Desi calculation and keeping shipping cost under control
How desi is calculated, when volume is charged instead of weight, and practical ways to bring the cost down.
Carriers charge on whichever is greater — the weight or the volume of the shipment. That is why light but bulky products cost more than expected.
How is desi calculated?
Desi is the volumetric weight unit used by Turkish carriers. Multiply the width, length and height of the package in centimetres and divide the result by 3,000. That figure is the desi value of the shipment. If the actual weight of the product is greater than that value, weight is used for pricing instead.
Example: for a 40 × 30 × 25 cm box, 40 × 30 × 25 = 30,000; 30,000 / 3,000 = 10 desi. If the box actually weighs 6 kg, the charge is calculated on 10 desi.
Practical ways to bring the cost down
- Choose the box to fit the product. Putting a small product in a large box means paying for empty space.
- Do not overdo the filler. Protection has to be enough, but it should not inflate the volume.
- Ship several products in one package. Sending items from the same order separately multiplies the cost.
- Use a negotiated rate. There is a serious gap between the individual shipping price and a corporate agreement price.
The free shipping threshold
Free shipping raises the basket total, but the threshold has to be set a little above your average basket. A threshold below the average basket eats straight into your margin.
