Selling Guides
Selling Guides
Whether you are an online retailer, marketplace seller, or small business owner, these guides will help you streamline your shipping process, reduce costs, and deliver a great customer experience.
Setting Up Shipping for Your Online Store
Offering reliable shipping is essential for any e-commerce business. Here is how to get started with ExpressRoad as your shipping partner:
- Open a business account to access discounted rates and a dedicated account manager
- Define your shipping zones — decide which areas you will deliver to (local, national, or international)
- Set clear delivery expectations — display estimated delivery times on your product pages to reduce customer queries
- Integrate tracking — share tracking numbers with buyers so they can follow their orders in real time
Pricing Your Shipping
Getting your shipping pricing right can make or break a sale. Consider these strategies:
- Free shipping threshold — Offer free shipping on orders above a certain value to increase average order size
- Flat rate shipping — Charge a fixed fee per order for simplicity. Works well when your products are similar in size
- Real-time rates — Pass through actual shipping costs to the customer. Most transparent but can deter price-sensitive buyers
- Built-in shipping — Factor shipping costs into your product price and advertise "free shipping" on everything
Packaging for E-Commerce
Professional packaging protects your products and reinforces your brand:
- Use branded packaging where possible (custom tape, tissue paper, thank-you cards)
- Right-size your boxes — oversized packaging increases costs and wastes materials
- Double-box fragile or high-value items for extra protection
- Include a packing slip with order details inside every shipment
- Consider eco-friendly packaging materials to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers
Handling Returns Efficiently
A smooth returns process builds customer trust and loyalty:
- Publish a clear returns policy on your website — state the timeframe, conditions, and process
- Include a pre-printed return label in your shipments for convenience
- Process refunds or exchanges promptly upon receiving returned goods
- Track return shipments to maintain visibility and manage inventory
Need a shipping partner? ExpressRoad offers competitive business rates, API integration for online stores, and dedicated support for e-commerce sellers. Call 031 030 0300 to set up your account.