Every day millions of packages are shipped through the mail and millions are delivered. In a fast-growing world, we have plenty of options to ship our goods to every corner of the world.
Every shipping option comes with a different price and speed. You can choose depending on what you need. Today in this fast-growing world we often need things done fast. Shipping is no different to it. Expedited shipping has been around for quite some time now. In this blog, we will specifically discuss expedited shipping. Discussing its pros and cons, we will also tell you how fast is it in actuality and is it worth the money you are paying.
What Is Expedited Shipping?
Putting it simply in words it is faster than your standard shipping. In the process, it is entirely different than standard shipping. In expedited shipping, your package is treated differently from pick up to the final delivery. You give a deadline to the shipper, and you also pay the extra money to get it delivered within that given deadline.
Your package is picked up by a dedicated courier and moved entirely on separate shipping routes for fast delivery. Both in the air and on the ground your package is one step ahead of normal shipping protocols.
How Fast Is It?
Depending on the destination and your logistics company the speed and the cost vary. Some courier companies offer same-day delivery to some specific destinations. Some offer same-day domestic shipping where your package is delivered the same day within your country. There is no specific time frame and cost because these companies operate in different geographical locations and shipping arrangements are different in every country.
To put it in simple words it is 2x or 3x faster than normal shipping. If standard shipping takes around 10 days to deliver your goods to another country. Expedited air shipping might take only 3 or 4 days to get the job done. Here we must say it’s not one rule that applies all due to obvious reasons we discussed earlier.
How Much Does It Cost?
As stated, before it is expensive compared to normal shipping due to obvious reasons. Not just a few bucks it is more expensive than you might have thought. Depending on the company and the delivery location it can cost you 3 to 5 times higher than normal shipping.
Expedited shipping is all about trust and the more trustworthy the company is the more it will charge. Big shipping companies who have a proven track record of delivering goods on time have a bigger customer base and they also charge good money because it is not about the money, it is about the trust that your package will be delivered within your given deadline.
Tracking And Support
Tracking and customer support are must-have features when it comes to expedited shipping. A good service includes real-time tracking and 24/7 customer support. You can track your package anytime and in case it is falling behind your timeline you can call the courier company and they can update you.
Express Shipping and Expedited Shipping
Some of you might be thinking that express shipping and expedited shipping are the same. They might sound similar but in fact, they are very different. Express shipping is way faster than expedited shipping. Some of the key examples of express shipping are On Board Courier and Next Flight out where your goods are shipped on the very next flight available and delivered dedicatedly to your doorsteps.
Is Expedited Shipping Worth It?
That entirely depends on what you are looking for and what you get. If you are not in a hurry and goods being shipped at normal speed are not affecting your business, expedited shipping might just not be your choice of shipping.
For instance, you are running a production plant and a vital piece of machinery has malfunctioned and that piece needs to be replaced ASAP, or you are running low on your inventory and you need to refill your stock so that you don’t lose any customer or simply you just need a laptop shipped as early as possible so that you can resume your work. In all these situations expedited shipping is not just a luxury it is a need. Aviation and automobile industries use expedited shipping very often. In some cases, they even use express shipping.
When Do You Need Expedited Shipping?
Paying extra on expedited shipping comes in handy in multiple situations. Below is the list of items that require expedited shipping even if there is no urgency.
Perishable Goods
Goods like food items, fruits, vegetables, and meat are to be shipped frozen and they should not spend more time out in the open. That is why expedited shipping is a need and you must get your perishable goods delivered ASAP.
Fragile Items
Consider you are sending a set of wine glasses to your grandmother and your mail is going on a roller coaster ride and when it reaches your destination it is not the same. Shipping involves loading and unloading goods several times, that is why fragile items are to be dealt with special care. The longer it stays in the mail the more it is exposed to getting damaged. That is why you should always send the fragile item on expedited shipping.
Expensive Items
Shipping companies don’t often lose packages, but your diamond ring is not worth the risk. Make sure when you are shipping expensive items, they should spend less time on board with the shipping company. Shipping companies these days have special arrangements where you can get your package insured as well and delivered on a priority basis.
You Have a Time-Critical Shipment
Automobile manufacturers and aviation companies use expedited shipping. For instance, a commercial airliner is grounded in some remote location and the airline company wants that repaired and up in the air as soon as possible. The more that commercial airliner stays on the ground the more it will cost money to the airline. Similarly, the whole production process comes to a halt when some critical machinery part malfunctions. In both cases, companies opt between expedited shipping and express shipping depending on the urgency of the situation.
AGOL Worldwide has been leading the expedited shipping industry for the past 10 years. We at AGOL Worldwide offer a good variety of expedited and express shipping options. From dedicated onboard courier service to dedicated ground delivery, we can get your goods delivered anywhere in the world.
Has a shipment that needs to be expedited or express shipping? Consult our logistics expert now.
