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Multi-Carrier Shipping System
Reduces Online Retailers’ Lost Sales Due to Surprise Shipping Charges
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (08/24/11)
PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT:
Steve Stevenson
Harvey Software, Inc.
800-231-0296
http://www.harveysoft.com/
Photo By: James Hamilton
FORT MYERS, FL— August 24, 2011 – Today, Harvey Software, Inc. announced
how they can help internet retailers reduce abandoned online shopping
carts. Online shoppers abandon as many as 59% of shopping carts, a 25%
increase over previous years and due in part to unexpectedly high
shipping charges that appear at the end of the order process. With the
increase in abandoned carts, it becomes increasingly important for
online merchants to be competitive with their shipping offers.
“Consumers are more savvy about their online purchasing and they really
dislike surprise shipping charges at the end of an order. We believe
that online merchants are losing sales if they are not taking shipping
out of the equation,” said Bob Sansone, Director of Sales at Harvey
Software, Inc. “We encourage online retailers to display shipping costs
that allow them to compete locally as well as nationally. Studies show
that online consumers are very sensitive to shipping costs and are more
likely to abandon an order at the shopping cart and take their business
elsewhere when presented with shipping costs that price the order above
those charged at the local brick and mortar store,” stated Mr. Sansone.
“Using actual shipping costs leads directly to charging more to
customers who are farther away, and this turns a company into more of a
regional business than a national business. That’s like walking into a
store and being asked where you live before you can get a price. It’s a
quick way to turn off sales. Flat rate shipping offers allows shipping
costs to be displayed earlier in the sales transaction,” stated Mr.
Sansone. “To strategically use flat rate shipping offers, retailers need
to know their average shipping cost per package. Our CPS shipping
software tracks those averages. CPS users can see that data organized by
each carrier or by overall averages. Users can also see the average cost
per pound. This data is crucial when determining how much to charge for
flat rate shipping or even when “Free Shipping” promotions can be
offered,” explained Mr. Sansone.
“After establishing a flat rate shipping structure, free shipping offers
become a promotional option for your marketing strategy. Consumers are
starting to expect free shipping offers around the holidays, and that is
one of the most important times for businesses to stay competitive. By
knowing average shipping costs, retailers can more easily determine
their true cost of these offers, and that allows them to maximize their
profits during peak shopping seasons,” Mr. Sansone concluded.
Harvey Software’s research on flat rate and free shipping offers is
detailed in their “Internet Retailer’s Guide to Reducing Shopping Cart
Abandonment.” It can be found at the HarveySoft.com homepage by clicking
on “Reduce Shopping Cart Abandonment.”
About Harvey Software, Inc.
Harvey Software is an established, leading developer of globally ready,
multi-carrier shipping software solutions, providing businesses with
shipping solutions since 1983. Harvey Software's premium shipping
solution, the Computerized Parcel System (CPS™) increases profits,
boosts domestic and international shipping efficiency, reduces shipping
expenses and eliminates the inefficiencies of single carrier software
systems. CPS is a FedEx® Compatible Solution, is UPS Ready®, USPS®
certified and works with Internet Postage. CPS can be purchased,
downloaded, installed, and supported all over the Internet.
For additional information about this release, contact Steve Stevenson,
Harvey Software, Inc., 7050 Winkler Rd. #104, Fort Myers, FL 33919,
800-231-0296,
http://www.harveysoft.com/.
Disclaimer
Brands and products referenced herein are
the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Photos for Use with this Press Release
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Copyright © 2011 Harvey Software, Inc. All rights reserved.