Whether you want to put gorgeous art or snarky sayings on the T-shirts you sell, you’ll find that there are quite a few things to remember as you get into the T-shirt business. Not only do you have to produce a quality shirt, you also have to get the shirt to your eager buyers. Ideally, the shipping methods that you employ should be fast, reliable, and cheap. Make sure that you consider the options that are open to you when you send off your T-shirts!
Be Aware of T-shirt Weights
Before you can figure out which shipping method is the least expensive, you first need to know how much your T-shirts weigh. When you are selling custom printed T-shirts, you will find that you are likely only sending between one and four off at once. A small T-shirt generally weighs about 6 ounces, with about .5 ounces getting added on for every size after that, up through an extra large, or XL. A 2XL can weigh as much as 8.75 ounces, and a 3XL will weigh in around 9.5 ounces.
These are roughly the correct weights for a basic cotton T-shirt, but keep in mind that there may be some variations across the brands. However, this list gives you a good set of weights to work with as you start determining shipping prices.
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is still one of the best ways to get small items around the country. If you are only shipping one or two shirts, you’ll find that the USPS has one of the best rates available to you. Go to your local post office and weigh the package that you want to have mailed. If it is less than two pounds (32 ounces) it will cost roughly five dollars flat rate to ship, making it entirely worth it to use the USPS system.
Make sure that your customers know that you are going to be shipping things via USPS. One of the drawbacks of using this system is that the tracking is not as effective as it is with other parcel services. However, when you want to give the customers the most for their dollar, the United States Postal Service is the way to go for very small orders.
FedEx Ground and UPS
Both FedEx Ground and UPS offer excellent parcel rates once you have exceeded the two-pound mark. Both services will give you discounts for setting up accounts online, which can help you further reduce the amount of money that it costs to get your T-shirts from one point to another. Make sure that you investigate the rates that your particular packages will require.
Both of these services offer you excellent rates if you become a regular customer, and they both have more assurances of prompt delivery than the USPS. While the USPS offers compensation for delayed packages, both private organizations tends to be more prompt about delivery in the first place. Shipping via FedEx and UPS are roughly comparable; you will find that depending on the actual weight of the package, the price ranges between seven and ten dollars, with the price increasing as the weight does.
If you are considering cheap shipping for your custom T-shirts, there are several great deals to consider. Remember that the key is to get the shirts to your customers as quickly and effectively as possible without breaking the bank. Choose the service that plays to your business’s needs.
Ann Keel is freelance blogger who sometimes writes for www.tshirtprinting.org, a site that can help you with your custom printed t-shirt needs.
