If you are a retailer and sell goods through your website, you will want to offer your customers free shipping. This can be achieved by either picking up customer goods or shipping them directly from your warehouse or manufacturer.
Delivery of goods from your warehouse can be a logistical nightmare. You have to make the order, pack the goods, deliver them to the courier and monitor delivery progress; In addition, all these steps need to be completed quickly. If you are a retailer looking for a service that will ship your goods and have an easy-to-use access point for customers to order, look no further than eCommerce Shipping services.
Today, let’s explore eCommerce shipping in Australia. Here’s what you need to know:
The Steps to eCommerce Shipping in Australia
Packaging
The first step in eCommerce shipping is to package the goods. This is done by either the manufacturer, who ships directly to the customer, or by the retailer, who offers free shipping.
Once the goods are packaged, the retailer or manufacturer contacts their courier service. They then receive a booking number, which they can use to track the delivery progress online if they also provide that service.
Selecting the Right Shipping Method
You should select the most cost-effective shipping method for each order. You must decide on the delivery timeframe and service level when packaging your goods. For example, will it be delivered via air freight or standard post?
Generally speaking, air freight shipment is the fastest and the most expensive. Road shipping is the cheapest but takes longer. If your customer is in a rush, you can suggest express shipping to get their product to them faster.
Calculating Shipping Fee Models
There are many ways to calculate shipping costs. When you sell on eBay, you pay a fixed fee per package, and the buyer pays the difference if the item weighs less than the package stated. This is calculated in the same method.
However, when selling online, you can calculate the price based on the weight of the shipment. You can weigh the package and then charge a fixed shipping fee that is calculated in proportion to the weight of the shipment.
Research Your Duties and Taxes
Countries usually make a distinction between domestic and international deliveries. The customs duties are different for each delivery.
If you sell products exempted from customs duties, you must manually declare the customs fee, generally between 4.5% and 10%, depending on the country. You need to convert the shipping price to Australian dollars when you ship products that are not exempt from customs duties. You must also include your country’s VAT (Value Added Tax).
Set Up a Business Account
Before you start selling online, you must do your business. The first step is to set up a business account. This is so you can obtain a business tax number and start tracking your transactions. Once you have a business name, register a business bank account, get a business tax number and register your business with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
The Bottom Line
Online selling is a booming industry. New eCommerce businesses are launched each year that offer goods and services through the Internet. With all the advantages a business can get from the internet, shipping the goods is still challenging. But as long as you do your research and work with the right people, you should be good to go!
If you are looking for a reliable courier service in Australia. Go People is Australia’s smartest same-day delivery solution, offering senders and recipients live GPS tracking, showing drop-off and pick-up status and the drivers’ locations. You can count on us to get packages where they need to safely and securely. Contact us today to learn more!