Shipping is the number one cause of cart abandonment — 40% of people who leave at checkout do so because of extra costs. So your shipping policy is not an accounting matter; it is a commercial decision.
The right approach is simple: zones with clear pricing, a free-delivery threshold slightly above your average basket, and everything declared before checkout.
Paying too much to couriers?
Send us your volume and zones and we will tell you whether your contract is competitive.
How to structure your pricing
Most Greek setups work with four zones.
| Zone | What it covers | Typical delivery time |
|---|---|---|
| Local | Same city as your warehouse | 1 working day |
| Mainland Greece | Overland destinations | 1–3 working days |
| Islands | By ferry or air | 2–5 working days |
| Remote areas | Mountain and isolated settlements | 3–6 working days |
The rule: do not set one price for all of Greece if you sell bulky products. You will either lose money on islands or overcharge in Athens.
For small, light products, though, a single flat rate simplifies checkout and usually works out better.
What it actually costs
Prices differ significantly between walk-in rates and volume contracts. The following are indicative ranges for an e-shop with a contract.
| Item | Indicative cost |
|---|---|
| Shipment up to 2kg, mainland | €2.20 – €3.50 |
| Each additional kilo | €0.50 – €1.00 |
| Island surcharge | +€1.00 – €2.50 |
| Remote area surcharge | +€1.50 – €3.00 |
| Cash-on-delivery fee | €1.00 – €1.50 |
| Fuel surcharge | A percentage of the charge, variable |
Always confirm against the official price lists and your own contract — charges are revised regularly.
Shipping also feeds into your overall store budget; see what else counts in e-shop costs.
What is volumetric weight?
This is the surprise everyone gets on their first invoice. Couriers charge on the greater of two figures: actual weight or volumetric weight.
The formula commonly used:
Volumetric weight (kg) = (Length × Width × Height in cm) ÷ 5,000
A 40×30×20cm box gives 4.8 volumetric kilos, even if it contains an 800g cushion. You pay for 4.8 kilos.
What to do about it:
- Use boxes sized to the product, not whatever is to hand.
- Keep two or three packaging sizes, not one.
- For soft goods, prefer bags over boxes.
- Check the divisor in your contract — it is not always 5,000.
In clothing and homeware, correct packaging cuts shipping costs by 15%–30%.
Where to set your free-delivery threshold
The free-shipping threshold is the most powerful basket-size lever you have. The logic is arithmetic.
The rule: set the threshold 20%–40% above your average basket.
| Average basket | Suggested threshold |
|---|---|
| €25 | €35 |
| €35 | €45 – €49 |
| €50 | €65 – €70 |
| €80 | €99 |
Before setting it, check your margin covers it. If you make 40% on a €45 basket, that is €18 gross profit and €3 of shipping is entirely manageable.
And show it: “You are €8 away from free delivery” inside the basket is one of the highest-return lines of copy in any e-shop.
Want us to calculate yours?
Tell us your average basket and margin and we will propose a threshold and zones.
Which courier should you choose?
Do not choose on price alone. Five criteria matter more.
| Criterion | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Coverage of your actual customers | If you sell to islands, coverage beats a 20-cent difference |
| Integration with your platform | Automatic label generation saves hours a week |
| Pickup point network | Cheaper for you and convenient for the customer |
| Quality of notifications | A customer who can track their parcel does not phone you |
| Problem handling | How quickly a lost shipment gets resolved |
Many Greek e-shops work with two couriers: a main one and a second for islands or bulky goods. A dual contract also strengthens your negotiating position.
How to negotiate a contract
At 100+ shipments a month you already have room. Ask specifically for:
- Price per zone and weight, in writing, with a validity period.
- The volumetric divisor and how it is calculated.
- Cash-on-delivery fee and when funds are remitted.
- Fuel surcharge: how it is calculated and how often it changes.
- Return cost and who bears it.
- Platform integration, at no additional charge.
Request quotes from three companies in the same week, with identical volume figures. Differences are often 20%–30%.
Returns
This is the part left out of cost calculations. Consumers have a 14-day right of withdrawal, so returns will happen.
- Who pays? The customer, provided you stated it clearly before the order. If you did not put it in writing, you pay.
- What does it cost? Typically €3–€5 per return, plus the time to inspect and restock.
- How do you reduce it? Better photographs, a size guide, accurate descriptions. Half of clothing returns are about sizing.
The legal detail is in our guide to legal requirements for an e-shop.
How to cut total cost
- Pickup points and lockers. Cheaper than door delivery, and many customers prefer them.
- Right-sized packaging. The biggest immediate win, through volumetric weight.
- Order consolidation. If the same customer orders twice in a day, ship one parcel.
- Less cash on delivery. Incentivise online payment — see payment methods.
- Audit courier invoices. Zone and weight billing errors are more common than you would think.
Frequently asked questions
Should I offer free shipping to everyone?
Only if your margin supports it, or the cost is already priced in. Otherwise, use a threshold.
How do I handle the islands?
A separate zone at real cost, declared from the product page. A checkout “surprise” costs more than the price difference.
Do I need a contract from day one?
Not necessarily. Start with retail rates or a comparison platform and move to a contract once volume stabilises.
How much does delivery speed matter?
20% of people who abandon do so because delivery was too slow. Clarity matters as much as speed.
Should I show a shipping calculator?
Yes, or at minimum a clear zone table on the product page. It is the most direct fix for cart abandonment.
What to do this week
Take your ten best-selling products, measure their boxes and calculate volumetric weight. Then compare that against what you were billed last month.
If there is a gap, changing your packaging is the cheapest win you will find this year.
Next step
Book a free 30-minute call with the team at The Dev Alley. We will review zones, free-delivery thresholds and courier integration in your e-shop.