ShipByMail is an affordable Canadian package forwarding company that provides you with a free Canadian address so you can shop at your favorite Canadian merchants. They offer members tax-free shopping from Canada and competitive 4-7 day delivery rates. They also offer 24/7 customer service via email and phone. You can pay the merchant yourself or use their BuyForMe service.
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When shipping an item, the cost is not just based on its actual weight. Surprisingly, shipping 5 pillows (which usually weigh less than a laptop) can be more expensive. In this blog post, Parcel Forwarder will dive deeper into the concept of dimensional weight and explain why bulky items that actually weigh less (such as pillows and lampshades) often result in higher shipping rates.
There are two weight metrics that come into play during shipping: actual weight and volumetric weight. Actual weight is simply the weight of the package as measured on a scale. Volumetric weight, on the other hand, takes into account the dimensions of the package. When shipping items by air, couriers charge based on the higher of the two weights. This practice is due to the fact that the package takes up space in the cargo area of the aircraft.
The calculation for dimensional weight differs depending on the unit of measurement used. In pounds (LBS), the formula is: Length x Width x Height (Inches) divided by 139. If using the metric system, the formula is: Length x Width x Height (Centimeters) divided by 5,000.
Example #1: Shipping a pillow Let Parcel Forwarder consider a pillow with the following dimensions: 40 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm. Although its actual weight is 1 kg, its dimensional weight is 6.4 kg. Therefore, the shipping cost of this pillow will be calculated based on its higher dimensional weight of 6.4 kg.
Example #2: Shipping a mobile phone Now, let Parcel Forwarder check the shipping scenario of a mobile phone with dimensions of 20cm x 20cm x 10cm. Although its actual weight is 1.8kg, its dimensional weight is only 0.8kg. Therefore, the shipping cost of this mobile phone will be calculated based on its actual weight of 1.8kg because it exceeds the dimensional weight.
Understanding the concept of dimensional weight is crucial when estimating shipping costs. While pillows may appear light, their larger size results in a higher dimensional weight, making them more expensive to ship than a laptop, which has a relatively lower dimensional weight. By considering both actual weight and dimensional weight, shippers can make informed decisions when sending packages and avoid surprises.
Parcel Forwarder is an affordable package forwarding company that provides a free Canadian address to customers worldwide, allowing you to shop from merchants in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. They offer tax-free shopping, 4-7 day delivery, 24/7 customer service, and support multiple courier services and global shipping.
Parcel Forwarder's fees include inbound processing, multi-package consolidation, photos, inspection, packaging, insurance, returns, etc. They support purchases from Canada, the United States, Mexico, and accept payment methods from any online store.
Parcel Forwarder is dedicated to providing customers with convenient and economical package forwarding services. They offer 24/7 customer service and can be reached via email or phone.