Shipping Insights
By Rob Martinez
About Rob
Rob Martinez is the CEO of Shipware LLC, a professional services firm that transforms businesses through intelligent distribution solutions and strategies. Rob has helped some of the world’s most recognizable brands reduce parcel shipping costs an average of 25 percent through contract negotiations, rate benchmarking, modal optimization, invoice audit and other savings vehicles. A cum laude graduate of UCLA, Rob has 20 years of transportation industry experience, including executive positions at DHL and Stamps.com, in addition to his work as an outside consultant since 2001.Return on Inventory
4 Multichannel Inventory Planning Best Practices
Apr 17, 2012It seems every retailer I've spoken with recently is scrambling to gain control of their inventory planning, regardless of channel. It's...
Retail Rambles
SkyMall Helps You Prepare for the End of the World
Apr 2, 2012Perhaps I've been watching too much of "The Walking Dead" or maybe too many episodes of "Doomsday Preppers," but my paranoia about the...
Retail Rants & Raves
Really ‘Fair and Square’? How J.C. Penney Alienated a Valuable Customer
Mar 12, 2012Shoppers want to think they're getting a good deal. By taking advantage of sales and using coupons, they get that...
ThinkAbout: Inspirational Verve for Your Product Line!
Can You Up the Ante on Your Products’ Amusement Factor?
Oct 17, 2011Can you up the ante on any of your products’ amusement factors? Is there some ho-hum aspect of your product...
Return on Intelligence
The New CompUSA Rights a Wrong
Mar 16, 2011Two weeks ago in my blog, I totally skewered CompUSA and its warranty company (found out it's Assurant Solutions)...
Creating Positive Customer Experiences
How to Love Your Customers So They’ll ‘Just Love’ Your Business
Feb 14, 2012Customer loyalty is customer love for doing business with you. In fact, neuroscientists studying consumer behavior have discovered that when...
Parcel Rate Increases for 2012
UPS has announced 6.9 percent air increases, partially offset by a 2 percent fuel surcharge reduction. It's also announced a 5.9 percent average ground increase, offset somewhat by a 1 percent fuel surcharge reduction. Net increases for both UPS Air and UPS Ground are 4.9 percent effective Jan. 2, 2012.
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Mistakes to Avoid When Negotiating Your Next Shipping Carrier Contract
There are many pitfalls to avoid when negotiating your carrier agreements. Take the time to develop a valuable relationship with your current carrier, but be sure to invite nonincumbent carriers to participate in annual bids — and give them a real shot! To maximize savings, do your homework, including meaningful benchmarking, and direct carrier negotiations through a formal bid. Take the time to understand and negotiate terms in addition to discounts.
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UPS Shippers: Read the Fine Print!
Parcel shippers be forewarned. Lately, I've seen several misleading, if not unethical business practices by United Parcel Service (UPS). If you're like most shippers, you’ve negotiated incentives off UPS’s prevailing “published” or “list” pricing. For years, UPS used a single list rate for volume shippers and all incentives applied to an established set of rates.
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Parcel Shippers’ Court Battle Continues to Take Shape
AFMS, a parcel consulting firm, filed an amended complaint against defendants UPS and FedEx, stating violations of Sherman Acts 1 and 2. AFMS claims that UPS and FedEx have violated federal antitrust laws. Furthermore, it alleges the parcel carriers are engaged in monopolistic and collusive actions. The lawsuit is the result of UPS and FedEx’s 2010 policies to not participate in bids or rate negotiations that involve third-party negotiators (3PNs) like AFMS.
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You Too Can Offer Free Shipping
Consumers and carriers are squeezing e-tailers: customers expect free shipping and carriers keep raising prices. Residential shipping costs are skyrocketing out of control. What’s a shipper to do?
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