OrientDig Package Consolidation Notes
Learn how OrientDig package consolidation works, when to consolidate, how it affects shipping costs, and best practices for combining parcels.
What Is Package Consolidation?
Package consolidation is the process of combining multiple individual products into a single parcel for shipping. Instead of shipping each item separately, the OrientDig warehouse staff groups your products together in one box. Consolidation is a key strategy for reducing per-item shipping costs because you pay one shipping fee for the combined parcel instead of separate fees for each item. The shipping fee for a consolidated parcel is generally less than the sum of individual shipping fees for the same items.
When Consolidation Makes Sense
Consolidation is most beneficial when you have multiple products arriving at the warehouse around the same time. If all your products are available, consolidating them into one shipment almost always saves money compared to shipping separately. Consolidation makes less sense when products arrive far apart. If one product arrives today and another will not arrive for two weeks, the storage time while waiting may offset the shipping savings. Consolidation also works best when products are compatible in terms of fragility and packaging requirements. Shipping a heavy item and a delicate item together may risk damage to the delicate item.
How Consolidation Affects Weight
Consolidation affects both actual weight and volumetric weight. The actual weight of a consolidated parcel is simply the sum of the actual weights of all included items plus packaging. The volumetric weight is calculated from the outer dimensions of the combined package. This is where consolidation can have unexpected effects. If you combine several compact, dense items, the volumetric weight may be close to the actual weight, resulting in efficient shipping. If you combine bulky items with compact items, the bulky items determine the package dimensions and therefore the volumetric weight. The compact items add actual weight but may not significantly increase the volumetric weight if they fit within the space already occupied by the bulky items.
Original Packaging and Consolidation
During consolidation, the warehouse may remove original packaging to reduce volume. This includes shoe boxes, retail packaging, and excess padding. Removing original packaging reduces the overall package dimensions, which can lower the volumetric weight and shipping cost. However, original packaging also provides protection during transit. Without the original box, shoes may be more susceptible to damage. Researchers can often choose whether to keep or remove original packaging during consolidation. Consider the trade-off between cost savings and product protection when making this decision.
Consolidation Best Practices
Plan your purchases with consolidation in mind. Try to have products arrive at the warehouse within a similar timeframe so you can consolidate without excessive storage time. Group products with similar fragility levels together. If you have one fragile item, consider shipping it separately or requesting extra padding during consolidation. Review the estimated shipping cost for consolidated versus individual shipping before making a decision. The OrientDig platform typically shows estimated costs for both options. Keep in mind that consolidation estimates may change slightly after final packaging and weight measurement.
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