The Real Cost of Packing and Shipping Orders in Singapore (And Where You’re Overspending)

Most online sellers in Singapore think “fulfilment cost” = courier fee.

But that’s just the visible tip of the iceberg.

If your profits are thinning out—or you’re stuck at your current scale—it’s time to audit your entire fulfilment process.

Here’s a look at where sellers are quietly bleeding money… and how to fix it.

1. Packing Time = Real Labour Cost 

Whether it’s your staff or you doing it yourself, every minute spent:

1. Picking SKUs

2. Folding boxes

3. Sealing parcels

4. Printing & attaching AWBs

...adds up to man-hours you’re not tracking.

💡 YouMart clients report 20–35% savings after we took over their packing process with trained staff and SOPs.

2. Material Waste Adds Up 

Unoptimized packing = paying more for:

1. Oversized boxes

2. Unused filler

3. Damaged returns from poor wrapping

And if you’re paying by volumetric weight, using the wrong box size is leaking profit per shipment.

3. Courier Surcharges You Didn’t Notice 

Beyond base rates, you might be paying:

1. Residential delivery surcharges

2. Failed delivery penalties

3. Peak period surcharges

4. Same-day rush fees

YouMart’s volume-based courier deals often eliminate or soften these hidden fees—without any need for you to negotiate separately.

4. Handling Exchanges, Returns & Re-deliveries 

If your return rate is 3–8% (normal for most e-commerce categories), you’re absorbing:

1. Extra customer service hours

2. Reverse logistics cost

3. Time spent repacking & restocking

 5. Manual Systems That Create Rework 

Are you:

1. Copy-pasting orders from one platform to another?

2. Updating inventory manually?

3. Printing packing lists off spreadsheets?

That’s not just tiring—it’s risky, and introduces expensive errors. We automate everything from Shopify, Shopee, and your website via YouMart’s fulfilment dashboard.

Your shipping bill might be $3. But your real fulfilment cost is much higher when you factor in time, waste, and inefficiencies. The smartest sellers don’t just chase lower courier rates—they fix their fulfilment system.

Want a fulfilment partner who helps you save on hidden costs? Let YouMart audit your packing and shipping setup.