Shipping jewelry can be as frustrating as booking a trip— there are many options, most of them don’t fit your needs, prices vary wildly, and most quotes don’t fit your budget.
When you find a system that works though, you can simplify your buying decision and dramatically lower your costs.
Before you send your next shipment, consider these four tips:
Try Various Carriers
We all get comfortable with a particular way of doing something. However, if you’re afraid to try a different shipping carrier, you could be missing out on cost savings.
One carrier may offer the best rate today for a package that needs to get to the New York Diamond District in two days and fits in a medium-sized box. However, another carrier could have better rates tomorrow to fulfill the same shipment. There are a lot of factors that come into play when a carrier determines the cost of shipping, so it’s worth shopping around.
Use Sensible Packaging Materials
The standard approach was to always double-box merchandise and use an adult-sized shoe box as the outer packaging.
As long as merchandise is layered in two secure packages, you’re in just as good of shape. It’s better to use a box of any size for the outer packaging, but a tear-resistant envelope will work with protective internal packaging, too.
Don’t forget to consider the value of your shipment. If you’re sending $1,000 in merchandise, you might feel comfortable saving a bit on packaging materials. If the amount is $10,000, it’s probably worth paying more for a sturdier option.
While there’s no formula for using certain types of packaging materials over others, use your best judgment and play it safe if you’re unsure which option to choose.
Don’t Require an Adult Signature (Most of the Time)
Carriers upcharge for an “adult” signature service, but how many minors do you know who are working at a jewelry business?
The exception to this rule is if you’re sending to a residential address, such as a consumer or home-based business. It’s better to be safe than sorry in that situation.
Use Software to Help You Compare Choices
Imagine booking travel online and having to check individual carriers for different flights. You’d probably give up on searching before finding the lowest price or an option that fits all of your needs.
With JM Shipping Solution™, you can apply the same type of convenience and cost-saving benefits to shipping jewelry. The platform has an easy-to-use interface that lets users enter the origin, destination, and details of their package, then it gathers rates from major carriers and lets you sort to find the ones that fit your needs and budget.
If you’re tired of spending too much time and money shipping, JM Shipping Solution is worth a try — it’s free to get started and you don’t need to be meet quotas. Plus, if you’re a Jewelers Mutual policyholder, you’ll receive deeper discounts and can sync your jewelers block coverage directly to the platform.