If You’re Making These 7 Shipping Mistakes, You’re Losing Money!
Logistics is a massive part of the UAE economy. The sector is valued at over USD 21 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.9% over the next five years.
Despite this growth, logistics costs can still consume as much as 20% of eCommerce revenues in the country.
What’s often overlooked is that while much of the industry pushes for speed and expansion, the hidden costs of everyday shipping mistakes continue to pile up.
Misclassified freight, incorrect weights, wrong addresses, and poor packaging may seem like minor slip-ups, but they can quickly lead to major expenses. A single delivery error can cost anywhere from USD 15 to AED 150 once reattempts, customer service time, and administrative corrections are factored in.
For businesses handling hundreds or thousands of shipments each month, the financial impact becomes substantial when these errors erode customer satisfaction and brand loyalty gradually.
This blog will cover seven of the most common shipping mistakes businesses make and share practical solutions to help you avoid them.
1. Using the Wrong Packaging
It’s easy to overlook packaging. After all, once the item is in a box, it’s technically “packed,” right? But incorrect or poor-quality packaging is one of the top reasons orders arrive damaged. These days, carriers are increasingly strict about packaging and will reject shipment damage claims if the items aren’t packed properly.
How to Avoid It
Invest in packaging that fits the product well. Use durable materials, double-wall boxes for heavier items, and secure everything with proper tape. If you’re dispatching fragile or temperature-sensitive items, consider using internal cushioning or temperature indicators. Also, never reuse boxes that are worn out or flimsy; it’s not worth the risk.
2. Relying on a Single Shipping Carrier
Yes, having a go-to carrier is convenient. But putting all your eggs in one basket can come back to haunt you if that carrier runs into issues like delays, strikes, or rate hikes.
How to Avoid It
Build relationships with multiple carriers. This gives you more flexibility, helps you stay competitive on pricing, and gives you options if one provider can’t deliver on time. It’s also smart to review your carrier performance every few months to see if your current mix is still serving your needs.
3. Incorrect Weight or Freight Class
Guessing the weight of a shipment or choosing a cheaper freight class might seem like a shortcut, but it often leads to extra fees. Most carriers will verify this information at their terminal, and if they catch a discrepancy, they’ll apply a reweigh or reclassification fee.
How to Avoid It
Invest in a certified scale so you can get accurate weights in-house. Also, take time to understand how freight classes work. They are usually based on density, handling, stowability, and liability. If you’re not sure, ask your carrier or freight broker to help classify your goods correctly the first time.
4. Not Having a Clear Return Policy
Returns are a part and parcel of eCommerce order fulfillment. But if your return policy is vague (or worse, nonexistent), you could frustrate your customers and damage your brand’s credibility.
How to Avoid It
Create a return policy that’s easy to understand and accessible from your website or customer portal. Be upfront about the conditions for returns, who covers shipping costs, and how long customers have to return an item. A good return policy builds trust and can even encourage more sales.
5. Shipping Address Errors
It sounds like a small, insignificant typo, but an incorrect digit in a zip code or a missing apartment number can send a shipment to the wrong place or bounce it back to you entirely. Carriers often charge fees for address corrections, and reshipping can eat into your profit margin.
How to Avoid It
Always ascertain the delivery address before shipping. Use address verification tools if possible, particularly for high-volume orders. And make sure your checkout system doesn’t allow orders to go through with incomplete address details.
6. Underestimating Total Shipping Costs
You get a quote from a carrier, ship the order, and then get hit with extra charges for services like liftgate delivery, fuel surcharges, or residential fees. Suddenly, your profit on that order is gone.
How to Avoid It
Understand all the variables that can affect your shipping cost, not just weight and distance. Ask your carrier for a list of accessorial fees and review your shipping invoices regularly to catch unexpected charges. If you’re frequently getting hit with the same extras, it may be time to adjust how you book shipments.
7. Mistakes on the Bill of Lading (BoL)
ال Bill of Lading is the document that outlines everything about your shipment, from the weight and contents to the destination. If there are mistakes here, it can lead to serious issues like delivery delays, misrouted freight, and even denied claims.
How to Avoid It
Don’t rush through filling out the BoL. Take time to verify every detail, including piece count, item descriptions, shipment consignee information, and special handling instructions. Consider having a second person review the BoL before it’s handed over to the carrier. This seemingly small step can prevent billing disputes and late arrivals.
الأفكار النهائية
Shipping mistakes can feel frustrating, but they’re also preventable. Be it something as simple as verifying an address or as detailed as freight classification, inspect your shipping workflow closely and spot-check key elements before dispatch to save thousands on damage claims, misroutes, redelivery, or reclassification fees.
For starters, avoid these common errors because doing so will translate into fewer delays, lower costs, and better experiences for your customers.
How Mile Can Help
If you’re looking for a smarter way to manage your shipping and logistics, Mile’s logistics management solution lends structure to your delivery process and keeps things moving minus the usual friction.
With Mile, you can:
- Automatically verify delivery addresses.
- Assign the best-suited carrier based on availability and cost.
- Manage freight data, including weight and classification, all in one place.
- Track shipments in real time with visibility across your entire delivery network.
- Easily integrate return management and documentation, including BoLs.
By using Mile, logistics operators can reduce manual work, catch costly mistakes before they happen, and create a shipping experience that keeps customers coming back. Whether you’re handling dozens of shipments a day or thousands, Mile helps bring more order, visibility, and control to your logistics process.
Want to see how Mile works in action? جدولة عرض توضيحي today and find out how to take the stress out of shipping, for good.