read more about flat rate shipping.

3. Offer Free Delivery but with a Minimum Order

Small businesses may not be able to offer free delivery, but it is important to plan for success, not losses. Offering free shipping in addition to a minimum order range helps to reduce your business expenses. 

You can do an “A or B” testing with your customers to understand the value threshold that moves them to order for products. It could be free shipping on orders above $50 or $99.99. You will not only save on delivery costs by establishing a minimum order threshold, but you will also know what drives your customers from website visitors to paying customers.

Conclusion

Your online store can be better if you offer shipping at a reduced price. Also, you want your customers to return and buy more. Therefore, the delivery method you choose must be reliable, timely, and ensure the package gets to the customer in good condition.

Scott's One Clean Home is the spring cleaning solution to everything

Scott Umstattd on Unsplash

It's finally spring and after a solid year of staying home it is well past time for a thorough scrub and scour. I don't like to use too may different products when I clean and that's just a preference having to do with trying to simplify my house cleaning.

The room I always start with is my beloved kitchen. I have granite counters, travertine floors, stainless appliances and glossy cherry cabinetry. Usually, I use three different products to clean that one room and I'm always open to finding a single solution and I think I've found it.

Scott's Liquid Gold sent me some samples to use and clean with in exchange for this post and I'm really grateful for the products and the opportunity. Included in their box of samples was their flagship furniture spray polish and something new.

This is Scott's One Clean Home. It's new for them and a revelation for me.

I'm already pretty loyal to Scott's Liquid Gold when I need something to keep my stainless steel looking sharp so I was more than willing to give this new product a shot.

My current kitchen has dark granite counters. On some levels, granite is a practical surface and depending on the color of the granite, it's either a breeze to live with or a nightmare. My dark granite falls onto the nightmare end of the spectrum. Dark and shiny has a lot of the same problems reflective and shiny stainless steel has in that it shows a lot of smudges and fingerprints. 

I find my granite to be difficult to keep clean and my next kitchen will not have granite counters. Add to my granite my gloss-finished cabinetry and my kitchen is a gallery of fingerprints and smudges as often as not. When I clean I have to wash down all these surfaces and then buff everything dry to prevent water spots. It's a pain and honestly, I let it go far too often.

When I read the label from Scott's One Clean Home I read that it works on all manner of surfaces:

• Finished Wood
• Wood Laminates
• Stainless Steel
• Tile
• Plastic
• Metal
• Stone
• Porcelain
• Vinyl

I was skeptical until I started cleaning with it. Holy cow talk about a home run! Scott's One Clean Home cleans just about everything in my kitchen and it does almost as good a job on stainless as Scott's Liquid Gold.

I also used Scott's One Clean Home on my screens when I was installing them over the weekend and it did a really good job. Bring on warmer weather!

Honestly, One Clean Home made a believer out of me and it's really great to find a single product that will clean every surface in my kitchen and in rooms beyond. From my travertine floors to my glossy cherry cabinets, it's all clean and clear. As a bonus, it smells like grapefruit and after a year of smelling chlorine bleach and hand sanitizer, this product is a welcome addition to my cleaning arsenal.

Why Hire Professionals For A Drain Cleaning

Many problems can occur when it comes to plumbing. You never think this would happen to you, but pipelines will develop issues over time. They can be long-lasting, but they are not impervious to leakage, corrosion, or clogs. Dealing with pipes is messy work that not everyone enjoys.

If you have no prior experience with the subject, you should not attempt it on your own. You wouldn't know where to look for the issue, and you could end up causing more harm to them. You should hire experienced plumbers if you want the problem fixed as soon as possible. Follow the link https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/01/28/how-prevent-plumbing-disaster-with-your-garbage-disposal/. 

Furthermore, pipe problems may arise as a result of poor maintenance. If you don't care what goes in the drain, a pipe may get clogged. Allowing stray hairs to go down the drain when showering is not a good idea. If you're already struggling with a crisis, however, you can try to solve it as quickly as possible.

Here, hiring licensed plumbers is the best option. Here are some additional reasons to contact them:

Exceptional service

As previously stated, dealing with piping issues can be a nightmare, particularly if you have no prior experience. As a result, you should definitely consider hiring licensed plumbers to come to your home and assess the situation. Since they are experts in the field, they will also identify the problem right away.

Every household has experienced plumbing issues at some stage. This isn't a strange or unusual occurrence. This isn't to say that pipes can't cause a lot of trouble in the home. A pipe, for example, can burst and trigger a flood.

The flood has the potential to destroy all of your furniture as well as everything else in that room. You don't expect anything like this to happen to you, but it happens more often than you thought. During the winter, a pipe will freeze and burst.

This has the potential to easily devolve into a nightmare. The experts, on the other hand, would have no trouble resolving the issue. Some repairs take a longer time to complete than others. The professionals have years of work experience and can provide excellent service. You won't have to think about pipe issues again until they've finished with the repairs. Read more on this page.

The proper tools

Have you got the proper tools to deal with clogged or leaking pipes? Most likely not. You shouldn't spend any money on it, either. Your pipes will almost certainly be damaged even further by the time you learn how and when to use the tools. You should employ licensed plumbers to inspect your pipes to save time and money. The experts are often well-equipped with the required resources and equipment.

It would be beneficial if you went online and looked for reputable companies that provide such services. Check out some other customers' ratings and testimonials to see if the company is trustworthy. This will assist you in making the best decision possible.

Drain cleaning

A blockage is among the most common issues that people face with their pipes. How do you know if your own are blocked? To begin with, the water will not be able to pass through the drain. It will take a little time before it completes the process. This is bad because it can happen when you're using the faucet.

Backflow is another issue that may occur. If the obstruction is serious enough, the water would not be able to get through at all. Backflow and a minor flood may occur from the sink, tub, toilet, and other sources. This is the very last thing you need.

A noxious odor is another symptom of a clogged drain. This form of odor is normally caused by food particles trapped within the pipe. Blocked pipes can be dealt with and resolved by professional plumbing services, so you won't have to deal with any of the above problems. You should check out the American Ally Drains & Plumbing Company, among other options, to find out more!

It conserves time

Hiring a specialist to deal with your plumbing issues will save you a great deal of time. You should take charge of other household tasks when they are occupied with the repairs. After all, the experts know just what they're doing. 

Signs that indicate you need a plumber

Luis Tosta on Unsplash

Blocked drains are a common problem for homeowners, but it doesn’t mean that they’re not still pretty stressful. Taking the plug out of the sink and having the water go nowhere is clearly worrying. So too is flushing the toilet and having it come close to overflowing. These problems trigger alarm bells, because they are an unmistakable sign that something is wrong. It doesn’t matter where you are, there are many plumbing options in Pittsburgh.

Fortunately, there are plenty of reliable plumbing companies that are used to dealing with residential plumbing. If you fear that you might have a problem, you need to get in touch with these experts right away. They will come to your home, diagnose the issue, and get to work on solving it. You’ll have your drains back to normal in no time.

This guide to some of the most common warning signs of a potential plumbing disaster will help you identify the problem quickly.

Slow Drains

You probably have a blockage somewhere if your sink or sinks drain very slowly or not at all. This kind of thing can also occur in the shower. If left untreated, it will get worse. There is a risk that whatever is blocking the pipe will flood back out of the drain.

Bad Smells

If a clog is preventing dirt and debris from moving down the pipe, as it usually would, you could start to smell a bit of a nasty whiff coming from the drain. This happens because hair, dirt, and food waste is building up behind the blockage and slowly decomposing. It is a really unpleasant symptom and most homeowners can’t go longer than a week without calling in professional help.

Gurgling Noises

Sometimes, blocked drains can cause fixtures to make a bubbling, gurgling sound. This might be an indication that you have a main sewer drain clog, particularly if you hear it while you shower as well. On the other hand, all drains are different. If you do hear strange noises, watch to see if the water leaves the drain reasonably quickly.

If it does, you should be fine. If it doesn’t, you may need to call in a plumber to fix what could be a blocked drain. Make sure that you give a plumber all of the details about the problem that you can when you first speak to them on the phone. It will help them identify the issue faster.

Unusual Flushing

A blocked drain or pipe can sometimes manifest itself in the form of abnormal flushing responses. So, when you flush the toilet, the water either rises much higher than normal or there is a lot less water than usual in the bowl.  

If you experience either of these things, deal with the problem quickly, because it can lead to toilet water rising up through sinks and shower drains. Once again, get on the phone to the professionals. They will be able to find a solution in no time, so that you can get on with life and keep your home functioning smoothly.

Washing Machine Back Ups

If your washing machine causes the sink in your bathroom to start gurgling and spewing water, you definitely have a clog or blockage somewhere. As the water in the appliance drains, there should be no obvious activity in the bathroom pipes.

It can be difficult to trace the source of blockages without expert help, so don’t delay. The faster that you address the issue, the less risk there is of it turning into a flood hazard. Though rare, this can happen. Address potential blockages quickly and efficiently.

Just remember that plumbing problems don’t fix themselves and it’s always less expensive and troublesome to deal with a problem earlier rather than later.

How to Find a Roof Repair Company to Replace Shingles

Deciding to replace your roof shingles is an important decision. But choosing just anyone to replace them can lead to other problems you may not want. This is why you need to hire a professional to help you out.

If you live around North Carolina or just moved into the area and you want to get your shingles replaced, you may wonder how you can find a good roofing company in Raleigh that can do a good job for you. After all, choosing right will make a great difference. 

With many such roofing contractors available, one may wonder if they can find the right one. Don’t worry, we have got you covered. So, here are eight ways to find the best roof repair company to replace your shingles.

1. Get Referrals

Ask recommendations from friends, family, and your neighbors. If you moved newly to Raleigh, it is important to ask the locals and neighbors for a referral. They will know if there are certain requirements in the community regarding such a project. 

Apart from this type of referral, you can also get recommendations online. This calls for serious commitment and research on your part. Many roofing companies might have a website where you can see what their job entails and how to contact them. You can also see past clients’ reviews and testimonials to see how former clients describe their services.

In addition to this, you can visit third-party review websites to confirm the credibility of a roofing company. Angie’s List and Yelp are examples of such review sites. They are personally designed to show testimonials and ratings from clients. 

Each review has been validated to be authentic, so you don’t have to worry about its credibility. Choose companies with high ratings and positive past client testimonials.

2. Look Out for Licensed and Insured Contractors

A license is an important document that shows the level of professionalism and experience of a roofing company. In many states, a company cannot operate without a license. So ensure that the contractors you have in mind can provide a copy of their license upon request and its credibility can be verified online.

A roofing contractor must provide insurance and bonds for all their workers. They must all have a copy of this insurance certificate. Fixing a roof is a high-risk job with potential accidents and occurrences. You wouldn’t want to bear the brunt if such happens. To avoid this, make sure you hire a fully insured and bonded contractor.

3. Look for Experience

Replacing roofs is no child's play. You shouldn’t employ an amateur with little experience if you want quality work done. Even when a company may have been in the business for a long time, it is important to check its track record. Do they have a good reputation?

At times, many homeowners judge the quality of the job based on how much the roof contractors charge. This is because of the belief that price affects quality. In reality, this is not always true. So hire based on experience and good reputation among former clients.

4. Check for Certifications

Certifications are mostly earned by companies from regulatory or niche-based organizations. These bodies can only offer their certification if the roofing company implements modern up-to-date materials and methods and has undergone various training programs available for their skill. 

Employing certified contractors gives assurance that they will do a good job due to their training and experience. An experienced certified roofing contractor will improve your roof's warranty greatly.

5. Check for Specialization

There are times when a company might specialize only in replacing a type of roof. If you hire such roofing contractors, they will not be able to help much if you want something different from their specialization. Instead, hire a roofing company that is into replacing all roof types.

6. See if They Are Better Business Bureau (BBB) Registered

To avoid employing a quack in the guise of a professional, see if they are better business bureau (BBB) registered. Check for their ratings on the BBB website. If you can’t find this company on the Better Business Bureau website, do not bother employing them. 

In case bad business develops between you and the roofing company, if they are not BBB rated, you may not have anyone to report to. If they are, you could have a chance to hold them accountable for any mishap and fraud on their part. You may want to read this article to learn more about the BBB and how it can help in a customer-business relationship.

7. Discuss Prices and Estimates

Although it is important to note that pricing should not be a major problem when carrying out a roofing project, yet it is good to have a budget/estimate to work with. Asking the contractor for their price estimate is necessary. No roofing company will tell you what they charge on the phone. This is because no two homes are alike. They will need to take your building dimensions and know what you want, then they will quote an amount based on the information.

Having a contract before the project starts is vital. Put into writing what the job involves and what each process and materials costs. Ensure to know how long a project will take. If you have a deadline, be sure to state it. This could cost you more, but a good quality job is worth any amount.

8. Ask Questions

When the roofing company comes to take dimensions of your home, try to ask them important questions. Will they bring a crew to do the job? How many persons should you expect? and what day would they start the job? You wouldn’t want to be caught unaware by eager workers on any day.

You can also ask questions such as if they will install the shingles on the old roof or change everything. It is not a good idea to patch roofs, it would still have problems. Finally, ask what could happen if you don’t find their work satisfying. If things go south or they fail to meet the contract requirements, will they refund you? Their response will determine whether hiring them is best for you or not.

Conclusion

Are your shingles showing signs of wear and tear? Do you think it is time to change them? If you do, keep in mind the above-mentioned tips as you make a decision on who to hire to do the job.