© NAMPIX / STOCK.ADOBE.COM

ShipTime delivers

Shipping platform offers Costco members a variety of services and savings

ShipTime prides itself on being the largest multi-carrier shipping platform for small-package delivery and less-than-truckload (LTL) freight, says Michael Nowak, the company’s channel manager for Costco.

Whether they ship goods once a month or dozens of times a day, Costco members can benefit from the ShipTime platform’s many features, including its fully bilingual service, Saturday delivery, live chat functionality and e-commerce connectivity. The platform also invites users to compare rates among competing carriers in real time, so they can be assured they are getting the best possible rate and transit time.

“In the Canadian transportation landscape there are dozens of courier companies and hundreds of LTL carriers fighting for the same customer,” Nowak says. “ShipTime stands out in several ways, but the top reason we are the largest multi-carrier platform in the country is that our platform is the most comprehensive, meaning that we offer the greatest list of options from one place.”

From Canada Post to UPS, FedEx, Purolator, DHL, Canpar Express, GLS and more, Costco members have access to discounts, quick and intuitive shipment processing and tracking, and plug-ins that link to the likes of Shopify and WooCommerce—simplifying order fulfillment for any size shipper. That is especially appreciated by small-business owners, whose numbers have increased significantly since the pandemic.

“If you’re selling your product mostly online, which most small businesses do these days, shipping is a very critical component of that transaction,” Nowak says. “So seamlessly integrating a shipping component with the customer’s shopping cart is a key differentiator for our members.”

When it comes to Costco members, Nowak explains, frequency of use is not an issue—ShipTime does not differentiate between high-volume and low-volume users.

“We have a rate for Executive members and we have a rate for Gold Star members,” he says. “And those are the best rates that our company offers on the open market.”

---

Going the distance

Just as ShipTime has made it easier for an ever-growing number of business owners to ship goods online, it has made it easier for customers to return those goods if necessary. Upon completing their online transactions, buyers can now print return labels for the original packaging in case their delivered goods prove unsatisfactory. With the click of a button, they can then arrange for their packages to be picked up and shipped to the seller.—SC

---

Sharon Chisvin is a Winnipeg writer, editor and oral historian, and a long-time Costco member.

---