As eCommerce businesses expand operations, the concept of offering shipping may occur. Amid researching various methods of transporting goods, you may start to wonder: How long does domestic shipping take? Shipping within a country’s borders involves many intricacies, including delivery speeds, the manufacturer and customer location, and meeting customer expectations.
The journey from order placement to package arrival is a pivotal part of the online shopping experience, impacting customer satisfaction, loyalty, and the overall success of an eCommerce venture. By staying informed about various shipping options and understanding the possibilities for delays and the nuances of the chosen carrier, businesses can optimize their shipping processes and determine accurate estimates for domestic shipments.
This blog will unravel the various factors that influence domestic shipping times and how to explore different options to optimize deliveries.
What is domestic shipping?
Domestic shipping involves the transportation of goods from location to another within the borders of a single country. If you’re an eCommerce business considering offering shipping for your products, there are many benefits to enjoy. These include:
- Enhanced market reach
- New profit margins
- Customer convenience
- Increased brand trust and loyalty
Domestic shipping allows businesses to tap into their local market and reach a broader customer base within their own country. This accessibility can lead to increased sales and enhanced brand visibility.
How long does domestic shipping take?
Domestic travel times vary based on the mail services and shipping provider chosen, the parcel destination, the type of mail, and speed of delivery. Your budget is also a key component in what shipping speed you plan to choose. For example, standard mail options take longer but are more cost-efficient, while expedited or express are faster but more expensive.
Express or next day delivery options typically involve air travel, where standard is often completed via ground transportation. However, certain items must be transported via ground, as air travel has specific limitations. For example, aerosols, matches, lighters, and fireworks are restricted from air transportation. For businesses in industries such as cosmetics, dealing with products like hair sprays or other aerosols, the strategic choice would be ground shipping. It’s crucial to note that this decision can potentially impact delivery times, as ground travel inherently takes longer compared to the swifter pace of air transport.
Let’s explore the various shipping options for domestic shipping services.
Standard: Standard shipping is the most cost-efficient option eCommerce businesses can offer that typically takes anywhere from 2 to 5 business days or longer, depending on the distance. This option is a no-rush choice. eCommerce businesses often offer rewards for customers who select this option, as choosing a slower transit time helps businesses save on shipping and operating costs, alleviating the pressure to maintain rushed shipping speeds.
Priority: Priority shipping is a more time-sensitive option, typically taking anywhere from 1-3 business days. This estimate will vary depending on the provider. Priority mail is the middle-ground between a no-rush or rushed shipping option, resulting in additional costs but more immediate delivery than standard.
Express: Express shipping is the fastest option, enabling shipments to arrive within 1-2 days. Overnight delivery or next day is also an option with express or priority mail express options, which is available for residential or PO box addresses. Express shipping rates typically come at a higher cost than standard shipping and may require shipping insurance to protect high-value items during transit.
Other shipping options
Ground Advantage Mail: First-class mail is a cost-efficient option for standard-sized, lighter single-piece envelopes with expected mail in 1-5 business days.
Media Mail: Media mail is a way to send eligible books, media, and educational materials within 2-8 business days.
Other factors that affect domestic shipping times
Aside from the shipping speeds you plan to offer to ensure your items arrive on time, other variables could affect domestic delivery times.
Holiday and weather delays
Adverse weather conditions such as snow, ice, rain, or fog have the potential to disrupt transportation methods, causing flight delays and the closure of roads and railways. These weather-related challenges significantly affect delivery speed, prompting carriers to reroute or reschedule shipments accordingly.
It’s also important to consider holiday closures, as numerous post offices do not distribute or collect mail on these days. Recognizing that most post offices, like the United States Postal Service, observe closures on federal holidays like Veterans and Memorial Day, as well as major holidays such as Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, can help your business account for added transit time during these holiday seasons. Christmas, particularly, is the busiest time for delivery services, often causing delays in transit due to supply and demand issues.
Packaging and labeling
Damaged or lost items and improper labeling are key contributors to shipping delays. Since many eCommerce businesses are producing upwards of hundreds to thousands of packages each week, it’s not uncommon for items to go missing or end up broken due to poor packaging. To avoid delays, mailers should use efficient and secure packaging that ensures products withstand the rigors of transit. Proper packaging safeguards items against potential damages and contributes to a positive customer experience, enhancing brand trust and loyalty.
Additionally, accurate and clear labeling is a must for seamless logistics, aiding in the swift and accurate sorting of packages within the carrier network. Proper labeling facilitates a smooth journey from the warehouse to the customer’s doorstep, minimizing the risk of misdelivery or delays. As the first tangible interaction customers have with a brand, thoughtful and professional packaging, coupled with accurate labeling, sets the stage for a positive unboxing experience, leaving a lasting impression on the customer and boosting the overall reputation of your business.
Shipping to unique locations
While shipping within the borders of a single country may sound like a breeze, it still has its fair share of challenges. In the U.S. for example, there are certain territories that the U.S. encompasses. Beyond the 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam (GU), U.S. Virgin Islands (VI), American Samoa (AS), and the Northern Mariana Islands (MP) are all currently classified as domestic locations within the United States.
However, each territory holds a distinct political status and relationship with the United States. As a result, these locations may not require customs documentation to ship there, but the price to ship to these territories may cost more and will take longer. The same can be said for other locations like Hawaii and Alaska. Alaska is a large state, with vast, remote areas. Many of the shipping zones are only accessible by plane or boat. It’s important when choosing a shipping partner, that they have a thorough understanding of how to ship locally as well as to unique locations that may require additional surcharges or shipping specifications.
How to choose the right shipping partner for domestic deliveries
As shipping expectations continue to rise for eCommerce businesses, ensuring that your chosen shipping partner not only aligns with your business needs but also offers guidance on sound shipping policies becomes paramount. This proactive approach helps steer clear of shipping errors that could otherwise lead to delivery delays. Different carriers like FedEx, USPS, DHL, and UPS present a range of shipping options like UPS Ground and USPS Mail Ground, each accompanied by estimated delivery times and set pricing offers. And while the fastest and cheapest delivery option may be tempting to choose, it’s essential to consider additional variables to the shipping process to guarantee the timely and secure arrival of your package.
Factors such as a courier’s mailing experience, knowledge of state or regional-specific mailing procedures, and a proven track record of on-time deliveries are considerable attributes of an ideal shipping partner. Further, providers should uphold stringent quality control measures to ensure safe and compliant delivery. The presence of a dedicated team of customer service experts can also be pivotal in distinguishing a reliable shipping partner from one that prioritizes speed at the expense of potential damages and delays.
Ensuring customer satisfaction when shipping domestically
Ensuring a package’s timely arrival is the cornerstone of providing exceptional customer service when shipping domestically. After all, in the new era of same and next day delivery, customers have developed high expectations when it comes to online purchases. Recent research has found that 56% of online shoppers expect same day delivery and are willing to pay more for it if not offered. With such high expectations, you need a customer service plan to ensure that if an item does not arrive within a designated time frame, you have a team ready and willing to offer support to maintain client satisfaction.
Clear and proactive communication regarding shipping updates, tracking information, and potential delays fosters transparency and builds trust. In cases where issues arise, a responsive and supportive customer service team can swiftly resolve concerns, mitigating dissatisfaction and enhancing customer satisfaction. This, in turn, contributes to customer loyalty, positive reviews, and repeat business.
Ship domestically with ePost Global: Our Domestic eDGE
At ePost Global, we’re one of the largest U.S.-based, privately held direct-to-consumer international shipping providers. With the launch of Domestic eDGE, our domestic shipping service, our eCommerce customers gain access to a vast network of hundreds of carriers for both international and domestic shipping, reaffirming our commitment to providing the best possible experience in the ever-evolving world of eCommerce logistics.
Our commitment to excellence is centered around our many offerings. Partnering with ePost Global ensures:
- Seamless connectivity for eCommerce brands and shippers to a single distribution hub, offering easy access to both regional and national carriers.
- Advanced tracking capabilities to track parcels comprehensively through their journey, offering customers real-time insights into their shipments with a unique tracking number.
- Guaranteed 2-5 day average delivery transit, accommodating various volume estimates.
Streamlining your shipping experience is effortless with our straightforward process. Begin by generating labels for your packages and schedule a pick up for all your packages for drop-off at the closest ePG facility to you. Our system efficiently sorts and routes your packages, optimizing both cost and transit times with a single tracking number, providing you with maximum visibility throughout the entire shipping journey.
The optimal profile for partnership is tailored for packages weighing less than 25 lbs. and shipping 1,000 parcels per shipment.
Common Domestic Shipping FAQs
Still want to learn more about domestic shipping? Read on to learn our list of the most commonly asked questions.
- How does domestic shipping differ from international shipping?
Domestic shipping pertains to the shipment of goods within the confines of a country’s borders, while international shipping encompasses the transportation of items across international boundaries, like shipping from the United States to Germany. Engaging in international shipping introduces a multitude of considerations, including navigating the customs clearance process, selecting a provider with global shipping capabilities, and adhering to the associated fees and regulations applicable when shipping beyond U.S. territories.
- Do weekends affect domestic shipping times?
Yes, weekends and holidays may impact shipping times. Some carriers do not operate on weekends, leading to delays in processing and delivery.
- Can you get tracking with domestic shipping?
It depends on the provider. ePost Global offers priority parcel tracked and not tracked options; however, tracking is highly recommended, as it provides real-time insights on the whereabouts of your parcel.
- Are there restrictions on items that can be shipped domestically?
Yes, certain items may be subject to restrictions or regulations. Verify with your carrier and refer to their guidelines to ensure compliance.
- How much does domestic shipping cost?
Domestic shipping costs will vary based on several factors including the package’s weight and size, the shipping speed chosen, and if the items require special certificates or handling. Add-ons like express delivery and shipping insurance also play into the cost. Some carriers will offer flat rate shipping or other cost-efficient options to help save on expenses.
Whether you’re a small business or a shipping veteran, shipping takes time, and often, it’s difficult to find a happy medium between fast and affordable shipping options leaving you to question: How long does domestic shipping take? But when you partner with ePost Global, we make it simple. We offer domestic and international shipping services, so whether your business is only interested in shipping locally or across the world, we have the skills and expertise to get your packages where you want them to go.
Are you still wondering: How long does domestic shipping take? If so, contact us. We’re happy to discuss your domestic shipping needs and work out a plan that works best for your business.
