Peak Season Shipping: How To Keep Your Costs Low To Maximize Store Profits

The 2024 holiday peak season has arrived, bringing the yearly rise in eCommerce demand that impacts shipping costs and delivery times. With Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other holiday shopping events on the horizon, now is the time to strategize around these predictable shipping rate hikes to avoid delays and unexpected costs for your business.

For 2023, USPS opted to waive holiday surcharges, and Postmaster General DeJoy assured customers that USPS could meet peak volume “in a superior and routine manner.” The USPS Ground Advantage (GA) service, launched last year, saw strong initial adoption, which may have influenced the decision to maintain stable rates last season.

However, this year, USPS has introduced holiday surcharges that will be in effect from October 6 through January 19, 2025. The goal of these adjustments is to support USPS’s fiscal strategy and help manage the anticipated seasonal demand. For businesses looking to fine-tune their shipping approach this season, it may be beneficial to explore various options to keep costs predictable.

For businesses seeking to keep shipping costs manageable this season, exploring various carrier options can help ensure a flexible and cost-effective approach. Easyship offers access to a range of discounted rates across multiple carriers, including UPS® with no peak surcharges, as well as other shipping solutions tailored for high-volume periods.

We’re committed to helping businesses navigate the busy holiday season with options that support efficient, reliable, and affordable shipping solutions.

How To Approach Peak Season Shipping

Peak shipping season is a high-stakes period in logistics, where surging demand and limited capacity challenge even the most prepared businesses. Spanning the summer and intensifying from October through December, this period aligns with major shopping events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas. To keep costs in check and operations running smoothly, businesses need a solid strategy to tackle the challenges of peak season effectively.

Ensuring Supply Chain Resilience for Peak Season

Peak season brings unique challenges, and a well-prepared supply chain can make all the difference. Here’s how to get ready:

• Audit Your Supply Chain: Conduct a detailed assessment to uncover any bottlenecks or vulnerabilities that could slow you down.
• Lock in Shipping Capacity Early: Reserve space with carriers in advance to ensure you have the capacity you’ll need, avoiding last-minute surprises.
• Diversify Transportation Methods: Consider a mix of air and sea freight to spread out risk and minimize dependence on one shipping mode.
• Plan for the Unexpected: Create a robust backup plan for disruptions, such as severe weather or carrier delays, to keep your supply chain on track.
• Keep Communication Flowing: Proactively inform suppliers and customers about possible challenges, ensuring everyone is prepared to adapt as needed.

By taking these measures, you’ll create a more resilient supply chain capable of handling peak season’s demands smoothly.

Tips to Reduce Shipping Expenses This Peak Season

Peak season is always a busy time, but with a little planning, you can keep your supply chain steady. Here’s what to do:

• Track Shipping Data Closely: With Easyship's branded tracking, you can stay on top of your shipping data, allowing you to quickly identify and resolve any issues before they impact your customers.
• Build a Flexible Shipping Plan: A flexible plan lets you adjust easily to changing demands and limited space.
• Get Support from a 3PL Partner: Easyship’s fulfillment services provide flexible capacity and critical support to keep your supply chain efficient during peak demand.
• Keep Communication Open: Stay transparent with customers and suppliers about any potential delays, so everyone’s on the same page.
• Stay Ready to Adapt: Safeguard your shipments from damage, loss, and theft with Easyship’s shipping insurance, so you're ready for the unexpected.These steps can help you tackle peak-season challenges without too much hassle!

Why Multi-Carrier Shipping Strategies Are The Answer To USPS Holiday Surcharges

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is bringing back peak season surcharges for 2024 after skipping rate adjustments last year. Starting October 6 and continuing through January 19, 2025, USPS will increase rates across key services, expecting to generate over $77 million in additional revenue during the holiday season. Here’s how this impacts popular USPS services:

• Peak Season Surcharge Period: October 6, 2024 - January 19, 2025
• Ground Advantage: Average increase of 6.4%
• Priority Mail: Average increase of 5.5%
• Priority Mail Express: Average increase of 4.9%
• Revenue Projection: USPS expects to gain $77 million in additional revenue

These temporary price increases are intended to cover the extra handling costs associated with peak season demand. After a brief pause in 2023, USPS aims to align with other carriers like FedEx and UPS, which apply similar seasonal adjustments to manage high demand and support financial stability.

Takeaway: For eCommerce sellers, the increase in USPS rates means higher shipping costs during peak season. To keep expenses manageable, consider Easyship’s discounted UPS Ground Saver, a low-cost alternative that can provide reliable service without seasonal surcharges. Comparing rates across carriers can help you navigate holiday shipping smoothly while staying within budget.

UPS® Ground Saver Is More Economical Than USPS - Ground Advantage for Peak Season Shipping Costs

With USPS rate increases for peak season 2024, UPS® Ground Saver has emerged as the most cost-effective option for shipping lightweight eCommerce parcels. By using Easyship, you can save up to 50% on UPS® Ground Saver rates, giving you access to discounted UPS Daily Rates typically reserved for high-volume shippers. This provides a clear advantage over USPS Ground Advantage, especially for lighter items, helping you control costs during the busy holiday season.

For heavier shipments, FedEx stands out with some of the lowest rates in the industry, making it an ideal option for large or long-distance deliveries. By combining UPS® Ground Saver for lightweight packages and FedEx for heavier ones, you can optimize your shipping costs and navigate the holiday season with confidence, leveraging the best rates across your needs with Easyship.

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Los Angeles to New York – 6 x 4 x 1 Parcel

Chicago to Miami – 12 x 6 x 6 Parcel

San Francisco to Los Angeles – 15 x 12 x 10 Parcel

Compare UPS To USPS To FedEx

Despite USPS’s 2024 peak season rate increases, affordable shipping options are still available. By using UPS® Ground Saver through Easyship, you can enjoy significant savings on peak season shipping costs, with discounts of up to 50% off UPS Daily Rates—ideal for keeping expenses down on lightweight packages.

Getting started is easy. Simply log in (or create a free Easyship account) to unlock these discounts and start shipping right away. Easyship’s platform is free for the first 50 shipments each month, allowing new users to try out these reduced rates with zero commitment.

For example, shipping a 25 lb. package from Chicago to Miami with FedEx - Express Saver is more than half the cost of USPS - Ground Advantage, thanks to the exclusive Easyship discount. With UPS® Ground Saver for light packages and FedEx for heavier items, and Sendle - Preferred Pickup for large, lightweight parcels, Easyship has your peak season shipping covered with cost-effective solutions. Don’t forget to check out regional couriers for added savings and flexibility; they often provide competitive rates and faster service within targeted areas, enhancing your peak season shipping.

With Easyship, you enjoy the same premium UPS shipping experience, including:

• No surcharges
• Reliable shipping, tracking, and customer services
• Package pickup and drop off
• $100 liability coverage included

Plus, Easyship gives you a suite of powerful shipping features as part of our all-in-one shipping platform:

• Automated shipping label generation
• Live courier rates in your checkout
• Accurate duty and tax at checkout
• Shipping insurance up to $10,000
• 24/7 award-winning customer support

Swapping out to UPS® Ground Saver over USPS can unlock major savings and efficiency gains throughout the holiday season.

Ready to start saving on shipping for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the holidays? Just create your free Easyship account. We're 100% free to use for your first 50 shipments each month, and the deeply discounted rates are available to you instantly.