Best Shipping Supplies Source For Small Businesses: Uline
Vs. Alternatives
You might be surprised to learn that there are several shipping supplies alternatives besides the traditional big box stores we used to shop at.
For decades, big box stores have been the go-to choices for sourcing shipping supplies for smaller businesses. They carry these items in abundance and at highly competitive prices compared to their own chain of businesses. As a result, you see a lot of small business owners and price-conscious consumers sourcing their shipping supplies from these stores. However, there are exceptions to this rule.
The big box stores cannot compete with the serious supply network of the online retailers. They are too big to build their own distribution systems in every part of the country. It is also more costly as these businesses have to purchase more space and inventory to sell their products to retail stores in various locations.
Thus, you have online brick-and-mortar retailers that have streamlined their operations into a few warehouses and fulfillment centers nationwide. As a result, a one source of supply for their customers, who include the online retailers.
Best Shipping Supplies: Uline vs. Alternatives
Moving across the country is a hassle, especially when it comes to the cost of shipping items. You may have heard that it’s cheaper to ship items yourself rather than pay for a third party like Fedex or UPS to ship the supplies to your new home. But who’s going to send you the supplies, how will they be packed and shipped, and how much will it cost?
There are two major players in supplying packing materials for movers: Uline and its competitors. Uline is a national company that supplies material for most residenital moves, including the supplies for your own moving kit. Uline also offers international shipping solutions.
Uline isn’t the only option, however. Other national companies operate under different names, like Ward’s Moving & Storage and Dreamline. However, you probably don’t need to be familiar with these names since they aren’t as well-known as Uline.
Uline
Uline is a reputable company that operates in most states and will supply you with packing material for your shipment. They have over 400 locations that are open on weekdays for you to visit and purchase your supplies.
Pros:
Since Uline serves businesses and residential customers, they are more likely to have packing supplies that match the requirements of your shipment.
Best Shipping Supplies Source for Small Businesses: Uline
If you are ordering shipping supplies for your business, you will have to decide whether you want to order from a local supplier or from an online source. A local supplier, such as Robert-Blakely Packaging, may have a better grasp of your business’s needs and specific requirements. But an online source like Uline may offer a wider variety of products with more convenient shipping options.
Cheap, sturdy, and easy to use, Uline shipping supplies can be found at low prices when you use a discount shipping coupon online at Uline.ca. Whether you want to fill boxes with bubble-packed products, corrugated boxes, or envelopes, Uline.ca offers enough shapes, sizes, and options to ensure that all your shipping needs are met. As of now, Uline ships to over 200 countries to ensure that you get the products you need at the lowest prices.
Branching off from shipping supplies, Uline offers aeronautical supplies, including foam cushioning tape, packing tape, and shrink wrap. Voluntarily testing for ink and aerosol labeling compatibility, Uline’s shipping supplies meet, and exceed, federal and state regulations. Plus, you can be certain that all products are 100% recyclable.
In-Depth Review: Uline vs. Packaging Supplies, Shipping Supplies vs. eSupply Store
Who’s Best for Shipping Supplies?
Uline vs. Alternatives: What’s the Difference?
Both companies are famous for offering competitive prices, excellent customer service and incredible discounts.
Majority of the time, there is little or no difference between the services these companies offer.
Their primary difference is not found in typical shipping and packaging supplies but in other rare scenarios.
Both companies are famous for offering competitive prices, excellent customer service and incredible discounts – and for a very good reason. For decades, these two companies have been the king of the shipping supply industry.
They are more willing to offer low prices to their customers than their competitors and have perfected the art of business. However, here we are going to take a more intimate look to compare these two companies.
Can Uline and Alternatives compete The biggest difference between the two companies is price; you will find a significant difference between their shipping supplies, but you will not be able to make that kind of difference with other shipping supplies such as boxes, bubble wrap and packing tape which are fairly similar. However, their pricing is different and more expensive than most companies which means the deals and discounts you get are not quite as good. Also, neither company uses lightweight sacking on a roll for custom orders so it is going to be a lot more expensive just because of that.
Shipping Supplies Selection & Product Search
Shipping Supplies can be a difficult task. Things can go wrong, and it’s vital to think things through properly before picking your shipping supplies. Often, when people face difficulties with shipping, they head straight for the first store they’ve ever been to.
That’s why I think it’s important to consider Uline as the best shipping supplies source for your business.
Producing 40 million pounds of air & surface shipping supplies a year (an especially impressive number when you consider their online sales), Uline is one of the biggest and most respected shipping supply providers out there.
Beyond the quantity and quality of their offerings, Uline is also recognized as one of the most reliable shipping supply providers. This is important if you need to contact them to ask them to ship out something important.
One thing I find interesting about Uline’s selection is their ability to provide product selections that cover almost every type of shipping need. They also provide an easy way to filter by category for customers who are looking for a specific type of shipping supply.
Uline, of course, is not the only alternative when it comes to shipping supplies. Here are some other popular alternatives:
- Amazon
- Walmart
- 3M
- Catches Health Chemical
- Dollar General
- Home Depot
Shipping Supplies Prices
Uline is a company that offers an impressive portfolio of products. They even have a very helpful guide to figuring out what you need to buy for your shipping business. From giant rolls of packaging tape to roll in floor marking markers, Uline is a good place to sort through all of the options.
If you are already a big business, you may find that deciding what supplies you need becomes a bit overwhelming, but you’ll also find plenty of options. Uline can help you figure out what to buy.
Alternatives
Alternatives has a lot of supplies as well, and you shouldn’t mistake them for just something you can buy for your home. In fact, their product line includes items that are specifically ideal for storing and shipping materials, such as moving blankets. The next time you need a product that does double duty, this might be the place to check.
The big difference between Uline and Alternatives has to do with their pricing. Uline’s products typically come with longer shipping times and they cost a little bit more. Alternatives can provide them for lower prices. That’s because Alternatives is a lot smaller and doesn’t have to provide the same customer service level that Uline does.
Shipping Costs
Suppliers of shipping supplies may be big and they may be small. But whatever their size, they all have one thing in common – shipping costs.
That’s because their shipping costs are usually comprised of three key components – packaging costs, shipping charges, and shipping insurance.
The level of these costs is determined by how much they’re going to package your purchases and how much they’re going to add on the return label.
Another key component in determining your shipping costs is the type of mailing method you select. Shipping supplies could also be offered by mailers or freight forwarders.
Mailers and freight forwarders can be reliable sources of shipping supplies. But shipping supplies offered by warehouse supply and fulfillment centers offer additional benefits.
However, choosing what supplier to work with can be a complicated process, especially if you’re new to the process of ordering shipment supplies. In this article, we’re going to look at the advantages of each supplier and the factors you should consider when selecting who’s best for shipping supplies that fits your needs.
Order Returns
Uline vs. Amazon, Shipping Supplies
Amazon is an online retailer that offers a wide array of products. One of the items they sell are shipping supplies for business. How do they stack up against competitors and do they offer better shipping supplies at a better price?
While there are many different types of shipping supplies, we’re going to look at the three products you most frequently need to ship. These are cardboard boxes, shipping tape, and mailing envelope inserts. After we discuss these products, we’ll compare the prices offered by Amazon, Uline, Jon’s Packaging, and a new vendor, PillPack.
Cardboard Boxes
Can you buy standard cardboard boxes anywhere for shipping? You can order these boxes from Amazon, Uline, or Jon’s, as well as a number of other providers. However, Amazon is the only one that offers a bulk price for a box of 500. Although they are only a bit more expensive, you can save a lot of time by ordering your box from Amazon.
Shipping Tape
With shipping tape, again Amazon and Uline are the only two retailers to offer a bulk price. Jon’s offers a small quantity, while you need to order more from Amazon or Uline. The shipping tape is also slightly cheaper from Amazon.
Customer Service
For companies like Amazon and Walmart, the customer's experience is not always the primary focus. As a matter of fact, they have direct relationships with customers, which is why they are able to offer such low prices. They are able to sell and ship products with minimal overhead because their core business is the shopper, not the shipping and warehousing side of business.
When it comes to the more discerning consumers, there are companies that offer a better overall customer experience. These companies are focused on the customer experience, offering personalized attention in addition to correct delivery of an item.
Our Choice – ULINE
There are countless places where a consumer can order a product online. Yet even though these sites have proven to be efficient in their own right, it is important that those customers who care about the quality of products they receive and the outstanding customer service are able to find these companies.
There are hundreds of companies in the industry, but the one we chose as our best for shipping supplies is a leader in industry innovation and customer service. ULINE is creating an entire web of services for their customers, offering a range of options and products.
Why ULINE?
With a great lineup of services for consumer satisfaction, ULINE provides:
- Packing and Shipping
- A large variety of printed supplies
- Industrial, janitorial, construction, and office supplies
- Custom Fabrication
The Bottom Line
Uline is a well-known and trusted name when it comes to shipping supplies. They offer a wide selection of shipping supplies that ship nationwide, as well as some that ship internationally, and they promise that their packages arrive on time.
Uline has a lot to offer the shipping industry and their prices can sometimes even be lower than the competition. One thing that I really do miss with them is that they don’t offer free shipping on orders over a certain size.
Uline has an excellent reputation, and a loyal customer base, making them an excellent choice for shipping supplies.
From the point of view of the consumer, I would say that Uline is a viable alternative if you are more concerned about quality.