We know from our surveys that small business shippers have specific concerns that they want addressed when looking for a shipping company to handle their shipping needs:
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What are the shipping basics?
- How to prepare a waybill?
- What are the different services?
- How should I pack my packages?
- How do I arrange for a pickup?
What service(s) do I need for my business?
How can I get the best rate for that service(s)?
We have evaluated the DHL, Fedex and UPS small business centers for their ability to address these concerns in an easy to understand format.
Our overall impression…
In our opinion UPS small biz center has the best combination of organization, ease of use and information value in their small business center. They use rich media in a way that enhances the information and address most of the concerns listed above in a way that help the small business shipper understand what UPS has to offer.
The Fedex small business center in an effort to add more value has made their small business center a little bit more confusing than necessary (see below). However we place them second in terms of value that the interface provides to the shipper because they address some money concerns of the small business shipper .
Finally the DHL small business center has a very simple interface (sometime less is more) to internal pages within their website that address small business shipper concerns. This interface addresses most of the above concerns fairly easily.
A word about rates…
Getting rates from a shipping company is the holy grail of the small business shipper. DHL indicates that they provide 10%discount for signup but it does not show the rates. Fedex offers several incentive discounts that eventually expire along with several co-promote specials but again no rate sheet. Finally UPS provides no indication of any discounts or rate sheets.
Sign up for all three
There is no law that say that a shipper cannot have more than one shipping account. We recommend signing up for an account with all three. Get access to the rates and compare the rates against the service. Use one carrier for one service that suits you and another carrier for the other. As your volume begins to grow renegotiate your rates base on your volume.
Good Luck and Good Shipping
Your How To Ship Advisor
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What are the shipping basics?
- How to prepare a waybill?
After three clicks we were able to get to the page that provide information on how to prepare a waybill.
Waybill Help - What are the different services?
From the small business center we were able to find the different services available
DHL ServicesHowever we were not able to find our way back to the small business home page after this.
- How should i pack my packages?
Even though we were not able to work our way back to the home page, we were still able to find out about packing our packages from interface.
Packaging - How do i arrange for a pickup?
Also we were able to find out how to arrange for a pickup.
DHL Pickup
What service(s) do I need for my business?
No real consultation on my business delivery need.
How can I get the best rate for that service(s)?
The website does not show the rates without first signing in and getting and account but the customer is offered a flat 10% off rack rates when they sign up online. This however is no different form what an individual person would get for signing up. There is no expiration for this 10%.
DHL Open an account
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What are the shipping basics?
- How to prepare a waybill?
Fedex has a shipping 101 guide that can easily be missed because they keep it under articles and FAQs section. In the shipping 101 they show some screen shots for filling out a waybill online.
Fedex Shipping 101 - What are the different services?
From the small business center we were able to find the different services available however you might miss it. After clicking on either Express, Ground or Freight you are directed to a page that looks like a advertisement. You are supposed click on the menu items on the right side of what looks like an advertisement and then click on the picture inside you can see the services. We find this very confusing but we are here to help. Here are the links.
Fedex Express
Fedex Ground
Fedex Freight - How should I pack my packages?
Again we almost missed this because it falls under articles and FAQs section (sometimes people don’t realize that their question is an FAQ). However by now we are trained to look for things in the Articles and FAQ section.
Packaging Options - How do I arrange for a pickup?
The page for pickup can only be accessed with a Fedex account. However the shipper is told where to go to arrange for a pickup. Fedex Pickup
What service(s) do I need for my business?
They have a solutions tool that walks you through you needs and provides a recommended service. If the tool cannot provide a service then they provide a sales number. Fedex Solutions Tool
How can I get the best rate for that service(s)?
While Fedex does not provide specific rates they do offer several interesting discounts and co-promotions.
- 15% Discount when you sign up only on FedEx Express® shipment
for 4 months when you use ship manager. After the 4 month period it will reduce to 10%. This is what is known as an incentive to sign up. See our Free Report for Small Business shippers about to sign an agreement. - Now through Dec. 31, 2008, receive 55% off your base rates on LTL (less-than-truckload) shipments of 150 lbs. or more each time you ship within the contiguous U.S., with FedEx Freight or FedEx National LTL.
- 5% off eligible shipments paid with American Express
- Amazon Services will offer FedEx customers five months waived subscription fees, a value of $199.95, to Amazon Service’s Pro Merchant Program.
- QuickBooks users can save money by registering for special rates on FedEx Express and Ground shipping.
- FedEx and Stamps.com have teamed up to offer FedEx customers a $100 savings with Stamps.com Premier.
- Save up to 20% on Network Solutions web services.
UPS SMALL BUSINESS CENTER
UPS has two websites directed at the small business shipper. UPS small biz and the UPS whiteboard. We recommend that you stay away from the UPS whiteboard unless you have allot of time to watch cartoons and click on graphics that do not provide solid information. Stick with the UPS small biz center. The shipping demo video gives very good insight into how their user interface looks. It is informative and worth the time to watch.
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What are the shipping basics?
- How to prepare a waybill?
Shipping Demo Video - What are the different services?
Shipping Demo Videoor
UPS Services - How should I pack my packages?
UPS How to pack - How do I arrange for a pickup
UPS PICKUP
What service(s) do I need for my business? UPS also has a solutions finder designed to help you zero in on what shipping services or products you will need.
UPS Solutions Finder
How can I get the best rate for that service(s)?
No indication of rates or discounts.
UPS OPEN AN ACCOUNT
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