Get your best shipping rates!
Tips on saving you money.

Since opening Sweet Sixteen Store.com, I've picked up on some very interesting shipping facts that I'd like to pass on to you. I understand that shipping fees can sometimes be down right frustrating, believe me, they are to me too, so I've put together a list of tips and facts that might help you with the anxiety over shipping fees and ETA's.

NOTE: ALL OF SWEET SIXTEEN STORE.COM'S ITEMS ARE USUALLY IN STOCK AND WILL USUALLY SHIP THE SAME OR NEXT DAY UNLESS OF COURSE THE ORDER IS OVER THE WEEKEND.

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

First, if your event is, let's say, 3 or 4 weeks in the future then why not try choosing USPS (United States Postal Service) First Class mail as your shipping option? You have plenty of time for your items to reach you by this method and you'll save tons compared to UPS ground.

USPS Priority mail is another great option. The fee's are low and delivery is usually within 2 to 3 business days. You'd be shocked by the savings if you compared this to UPS 2nd day air or UPS 3 day select.

U.P.S.

Using UPS.com as a tool.

I've seen this too many times! Say a customer of mine lives in South Carolina and she needs a cake topper for her daughter's b-day this weekend. It's Wednesday so she is panicking. She purchases a cake topper for $15.99 and then pays an additional $25.99 to have the item shipped UPS 2nd air. By choosing UPS 2nd air, her package was guaranteed to reach her by Friday. What she didn't know is that if she would have chosen UPS ground, her package would have reached her the next day and she would have saved herself around $14.00 in shipping fees. Geographically, that was possible. Not all states will fall into this catagory.

If you are using UPS, there is a very easy way to see if your package will reach you in time and for you to get an approximate shipping rate. (I say approximate because the rates vary depending on the shipping weight.) Here's how:

Go to UPS.com. You do not need to log in or register. On the front page (bottom, middle section) under QUICK LINKS, click on CALCULATE TIME AND COST.This will take you to the next page. On this page, you'll see WHAT TYPE OF QUOTE DO YOU WANT? Choose QUICK TIME AND COST PACKAGE. Below this, you'll see WHEN AND WHERE.  You'll also see SHIP FROM and SHIP TO. All you need here is the zip code information. SHIP FROM zip code will always be 33908. The SHIP TO zip code will, of course be the zip code in which you'd like your package shipped. Now you have to choose a DESTINATION TYPE. Simply choose from Residential or Commercial. Then you'll have to enter a WHEN ARE YOU SHIPPING DATE. Since most packages ship the same day or the following day, choose same day if the order is placed before noon, the next day if placed after noon.

Lastly, you'll need to enter a weight. This of course will vary depending on how many items you order. UPS typically will charge 2lbs for a 6x6x6 box (what we normally use), even though the box may weigh less, so 2lbs is a good weight to use in this area for small orders. After you enter a weight, click next.

This will bring you to the TIME AND COST SUMMARY page. Here you will see all of the shipping services offered by UPS, their rates and UPS' guarateed delivery times. Very helpful and a good way to free yourself from panicking if your items will reach you in time and give you a chance to maybe save on some money.

I hope this information was helpful. I absolutely love what I do and I don't want my customer's to be discouraged by rising shipping fees. It's a big day for your sweet sixteen, so celebrate her and let her shine.

I am always just an email away, so if you have any questions just email them to sales.sweetsixteenstore@live.com or just click on the "email us" link on our website.