Running an online store? You know happy customers mean a happy you! Part of that happiness comes from offering choices, especially when it comes to shipping. This guide dives into the most popular option – standard shipping.
Customers love saving money, and these days, shipping costs can make or break a sale. Standard shipping lets them get their stuff without overspending, making them happy shoppers more likely to return.
So, whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned pro. This guide will show you the what’s and what’s not of standard shipping and how to use it to your advantage.
We’ll even show you some tricks to make it a smooth ride for you and your customers. So lets dive into it.
What Is Standard Shipping?
Regular shipping, also called cheap or ground shipping, is a popular choice because it’s the most affordable option for most small businesses. This option takes longer than faster choices, but it saves money.
How Long Does Standard Shipping Take to Deliver?
Within domestic markets, standard courier shipping typically takes 3–7 business days. However, customer expectations for delivery timelines may be swifter. Customers can anticipate standard shipping orders to arrive within 3–4 days. And lucky for us many of the ground transportation services commonly used for standard shipping can meet these expedited expectations.
The Difference Between Standard And Express Shipping
It all comes down to three things: speed, price, and how your package travels.
- Speed: Standard shipping takes longer, anywhere from a few days to over a week. Express shipping is much faster, usually guaranteed to arrive within 1-3 days.
- Price: Standard shipping is cheaper because packages travel by land or sea, which is slower but less expensive. Express shipping is faster but can be a lot more expensive because packages often go by airplane. You can see, compare, and choose the lowest price available from online shipping platforms.
- Travel method: Standard shipping finds the most economical way to get your package there. This might mean going by truck or train for most of the journey. Express shipping often prioritizes speed and might fly your package to the nearest airport, then use a truck for the final delivery.
Apart from these major differences, there can be other factors. Express shipping might come with extras like tracking, insurance, or even special packaging options. Since express shipping is more important to couriers, they might offer these extras as part of the service.
Can You Ship Internationally With Standard Shipping?
Yes, a select number of courier companies provide a variation of international shipping services with standard delivery timeframes to certain countries.
However, it’s important to note that not all couriers utilize the term “standard” to describe these mail services. This is due to international shipping typically occurring via air or sea.
For instance, Canada Post offers expedited shipping services for mail and packages delivered to commercial and residential addresses throughout Canada.
Popular Standard Shipping Services
Standard shipping uses trucks and trains to get your package where it needs to go. This keeps the cost lower than airplanes, but it also means it takes longer. Even though it’s cheaper, most people would still prefer their stuff to arrive faster while keeping cost to the lowest.
Here are some of the Shipping companies that try to meet those expectations –
Purolator
Purolator offers a comprehensive selection of shipping solutions. Including standard shipping services. Purolator guarantees on-time delivery with standard shipping across Canada, the U.S., and over 210 other destinations.
To find out the exact rates and services offered for standard shipping. You can use the Purolator Rate Guide along with your Purolator Zone Guide for your area on their official site. These resources facilitate the calculation of domestic and international shipping rates tailored to your specific location and shipping requirements.
Purolator doesn’t just offer their own boxes and envelopes! You can also use your own packaging to ship things. This is called “customer packaging” and it lets you take advantage of Purolator’s shipping services without having to buy their boxes.
DHL
DHL offers a few different choices for standard shipping within your country (domestically). Each option has its own strengths:
DHL Ground Direct is a service that gets your package straight from you to the receiver, with a guaranteed delivery time. They have a whole fleet of trucks dedicated to this service, and they can even handle oversized cargo or things that need to stay at a certain temperature (like medicine).
Need to ship a lot of stuff? DHL has you covered there too. Their Domestic Rail Freight service uses trains, which is a cheaper option than trucks for large shipments.
Finally, if you’re sending something international DHL offers air, ocean, and road freight options. They’ll choose the fastest method (plane, boat, or truck) depending on your needs.
No matter which option you choose, delivery times will vary depending on where you’re sending the package from and to. Within the US, it typically takes 3-8 days. Internationally, it can take 4-8 days to reach Europe and 8-14 days to reach other parts of the world.
To get an idea of the cost, you can easily use the DHL quote calculator online. Just enter the size and destination of your package, and they’ll give you an estimate.
Canadapost
Canada Post has you covered when it comes to shipping within Canada! They offer a bunch of different standard shipping options depending on how fast you need your stuff to get there and how much you want to spend. Here’s a breakdown:
- Regular Parcel: This is the cheapest way to send a package within Canada. It takes anywhere from 2 to 9 days to get there, depending on where it’s going. You can track it online and get confirmation when it’s delivered.
- Xpresspost: Need it faster? Xpresspost gets your package there quicker, usually the next day in your local area or 1-7 days anywhere in Canada. This option also comes with tracking and a guarantee it will arrive on time.
- Priority: The fastest option is Priority. This gets your package there the next day, anywhere in Canada, with tracking, confirmation, and a guarantee it will arrive on time.
- Flat Rate Box: If your stuff fits in a specific size box, Canada Post has a flat rate option. This can be a good deal for heavier items.
- Extra Stuff: Want some added security? Canada Post offers things like insurance, collect on delivery (where the receiver pays when they get it), and signature service (so you know someone actually signed for it).
- Sending Outside Canada: They also ship internationally, with delivery times depending on where it’s going.
- Check Online: To get the most accurate details on price and timing for your specific needs, you can use Canada Post’s website or call their customer service. They’ll have the latest info for your situation.
To obtain the most precise details regarding pricing and delivery timeframes applicable to your specific location, we recommend consulting Canada Post’s website and check the updated rates. This will ensure you receive the most accurate and current information tailored to your individual shipping requirements.
When to Choose Standard Shipping Over Express?
Picking between standard and express shipping comes down to two main things:
- How fast you need your stuff
- How big or heavy your package is.
Standard Shipping: This is the slower but cheaper option. It’s perfect for things you don’t need delivered right away. Standard shipping usually takes 2-3 days to deliver your package. They typically ship using trucks, which takes longer but costs less. There’s also a limit on how big or oddly shaped a package can be for standard shipping, so very big or strange-shaped things have to go this route too.
Express Shipping: Need it fast? This is the way to go! It’s quicker and more expensive, often getting there in just 1-3 days. Express shipping uses airplanes, which is the fastest way to get things delivered. This option is good for urgent items that you need ASAP.
Conclusion
So, standard shipping: friend or foe? It really depends on your needs! If you’re a patient shopper who prioritizes saving money, standard shipping is your best bet. But if you’re an instant gratification kind of person, express shipping might be your new best friend.
Ultimately, the choice is yours!
FAQ’s
How Long Is Standard Shipping Delivery?
When you choose standard shipping for something within your country, a truck or train will pick it up from a warehouse and deliver it to you in 5 to 10 business days.
Does Standard Shipping Have Tracking?
Standard shipping is a good way to save money when you buy things online. It takes a little longer to get your package (usually a few business days), but you can track it the whole way so you know exactly when it will arrive and have peace of mind.
Which Shipment Is Faster?
Standard shipping is the slower option, usually taking anywhere from 5 to 10 days. Expedited shipping is a bit faster, getting your package there in 1 to 3 days. Keep in mind, though, that exact times can vary depending on the company that’s shipping it.
