Updated September 17, 2019.
How can boxes cost so much money? This is a question that comes to mind when you’re shopping around for shipping boxes. It makes finding cheap shipping boxes feel that much better. But it’s important to think about all the factors that go into what makes a box so cheap. Sometimes, it’s not truly all that much more cost-efficient.
Here’s why your shipping boxes may not be as cheap as you think.
Bulk Pricing
Bulk pricing seems ideal for many companies and it seems like the best way to get cheap shipping boxes, but what about the small businesses? It’s not always feasible to buy 1,000 shipping boxes at once just to get a lower price point. Some small businesses only ship out 200 boxes a month making the shipping boxes less cheap than expected. A competitive price analysis is helpful in determining how much you’re really paying for a box. To save you time, we performed a competitive price analysis for you. We found that bulk pricing only decreases prices marginally and unfortunately is required to order from some major distributors.
While bulk ordering may be cheaper, it might not be logical. If you’ve done a projected forecast of sales for the year then you and your team can predict how many boxes you truly need.
Small businesses should instead be searching for flat-rate pricing. The price you pay doesn’t change regardless of if you go up or down in quantity. On average, bulk pricing does not even come close to the consistently cheap shipping boxes of flat-rate pricing. Shopping for shipping box suppliers that use flat-rate pricing (like us!) helps you avoid bulk prices and an excess of box inventory.
Shipping Costs
Let’s say you find a stellar deal on shipping boxes. Now you go to checkout and see that shipping costs almost an arm and a leg. Turns out your cheap shipping boxes won’t actually be so cheap anymore. In some cases, it can cost $30 to ship a bundle of 25 shipping boxes. That’s over a dollar per plain brown box. And unfortunately, that’s on the low end. Still think you scored some cheap shipping boxes?
Environmental Costs
While buying cheap shipping boxes from a bulk supplier might seem like the best option for your wallet, what is the true cost? Because a majority of box suppliers don’t use recycled materials, your business and our home is at risk. Buying boxes from a cheap box supplier that produces sustainably is a win for the environment and your business.
So what do you do? Look out for shipping offers to score free or discounted shipping rates on your boxes. You can also do your research to compare shipping costs between corrugated box suppliers. You may end up saving a lot of money and making your shipping boxes truly cheaper than they were before.
When on the hunt for cheap shipping boxes it’s important to do your research and understand what kind of boxes will suit your business. It may be time-consuming to compare prices and costs, but you’ll end up saving money and getting cheap shipping boxes all in one.
Our content freelancer Brianna Washington contributed to this article.