Pet supplies fulfillment planned around parcel costs
A bulky pet bed and a dense bag of supplies create different shipping costs. Review product dimensions, carton sizes and customer destinations alongside pick and pack so packaging does not consume the margin you expected from the order.
What changes here
Weight and parcel dimensions matter for bulky or heavy pet products. Replenishment orders can also create recurring demand that helps with inventory and dispatch planning.
- Dimensional weight bills the air
- A carrier charges on whichever is greater, the actual weight or the volume the parcel occupies. On light bulky goods the volume wins, which means an oversized box is billed as though it were full of something dense. The fix is boxing to the order rather than to the shelf.
- A box size is worth measuring, once
- The gap between the right carton and the one nearest the bench is small on one order and structural across a year of them. Getting the range of cartons right is a short exercise with a lasting effect on the shipping line of your P&L.
- Distance costs more when the goods are heavy
- Zones are priced on weight, so heavy stock held far from the customer is the most expensive way to hold it. Holding it in the building nearest the demand is a bigger lever here than in almost any other category.
- Subscriptions make the volume knowable
- Recurring orders give you a demand signal before dispatch. Use the schedule to plan stock and packing capacity, while accounting for changes, cancellations and new subscribers.
Where the money actually goes
For bulky or heavy orders, the shipping charge can outweigh the pick and pack fee. Compare actual and dimensional weight, packaging options and the distance from stock to customer before deciding where the saving is likely to be.
- Cartons are chosen against the order, so a small order does not travel in a large box full of void fill.
- Stock can sit in more than one building, so the heaviest lines are closest to where they sell.
- The weight and the dimensions are on the record, so the cost of an order is a number you can look at rather than a monthly surprise.
Four questions worth asking any provider
Use these questions to compare providers, including Ecom. Ask for the process and documentation that apply to your products.
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01
How do you choose a carton, and how many sizes do you actually stock?
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02
Do you measure and weigh at packing, or use a nominal figure from the product record?
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03
What would it take to hold my heaviest lines in more than one building?
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04
Is there anything in my range you will not ship, and can you tell me now?
Where this goes next
Other sectors
Send us your heaviest ten lines.
Dimensions, weights and where your customers are. We will tell you what they should ship in and where they should sit.