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What to Consider for Your Expedited Shipping Service

The media and entertainment industry; an exciting field with thrilling opportunities. You’re constantly meeting new people, having novel experiences, and traveling to different places. And while being on the move like this can be fun and enjoyable, it also presents its own set of challenges.

Namely, transporting your expensive and fragile equipment. You’ve most likely been going through the motions, reading online reviews, comparing Expedited Shipping Service costs, and looking at different companies. All to find an expedited shipping service that can deliver your delicate equipment.

There are many things to take into consideration when making such a decision. This post will show you what to consider when looking at your shipping company options, so you can feel comfortable knowing your production equipment will arrive safely and securely.

What to Consider for Your Expedited Shipping Service

To ensure a pleasurable expedited shipping experience, you must first know what to look for in a company so that all of your needs are met. This can take some time, but will be well worth it in the end.

Because without sorting out these details now, it can cause a lot of unnecessary frustration later.

So with that being the case, here are a few things to keep in mind when looking into your potential shipping company options.

What’s the Destination of Your Delivery?

Ideally, you want a provider who can ship your production equipment wherever you want it to go. However, there are Expedited Shipping Service out there that only offer local Expedited Shipping Service deliveries.

This means–depending on the size of your delivery and where it’s going–you may have to hire a larger company that offers national and international Expedited Shipping Service.

This is especially true if you happen to be shipping overseas.

And of course, there’s nothing wrong with this. It just means you’ll have to probe a little deeper and ask a few questions to determine if the providers can offer what you’re looking for.

Capable and Adept

You want your provider to know what they’re doing, you want to trust them in the handling of your materials. This becomes especially critical when dealing with sensitive and costly video production equipment.

Scour through and start reading online reviews on companies you’re thinking about hiring.

Do past customers have good things to say about their efficiency, aptitude, and competency? Are the ratings high and positive?

If so, you may have found a winner. If not, it’s best to continue looking.

Customer Satisfaction

You should be looking for Expedited Shipping Service with a strong customer satisfaction rating. If you’re entrusting a company with your expensive valuables, you want to make sure they’re in good hands.

Every company puts its best foot forward on its website, so that’s not always an accurate portrayal.

So instead, look at the comments on the popular review sites. Check Google, Reddit, Yelp, etc.

See what other people’s experiences have been like with the company you’re researching. Were the reviews mostly positive? Were the customers happy? Did they praise the shipping company for a job well done? Etc.

Don’t get bamboozled by a fancy website and slick copywriting, but instead, go to the source of truth–which is previous customers.

Now, this is not to say that shipping companies are trying to deceive you in any way, not at all. It’s just about being diligent to make sure your production gear will be well taken care of.

The Contents of Your Shipping Order

Being in the media and entertainment industry, you manage very delicate and high-priced equipment. And due to the fragile nature of that equipment, that will automatically eliminate certain shipping company options.

Some shipping suppliers simply won’t have the means or the skillful sensitivity for your particular brand of materials.

And if that’s the case, your expedited shipping experience can quickly turn into a nightmare if you choose them.

So be sure that you keep looking until you find a company that does provide what your equipment requires.

The Volume of Your Shipping Order

The size of your order will affect your decision of the company you choose. Some shipping companies only deal with smaller or medium-size loads, while others handle large and bulk-sized loads.

You may get better deals on bigger shipments as well, so that’s something to keep in mind. But keep searching and comparing shipping costs until you find a company that can meet your needs.

Various Carrier Alternatives

Having options gives you choices, and having choices means you’re in a better position to get the best deal for yourself and your video production equipment. So be sure to have a few companies that you’re looking at.

Moreover, this will also give you more negotiating power. You can work out more competitive rates, and at the end of the day, the more money you can keep in your pocket–the better.

Tracking of Shipment

This is simple, knowing where your materials are during the delivery process and when they’ll arrive provides peace of mind. Check to see which shipping companies offer this feature.

Nothing is more anxiety-inducing than not knowing where tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of your equipment is.

Save yourself the grief and keep sifting through the shipping company options until you find one that has this hallmark.

Ongoing Support

This is a big one. If you have lights, camera gear, tripods, green screens, gimbals, and other types of costly equipment, you’ll want ongoing support and communication from the people shipping it for you.

It’s important that all lines of communication be open. Phone calls, emails, text updates, etc. You want it all.

If you have any questions or concerns during the shipping process, you’ll want a response from someone who can provide you with answers.

And to ensure that’s the case, you must find a shipping company that offers stellar (and going) support throughout the duration of your delivery.

Rates of Service

Of course, you want premium service for the delivery of your materials. But you also want a deal that’s not going to burn a hole in your checkbook. So the rates of the shipping service is another important point to consider.

How much money do you have allocated for this expense? And is it enough to provide you with the quality of service you want for your production equipment?

And one more crucial thing to know as it pertains to money is don’t skimp on the cost.

Yes, you’ll want to keep comparing shipping costs to find the best deal and save as much money as possible. But if you’re transporting valuable video equipment, then think about making the investment in a quality shipping service.

It may be more expensive but at least you know your gear will be well taken care of.

Options for Insurance

You’ll definitely want some type of insurance coverage for materials (for obvious reasons). Even though most shipping companies are professionals, accidents can and do happen.

And if you’re not properly covered, that accident can be an expensive ordeal.

However, you can get coverage on many mishaps such as theft, damages, as well as lost material. So do yourself a favor–regardless of what expedited shipping service you choose–make sure that you’re covered.

Here are a few options for shipping insurance companies:

FedEx

United States Postal Service

Shipsurance

Shipping Methods to Think About

Trying to pick a shipping provider becomes easier when you know the options of shipping methods available to you. When you’re familiar with your options, you can make a more informed choice about which ones are best for you.

Here are a few of them to take into account:

The Road (Trucks)

Using semi-trucks and other types of freight is a great option. This is because you only pay for the space your material occupies.

In addition to that, if you have a medium-size load, this could be the best option to get it to its destination quickly in the most cost-effective manner.

The Sky (Planes)

You won’t be disappointed with the air freight delivery service. Using this method lets you avoid many of the troublesome elements that often come with road freight.

Things like adverse weather conditions, car accidents, etc, won’t be an issue.

Airplanes also have tight security, so you can rest assured that your video production equipment will be safe upon arrival.

This may be the best option for a secure, cautious, and speedy shipping service.

Overseas (Ships)

Ships are great if you happen to have a particularly large delivery. If you’re transporting camera gear and equipment to assist in a big production, then this option would be best.

Your material is stored in a safe and secure warehouse on the ship. And once the shipment arrives at the mainland, you also get inland destination delivery.

Picking a Shipping Service That Works for You

When it’s all said and done, this really comes down to your specific needs and wants. An expedited Expedited Shipping Service can make the process of transporting your production equipment effortless.

But this can only happen if you clarify what you really need and keep searching until you find a company that matches those requirements.

If you’d like to learn more, please feel free to contact us for additional information.