Jules
3 min read
Oct 24, 2020

Key Points:

  • 47% of Americans say they only plan to shop online for gifts, according to a survey by Morning Consult
  • Cutoff dates are less vital for Cyber Monday, sure, but crucial at Christmas
  • 96% of customers won't purchase from your store in the future if they have a bad experience with returns

Cyber Weekend 2022 — aka the most profitable three days in all of eCommerce — is right around the corner. 47% of Americans say they only plan to shop online for gifts, according to a survey by Morning Consult. So how can you prepare for a holiday season more lucrative than ever?

1. Be Transparent

Customers like surprises when they're gift-wrapped with a bow on top. Out of stock notifications, unforeseen shipping costs, delivery delays – nobody likes these sorts of surprises.

It's important to open a line of communication with customers for the entirety of the purchase experience. Use your website, monthly emails, and post-purchase outreach to be transparent about the status of your inventory, delivery dates, and shipping costs. Upfront and honest communication is a key way to gain shoppers' trust, and pave the way for repeat orders in years to come.

2. Observe Delivery Cutoff Dates

Late deliveries can be a big disappointment. So it's smart to map out the last send-by date you can ship an order to have it arrive on time. Call or message your courier directly to find this date, or just look in your Easyship dashboard to see the delivery lead time for the service.

Cutoff dates are less vital for Cyber Monday, sure, but crucial at Christmas. With holiday cheer at stake, be sure to check the final send-by date from your chosen holiday couriers. Here are the deadlines for US couriers in 2022:

Once you set these dates, share them widely on your website, email promotions, and even social media. By leveraging these dates as a Black Friday marketing tool, you can encourage customers to make purchases far before the cut-off, avoiding any belated arrivals.

Of course, your store’s deadlines are up to your own discretion. You may need to extend the delivery lead time due to the time it takes to produce products, source goods, or just for expected delays. Whatever the case, the name of the game here is managing customer expectations. Consider being flexible and setting staggered ship-by dates for customers who are local, domestic and international.

3. Offer Multiple Shipping Options

Who doesn’t like choices? Offering multiple couriers and shipping options is an advantage in eCommerce, where customers expect fast and often free shipping. One study found that 2 in 3 online shoppers choose their retailers by the shipping options.

This makes sense. Some customers are willing to pay extra for expedited shipping. Others don’t mind waiting for a cheaper order overall. You can display three live courier rates in your checkout from any courier with Easyship. Our Rates at Checkout feature lets your buyers control shipping costs and speed, like on Amazon, to help you boost conversions and win repeat business from choosy modern shoppers.

4. Lock Down Your Return Policy

It’s nice to imagine that the customer journey ends with the checkout process, but that’s almost universally not true. Aside from the unboxing experience, many customers will continue on their journey making eCommerce returns. But that’s not always a bad thing. If handled properly, it can actually strengthen their relationship with your brand. Seriously: 96% of customers won't purchase from your store in the future if they have a bad experience with returns — meaning it requires a lot of money and work on their end.

How is this possible? Like all things, through transparency. In this case, specifically through transparency in the return policy, which should be clearly laid out in your brand’s shipping policy. If you don’t have one yet, no worries. You can get started with Easyship’s free shipping policy generator, easily customizable to your needs. Make sure that your return policy is elaborate and clearly defines all the conditions and charges associated with the return process, like shipping and restocking fees.

Simply drafting a policy isn’t enough. Make sure that it’s accessible to customers. You can be sure to include it as the fine print to any and all deals, emails, and product pages — think of it as an extension of your Black Friday marketing plan.

{{ free-shipping-for-the-holidays-101 }}

5. Consider Free Shipping

As any small business owner knows, everything is marketing. Including how you ship. Of course, there’s the branding and design aspect, but that’s a given. These days, free shipping isn’t seen as a bonus, but a barrier to purchase. Bear in mind, nine out of 10 customers say it’s a deciding factor when they shop online. And that is especially true around the holidays, as people will seek out Black Friday deals that include free shipping.

However, any small business owner also knows that free shipping adds up fast. The business cost of shipping without charge, which has been normalized by big-box companies, is unsustainable. So what’s an eCommerce merchant to do? Well, there are several courses of action. Here are some ways you can make Black Friday free shipping happen:

  • Free shipping on best-selling items
  • Free shipping on high-value “bundles” of items
  • Limited-time-only Free shipping during the holiday season, beginning on Black Friday
  • Raise product prices to accommodate for the business cost of free shipping
  • Make free shipping available to customers who spend a certain amount above average (ie: Free shipping on orders over $100)

While certainly not a definitive list, the above-mentioned strategies are commonly used methods that help to absorb business costs.

Bottom Line for Holiday Shipping

When it comes to Cyber Weekend 2022, the best thing you can do for the success of your eCommerce store is to plan, plan and then follow your plans.

Nervous about all the hubbub around Black Friday? Sail through the tides of international eCommerce with Easyship. By partnering with the leading couriers to offer over 250+ shipping solutions, globally, we do all the heavy lifting for you. We also give you the opportunity to gain a personal, competitive edge by creating branded tracking emails and packing slips, providing your customers with a genuine, branded experience.

Sign up for an Easyship account today to supercharge your holiday shipping!

{{ your-perfect-shipping-policy-ready-in-minutes }}

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key Points:

  • 47% of Americans say they only plan to shop online for gifts, according to a survey by Morning Consult
  • Cutoff dates are less vital for Cyber Monday, sure, but crucial at Christmas
  • 96% of customers won't purchase from your store in the future if they have a bad experience with returns
Get Your Ship Together.

By submitting the form, you agree to receive marketing emails from Easyship.

Save up to 91% on Shipping. Try for free.

Effortlessly compare 550+ courier services with one global account. Instant discounts. Start in minutes.

Shipping Internationally? Unsure What Tariffs or Duties Apply?
Try our FREE Tax & Duty Calculator

Trying to stay up to date on the latest cross-border shipping and import requirements? Get an instant estimate of all applicable taxes and duties for every country across 220+ global destinations or sign up and take advantage of our in-built HS Code lookup tool.

Calculate Tax & Duties Instantly (Free Tool)
Ready to Stop Overpaying for Shipping?
Try our FREE Shipping Rate Calculator

Looking for the cheapest way to ship a package? Get an instant shipping quote and compare rates from 550+ courier services across the United States, Canada, UK, Australia, and more. Simply add your package size and delivery location, and you'll find the best deal in seconds.

Calculate Rates Instantly (Free Tool)
Planning Your Campaign?

Get in touch with us now and our shipping consultants can give you a detailed quote and additional info to help with your campaign.

Get in touch
The Cheapest Shipping from USPS, UPS & FedEx

Find the guaranteed cheapest rates for any courier in seconds with Easyship’s free shipping rate calculator. Compare discount rates from USPS, UPS, FedEx, and 250+ couriers at a glance.

GET RATE QUOTES FREE
The Cheapest Shipping from USPS, UPS & FedEx

Find the guaranteed cheapest rates for any courier in seconds with Easyship’s free shipping rate calculator. Compare discount rates from USPS, UPS, FedEx, and 250+ couriers at a glance.

GET RATE QUOTES FREE
Get in touch with our fulfillment experts!

We believe simple pricing is the best pricing. Get a quote with a simplified pricing structure and no hidden fees.

Contact us
Need help fulfilling your crowdfunding campaign?

We provide the necessary tools needed to keep you on budget for shipping and to safely deliver your product to backers around the world.

Learn more
Try our duty & tax calculator!

Need to estimate your shipping duties & taxes? Our calculator can give you an idea of what to expect.

TRY IT NOW
Save up to 91% on Shipping. Try for free.

Compare 550+ courier services with one global account. Start in minutes.

GET STARTED FOR FREE
Get a Free Quote for Your Campaign

Receive a personal cost estimate for your crowdfunding campaign from our trusted global fulfillment partners. Easyship is a certified Indiegogo partner.

GET FREE QUOTE
Looking for great rates from a top courier?

Save up to 74% on UPS shipping rates by shipping with Easyship. You can run a quote and generate your first shipments in literally minutes!

SHIP WITH UPS TODAY
The cheapest way to ship for eCommerce

Get instant access with volume-discounted shipping rates. Save up to 89% off on USPS, UPS, FedEx, and more. Easyship is free for 50 shipments each month.

SIGN UP FREE TO SAVE
Find your perfect fulfillment partner with expert help

Let Easyship connect you to the largest shipping and fulfillment network on Earth. You’ll find trusted partners for all things logistics. Guidance is free from our global shipping experts.

ASK AN EXPERT
Don’t miss our money and time-saving features!

Explore the powerful features that 100K+ merchants use to ship smarter, not harder. Shipping automation, live rates at checkout, live duty and tax – all free to try with Easyship.

EXPLORE ALL FEATURES
Start saving on shipping in seconds

Create your free Easyship account to streamline shipping and save with discounted rates. No hidden fees. No minimums. Just savings.

CREATE YOUR FREE ACCOUNT
Create Your Shipping Policy Free

Use our guided walk-through to build the perfect shipping policy for your eCommerce business.

CREATE YOUR POLICY FREE
Looking to intergrate your Shopify store?

With 550+ pre-negotiated shipping services available with discounts of up to 91%, you can save time & money today when you integrate your Shopify store with Easyship

REGISTER FOR FREE
Use Easyship Free Every Month

Easyship is free to use for 50 shipments every month. You’ll save big on our discounted shipping rates up to 91% off, and save time with smart automation. Signup is fast and free.

CREATE YOUR FREE ACCOUNT
Don’t miss the key steps to fulfillment success

Follow the easy path to fulfillment success. Easyship’s free fulfillment checklist provides a proven step-by-step so you can ship at scale without the guesswork.

VIEW THE CHECKLIST
Ship for less with any courier, guaranteed

Save up to 89% off all shipping rates. Easyship offers the guaranteed cheapest volume-discounted rates on the market from USPS, UPS, FedEx, and 250+ global couriers.

SIGN UP TO SAVE
Don’t miss all our money and time-saving features!

Explore the innovative features that 100K+ merchants use to ship smarter, not harder. Shipping automation, live rates at checkout, live duty and tax – all free to try with Easyship.

EXPLORE FEATURES
Want the cheapest rates?

Register for an Easyship account today and you will gain access to the cheapest rates, instantly.

REGISTER FOR FREE
Watch out for international duty and tax!

What exactly does it cost to ship cross-border? Use the free duty and tax calculator from Easyship to view accurate import costs for any shipment to anywhere.

USE FREE
Protect Your Crowdfunding Budget from Cost Creep

Prices are rising, deliveries are slowing. Get up to speed on the state of crowdfunding shipping with expert Easyship analysis and keep your campaign on budget.

LEARN MORE
Discover the Cheapest Shipping from USPS, UPS & FedEx

Find the guaranteed cheapest rates for any courier in seconds with Easyship’s free shipping rate calculator. Compare discount rates from USPS, UPS, FedEx, and 550+ courier services at a glance.

GET A FREE QUOTE
Discover Your Cheapest Way to Ship

Find the guaranteed cheapest shipping in seconds with Easyship’s free shipping rate calculator. Compare discounted rates from USPS, UPS, FedEx, and 250+ global couriers at a glance.

COMPARE RATES FREE
Compare the best rates in seconds

Get an instant estimate of the cheapest shipping rates with our free calculator tool.

GET FREE RATE QUOTES
Save money on every shipment

Save up to 91% off shipping with Easyship’s discount courier rates. Create your free account to save instantly on 550+ courier services, including USPS.

CREATE YOUR FREE ACCOUNT
Ready to ship internationally?

Get help from our global shipping experts on warehousing, global shipping and to connect with our network of trusted 3PLs.

GET FREE SHIPPING TIPS
How’s Your Covid Shipping Policy?

Use our free shipping policy generator to formulate your safest, most customer-friendly shipping policy in seconds.

GET YOUR SHIPPING POLICY
Try Pre-generated Return Labels For Free

Register for an Easyship account today and get 30-days access to a Premier plan with access to Pre-generated Return Labels.

Generate Return Labels Today
Discover the Cheapest Shipping from USPS, UPS® & FedEx

Find the guaranteed cheapest rates for any courier in seconds with Easyship’s free shipping rate calculator. Compare discount rates from USPS, UPS, FedEx, and 250+ couriers at a glance.

GET RATE QUOTES FREE
Get Up to Speed On Covid Shipping

Explore our Covid shipping resources to make sure your shipment arrives on time and in good condition.

LEARN MORE
Free Shipping for the Holidays 101

Learn how the leading brands offer free shipping, calculate costs, and ship on a budget for the holidays in our free shipping guidebook.

LEARN MORE
Your Perfect Shipping Policy, Ready in Minutes

Use Easyship’s free shipping policy generator to formulate your perfect holiday shipping policy for returns, tracking, and more. Just follow the prompts and you’re done!

GET YOUR SHIPPING POLICY
Scale Your Growth Internationally With Pro Tips

Learn how to ship internationally without missing a step. Our case studies show you proven tactics for shipping worldwide from Easyship users who did it right.

READ CASE STUDIES
No items found.
Share on:

Related Articles

No items found.