SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sendle, the 100% carbon neutral shipping carrier specifically designed for small business, has bucked the trend and announced it will not introduce US peak season surcharges this holiday season.
Major carriers such as FedEx and UPS have recently announced new peak season surcharges in addition to regularly scheduled holiday fees. The price hikes come in the midst of a massive shift to eCommerce during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a resulting boom in home delivery.
With eCommerce set to reach record highs during the holiday season — currently up 69% on last year — many small and micro businesses cannot afford to pay more for domestic shipping.
Sendle CEO James Chin Moody said: “Our mission at Sendle is ‘Shipping that’s good for the world,’ and that means we take care of the little guys, the ones who are the backbone of the US economy, the entrepreneurial makers and creators who’ve faced some of the biggest hurdles during COVID.”
“Many of our small business customers are going through a rough patch. The last thing they need is another fee, so we’ve decided the right thing to do is absorb the costs ourselves. Our small business community in the United States can go forth and ship, safe in the knowledge that the rate they see is the rate they get,” Moody added.
Sendle launched in the US in November 2019 and levels the playing field for small businesses by offering affordable flat-rate, carbon-neutral shipping with no hidden fees, subscriptions, or minimums required. The digital courier also has a price guarantee and is up to 85% cheaper than other carriers.
“Peak surcharges are challenging for small businesses that are already unable to negotiate volume rates with the major couriers. By having no surcharges, we are doubling down on our commitment to support small business and provide ease and transparency in the shipping process, with no nasty surprises,” Moody said.
In mid-August 2020, Sendle raised US$13.7m to help small businesses manage unprecedented eCommerce demand, expand the company’s US shipping network and support its accelerated growth. The raise was backed by San Francisco-based venture capital firm, King River Capital.
About Sendle
Sendle is the first carrier in the United States specifically designed to serve the needs of small businesses in the eCommerce space. Sendle levels the playing field for small businesses by offering affordable, flat-rate shipping across the US, with no hidden fees, subscriptions, or warehousing required. Merchants simply purchase a label and schedule a pickup from Sendle, and their package is picked up from their front door. Sendle is the first 100% carbon neutral shipping carrier in the US and is a certified B-Corporation. The company was founded in Australia in 2014 by CEO James Chin Moody, and is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, and Seattle, Washington.
