Is Rate Shopping in ShipStation worth it?

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ShipStation users who want to save money will look to the carriers providing the best rates. 

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Shipping through ShipStation already gives you access to big discounts on most of the major carriers compared to your typical retail user. 

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But, just because you’re getting a discount on retail rates doesn’t mean you should choose the default option every time. To save even more money on your shipments, rate-shopping can help you identify the best rates across carriers in real-time. 

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Years ago, the only way you could do this was to manually check the most cost-effective or fastest option based on your shipment’s details (weight, dimensions, destination). 

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Rate Shopping without automation was and is incredibly time-consuming. Many ShipStation customers argue that manual rate-shopping, while it saves you money, may not be worth the time it takes to ensure you get the best rates. 

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Now, there are tools that let you automate Rate Shopping in ShipStation to save you both time and money. 

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How do you automate Rate Shopping in ShipStation?

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Within ShipStation, there are a couple different features that help with automation:

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You can use ShipStation’s automation rules. 

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Automation rules are static, so they won’t be able to factor in everything real-time. ShipStation’s automation rules work in an “if this, then that” manner.

For example, “IF a package weighs more than 1 pound and less than 5 pounds, THEN use Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes through USPS.”

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So are automation rules worth using?

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Setting up automation rules will generally help you with your margins, though its static nature may result in missed savings. If you want to purchase no other feature to help you save time/money on your shipments, determining automation rules is well worth it. 

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You can purchase Rate Shopper in ShipStation.

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Unfortunately, while ShipStation gives you discounts on retail rates through most major carriers, Rate Shopper has some limitations. 

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Rate Shopper doesn’t utilize every carrier, which keeps you from realizing all the savings you could. Similarly, Rate Shopper can’t factor in things like time in transit to choose whatever the cheapest service is that will arrive in time.

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So is Rate Shopper worth it?

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You will likely save money with this feature compared to using Automation Rules. Rate Shopper allows you to be more flexible and specific with your carrier selection, and despite a few shortcomings, Rate Shopper is likely a worthwhile investment if you’re looking to save money on your shipments. 

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To learn more about Rate Shopper, you can click here. 

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Is there a better way to automate Rate Shopping in ShipStation?

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It’s safe to say that rate shopping will save you money. The question of “is rate shopping in ShipStation worth it?” depends on how much time and effort you want to put in to ensure it automates correctly. 

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All ShipStation users should know about 3rd party tools that can integrate with ShipStation to help with rate-shopping automation. 

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String is one of the tools that provides the most efficient way to automate rate shopping in ShipStation. String levels up the effectiveness of Rate Shopper to create the most comprehensive and autonomous rate shopping tool you can have in ShipStation. 

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Unlike ShipStation’s default automation rules, String analyzes rates in real-time, ensuring you get the best rates with every shipment. 

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Unlike Rate Shopper, String can get rates for any carrier or service in real time while also factoring things like time in transit to always choose the cheapest possible option that will arrive in time. 

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String offers the best of both worlds - all the capabilities, yet extremely simple. 

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Why should I use String for automated rate shopping?

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You can use default ShipStation automation rules or use Rate Shopper, but here are some reasons to consider String as your automated rate-shopping tool in ShipStation:

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Cost Savings: String automatically compares shipping rates across carriers, helping the average user save $1.07 per shipment.

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Time Efficiency: String saves you time from manually checking rates, constantly recreating rate shopping rules as rates change, and automating the entire process of creating shipments. 

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Real-Time Rate Comparison: String provides up-to-date rates from various carriers, ensuring you're always choosing the most cost-effective and reliable option.

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Is rate-shopping in ShipStation worth it? The answer depends on how you’re rate-shopping. 

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If you’re rate-shopping with String, it’s worth every penny. 

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On average, ShipStation users save $1.07 per shipment with String. Want to see if Strings automated rate shopping tool can benefit your business? Click here.

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