Use finished parcels as your starting point
Record the gross weight and outer dimensions after packing. Include the actual carton, protective materials and any protrusion that forms part of the parcel. Product weight alone cannot explain the shipping profile of a large, lightweight package.
Prepare examples for common order combinations, not only your smallest item. If several products ship together, measure the resulting parcel rather than adding product dimensions informally. Use the volumetric weight guide to understand the measurement questions behind a quotation.
Confirm destinations and the charging basis
Share your dispatch PIN code and typical destination PIN codes. Ask which service and locations the quote covers, what charging unit applies and whether there are minimums or weight bands. A rate discussed for one lane or parcel profile should not be assumed to cover every order.
If dimensional charging applies, confirm the divisor or cubic factor, units and rounding. Ask how additional weight is assessed and how remeasurement is recorded. Keep the accepted rules so a later invoice can be checked against the same basis rather than a remembered headline rate.
Separate the facilities you actually need
Ask what collection and delivery work is included. Clarify applicable taxes and any additional service you request. If COD is proposed, ask about collection charges, permitted amounts, payment methods, settlement and reconciliation. If returns are proposed, ask how authorisation, reverse collection and any RTO charges work.
These are questions to confirm, not automatic components of every service. Record the answers before deciding which options appear at checkout. The guides to COD versus prepaid and customer returns explain the operating records to maintain.
Compare cost using an order lifecycle
| Cost area | What to review |
|---|---|
| Packaging | Materials and labour for the correct parcel |
| Forward movement | Accepted charging basis and included scope |
| Optional collection facility | Terms if COD or another facility is agreed |
| Exceptions | Applicable reattempt, holding or other agreed work |
| Return movement | Authorised reverse or RTO terms |
| Taxes and adjustments | Applicable tax and documented corrections |
Use actual order records to assess cost per successful delivery over time. Do not assume a return rate or invent a universal margin. Your product mix, destinations and operating quality determine the relevant comparison.
Avoid savings that create a larger problem
A smaller parcel can reduce wasted space, but removing necessary protection may increase damage and returns. Declaring a lower weight or a smaller box than the actual parcel creates reconciliation problems. Improve the package design and measurement process instead of hiding the dimensions.
Likewise, an unsupported delivery promise can generate complaints even when the dispatch price is low. Match customer-facing expectations to the confirmed arrangement and your own preparation time. Keep records of approved changes, failed deliveries and refund decisions rather than treating them as unrelated costs.
Request a useful seller quotation
Share representative package profiles, monthly volumes, main destination lanes and dispatch frequency through Business Account. State which additional facilities you need reviewed. Ask for an explanation using an actual parcel example and retain the quotation version you accept.
- Measure final packed parcels.
- Confirm lanes, charging rules and minima.
- Identify taxes and optional facilities.
- Understand exception and return terms.
- Reconcile invoices using shipment references.
Use Get a Quote for a defined requirement or the Rate Calculator for an eligible parcel estimate. Confirm account-specific scope separately. Explore E-commerce Logistics before building the shipping options for your store.
Common questions
Are shipping charges based only on product weight?
The final parcel, dimensional rules, destination and agreed service can affect charges. Confirm the applicable method.
Does a quote include COD?
Only rely on it if the facility and its charges and settlement terms are explicitly confirmed.
Can return costs affect my delivery pricing?
Review the return and exception terms that apply to your arrangement and use actual order records to assess the overall cost.
Can I use a public estimate as an approved account rate?
Confirm the business arrangement separately. An estimate does not establish all account terms or optional services.
Plan shipping around your online business.
Share your products, packed parcel sizes, dispatch volumes and delivery routes. Let us review the services your operation needs.