Courier choice is one of the most consequential operational decisions for an eCommerce business. The right courier keeps customers happy, reduces your customer service workload, and — at the right rates — keeps your unit economics healthy. Here's a structured approach to making the decision.
Before comparing couriers, clarify what you actually need: What are your typical parcel dimensions and weights? Do you need next-day delivery or is 48-hour sufficient for your customers? Do you sell internationally? Do you need Saturday delivery? How important is tracking quality to your brand and your customers? Answering these questions narrows your courier shortlist significantly before you start comparing rates.
For most eCommerce businesses, courier reliability matters more than per-parcel cost. A courier that delivers 98% of parcels on time but charges 30p more per parcel is better value than one that delivers 93% on time but is cheaper — once you account for the customer service cost of the 5% gap (contacts, replacements, refunds, and negative reviews).
Published courier rates are rarely the rates you should be paying. Volume discounts kick in quickly — usually from as few as 50 parcels per week — and are available directly with most couriers. The fastest route to volume rates without the volume is to dispatch through a 3PL that has negotiated rates across multiple carriers and passes them through to clients.
PackPro clients access negotiated rates on DPD, Royal Mail, Evri, and Parcelforce with no minimum volume commitment. View our rate structure or request a quote.