Key Points:
- The market value behind the card and board games are predicted to reach over $5 billion by 2025.
- The board game market represents the biggest vertical of the crowdfunding realm
- The average board game weighs around 2 pounds and smaller games like card games weigh less
Are you a fan of board games? During the pandemic, Hasbro, the company behind classic games like Monopoly and Clue, reported a 20% sales increase. Plus, the market value behind the card and board games are predicted to reach over $5 billion by 2025.
Campaigns like Exploding Kittens Verbal, Soul Art, Iconiq Studios represent some of the biggest campaigns in the crowdfunding world. So, it goes without saying that the board game industry remains a profitable business industry.
This blog will go over everything you need to know about game shipping so that you can better assess if it’s the right business venture for your eCommerce business or crowdfunding campaign.
Table of Contents
What’s the Cheapest Way for Shipping Games Within the US?
Generally speaking, the average board game weighs around 2 pounds and smaller games like card games weigh less. However, no matter what you’re shipping, the following factors determine the cost of shipping for packages:
- Courier services
- Delivery speed
- Weight of package
- Shipping distance
- Package dimensions
Considering the average weight of a board game plus packaging, we’ll calculate the cost of shipping a 3-pound shipment with USPS, FedEx, and UPS from New York to Los Angeles. Below are the cheapest retail shipping costs for shipping with these major courier companies.
| Courier Service | Delivery Lead Time | Retail Cost |
|---|---|---|
| USPS Priority Mail 2-Day | 1-3 business days | $21.20 |
| USPS Retail Ground | 2-9 business days | $17.90 |
| FedEx Express Saver | 3 business days | $63.43 |
| FedEx Home Delivery | 1-5 business days | $20.25 |
| UPS 3 Day Select | 2-3 business days | $50.69 |
| UPS Ground | 1-5 business days | $20.88 |
As we can see, the cost of game shipping is relatively low, though you can save even more money with a shipping platform like Easyship. Easyship offers up to 89% off discounted shipping rates for major couriers like USPS, FedEx, UPS, and 250+ more.
Below are the high-volume discounts users receive for shipping a 3-pound board game from New York to Los Angeles.
| Courier Service | Delivery Lead Time | Discount Cost |
|---|---|---|
| USPS Priority Mail | 2-3 business days | $17.74 |
| USPS Parcel Select | 2-8 business days | $12.25 |
| UPS 3 Day Select | 2-3 business days | $16.09 |
| UPS Ground | 2-3 business days | $12.65 |
From this table, we can see that users instantly save on shipping when using our shipping platform. In comparison to retail rates, Easyship users pay well under $20 for the same 3-pound board game shipping cost.
Whether you’re thinking about starting a crowdfunding campaign for an aspiring new board game, or you’re an eCommerce merchant, Easyship offers valuable shipping tools like our Shipping Rates Calculator to help you receive the best shipping costs available.
What’s the Cheapest Way for Shipping Games Internationally?
Whenever you’re shipping internationally, you’ll have to pay attention to more factors in comparison to domestic shipping. For example, duties and taxes, shipping insurance, and customs documents all come into play when shipping overseas.
Let's say you’re shipping the same 3-pound board game from New York to London; we’ll calculate the shipping cost for shipping overseas with major courier companies in this section here.
It’s important to note while there are no duties required for shipping to the UK, there is a VAT fee of 20% of the product price. So, if you’re shipping a $25 board game, you’ll incur a $5 charge for taxes.
| Courier Service | Delivery Lead Time | Retail Cost |
|---|---|---|
| USPS Priority Mail International | 6-10 business days | $70.70 |
| USPS First-Class Package International | 1-4 weeks | $42.25 |
| FedEx International Priority | 1-3 business days | $216.43 |
| FedEx International Economy | 4-6 business days | $204.21 |
| UPS Saver | 2 business days | $212.37 |
| UPS Worldwide Expedited | 3-4 business days | $194.35 |
As we can see, international shipping prices are considerably higher than domestic shipping, especially for a 3-pound shipment. Alternatively, using Easyship’s shipping calculator, you can receive high-volume international shipping discounts; see below.
| Courier Service | Delivery Lead Time | Discount Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Aramex Economy Express | 8-10 business days | $57.00 |
| APC - ParcelConnect Expedited | 6-8 business days | $74.26 |
| UPS Worldwide Expedited | 3-5 business days | $74.62 |
| UPS Worldwide Express | 1 business day | $85.23 |
| UPS Worldwide Saver | 2-3 business days | $80.30 |
From this table, users pay well under $100 for shipping board games in comparison to retail costs. No matter where or how far you’re shipping, Easyship offers the cheapest international shipping rates for board games. Use our duties and taxes calculator to estimate the exact duties you’ll have to pay when shipping overseas.
Related post: How to Ship a Laptop
Advantages of Board Game Shipping
Game shipping offers many benefits for eCommerce merchants and potential crowdfunding campaigns. For instance, board game shipping is a great business venture for sellers with a low budget. Plus, there’s a high return on investment for this industry.
We’ll go over the specific benefits in detail in this section so that you can decide if you want to sell or start a crowdfunding campaign for board games.
Perfect for sellers with a low budget
Getting into the board games industry is an excellent business move for merchants with a low budget. For instance, if you’re budget is $1,000 on inventory, you can make this money go a long way by purchasing inexpensive products like board games and then selling them for profit. Amazon and eBay are popular platforms to sell board games if you choose to go into this industry.
The market represents the biggest vertical of the crowdfunding realm
Board games have become increasingly popular, especially since the beginning of the pandemic. Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter play a big part in the board game industry. In fact, board games have raised over $146 million dollars in 2021 alone. Plus, over 1,800 tabletop games have been funded by backers in 2021 as well.
Despite the ongoing shipping crisis and rising board game shipping container prices, starting a crowdfunding campaign in the board game industry remains a profitable business venture.
High return on investment
Board games are cheap, profitable, and offer a high return on investment. For some, board games hold a strong sentimental value, especially if it’s a rare, sought-after game. Buyers may be inclined to purchase their favorite board game at a higher price, especially if there’s an emotional attachment to the desired game.
5 Tips for Shipping Board Games
Whether you’re shipping domestically or internationally, there are tips you’ll want to keep in mind when shipping board games. For example, you’ll want to consider certain packaging supplies and shipping boxes so your shipments remain intact and undamaged.
1. Choose the right shipping box
No matter what item you’re shipping, choosing the right shipping box is vital to ensure your package isn’t damaged during transit. As a good rule of thumb, use a box slightly larger than the board game so that there’s room for cushioning materials. USPS, FedEx, and UPS all offer free boxes, so you cut back on shipping costs and focus on scaling your business or campaign.
2. Use ample packaging materials
When it comes to shipping board games, you’ll want to make sure that there are no empty spaces in the shipping box. This way, you can minimize any movement during shipping and have ample space for packaging materials like bubble wrap, plastic wrapping, and any other protective materials.
3. Opt for shipping insurance
Shipping insurance protects packages from lost, stolen or damaged items. Unforeseen losses or damages happen, which is why you want to be prepared in the case of any shipping issue.
Luckily, Easyship offers up to $10,000 of shipping insurance for all domestic and international shipments so that you can receive premium protection and focus more on scaling your business.
4. Research duties and taxes for international shipping
Whenever you’re shipping internationally, you’ll have to consider duties and taxes before shipping away. Duties and taxes vary depending on the country, so there’s not one standard fee merchants or crowdfunders pay. To view country-specific shipping duties and taxes, check out Easyship’s Countries Page.
5. Make sure your shipping documents are in order
You’ll want to make sure all your shipping documents are in order before shipping overseas. Plus, make sure you accurately fill out shipping documents with personal information so there are no hold-ups at customs.
Some shipping documents to be aware of include customs declarations, packing lists, bills of ladings, and more. Failure to complete the necessary shipping documents can result in fines or indefinite delays due to your package being held up at customs.
Board Game Shipping with Easyship
By now you should be familiar with how to ship board games for your eCommerce business or your crowdfunding campaign. Before you start shipping away, make sure you pay attention to specific international shipping documents and make sure you use the correct packaging materials to reduce the chances of any damage during transit.
With Easyship, users can get high-class shipping tools and benefits to get their eCommerce business or crowdfunding campaign up and running with a free account. You’ll gain instant access to tools such as the following:
- Easyship Shipping Rates Calculator: Access high-volume discounts from major couriers. Plus, get instant access to delivery lead times from premium shipping couriers
- Global Fulfillment: Easyship has warehouse partners on four continents so that you can reach your customers all across the world. Plus, Easyship helps scale up fulfillment capabilities without increasing overhead costs
- Easyship Collect: Easyship Collect is the only shipping tool for crowdfunding campaigns. Let backers upgrade shipping, prepay duty, and tax, plus add the shipping insurance with this premium feature
Board game shipping is a profitable business venture with a high return on investment, so consider entering the industry if it’s you’re calling to do so.
Ready to ship? Sign up for a FREE Easyship account and get instant access to high-volume discounts for your online store
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