Reverse logistics, a big, fancy term that means all the things it takes to get items back in the process of a return, can present quite a speed bump in your business’s supply chain. It’s bigger than just return shipping by itself, but shipping plays a huge part in it.
This is further complicated by large and bulky items, like furniture, cars, or anything else you can’t ship through traditional methods. While these big-ticket items are huge revenue drivers, the returns process can equal a massive headache for both business and customer. Bottom line: Shipping BIG returns means BIG pain. However, with the right return shipping solutions in place, they don’t have to be.
This is where solutions like uShip, Roadie, and Sharetown come into play…but not all are created equal.
Here, we’ll get into what each company offers and why you may want to choose one over the other.
Roadie
Roadie is a crowdsourced local delivery and returns option. They have made their name on getting most anything you need across town. With options for 2-hour delivery windows on demand, same-day delivery in town, and cold chain offerings, Roadie can handle local delivery and returns if their network is strong wherever needs exist. They boast a network of 200,000+ independent drivers. This includes individuals using cars and other small vehicles.
Where they struggle is getting anything anywhere outside of what you might consider local. If you need to transport anything over 100 miles, their service doesn’t have much to offer.
The rub goes deeper when you consider large and bulky items. Returning these items will most likely fall outside of “local” unless the purchase is made locally at a brick-and-mortar store.
Regarding customer service, Roadie is not Better Business Bureau accredited. In fact, at the time of this writing, Roadie was rated 1.09/5 stars on the BBB’s website with an “F” rating. They have had 87 complaints to the BBB in the last 12 months. Reviews there also highlight issues with theft on several occasions and issues working for the company as a delivery person.
On Trustpilot, the reviews there largely come from gig workers using Roadie’s platform for work. Sitting at 3.4/5 stars, more negative reviews can be found from shippers (those individuals needing something delivered or moved). Theft is a theme there, too. Many buyers don’t know that their product is being delivered by a Roadie driver. To be fair—that’s not really Roadie’s job. The retailer should be more transparent about how delivery will be handled.
The bottom line? If you need to get something back to a local store and need same day service, Roadie is an option. Outside of that, you may struggle making Roadie meet your needs.
Humble brag: uShip has a 4.5/5 star review and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. We also wear our “Excellent” rating and 4.4/5 star rating on Trustpilot as another badge of honor. You learn a thing or two after doing this for almost 20 years.
Sharetown
Started in 2012, Sharetown started as a way for individuals to find new life for their underused items. Pivoting to a returns only solution for online retailers, Sharetown took on the form we see today.
Specializing in large and bulky returns, namely mattresses, Sharetown can move merchandise anywhere in the country unlike Roadie.
It’s fairly unclear if they can handle returns for things like vehicles, motorcycles, boats, and other large items. Their website really hones in on furniture. It can be assumed that those items might be better served elsewhere.
Reviews of Sharetown are hard to find; honestly, the only ones visible seem to be the ones they want you to see on their website (aside from Google reviews). They aren’t rated on the Better Business Bureau’s website, they have no reviews on Trustpilot, but they do boast a 4.9/5 star rating on Google. Nearly all of those reviews pointed at mattress transport.
Sharetown is a niche return product that caters to furniture and mattresses. There is no discernable way to gauge their ability to carry large and bulky items like boats and other vehicles.
Humble brag: uShip can return anything…literally, if we can get it on a truck, trailer, or sprinter van, we’ll get it from point A-B. What’s more is with our marketplace pricing, you can find competitive rates that save you money by using our customer-rated carriers. With our Ship With Confidence Guarantee, you can rest easy knowing you have the right returns solution in place. Because items don’t change hands, uShip’s damage rates are impressively low; more touchpoints means more potential damage. That’s what 20 years of experience gets you.
The uShip Return Shipping Difference
Our strength lies in our carrier network. With over 35,000 large and bulky carriers on the road, you’ll have no issue finding the right one to handle your returns.
We also boast the lowest damage rates of any return carrier on the market. It’s obvious what that means for you. When damage is mitigated, you can get top dollar when you resell or repurpose that return.
This sustainable approach is not only good for your bottom line but also for the planet. It’s a cause we believe deeply in, and it’s only one way we’re committed to making the planet a better place. Our first-to-last mile model allows fewer touchpoints which means damage is mitigated. That leads to less landfill waste. That model also means delivery routes are tighter which reduces transit times and lowers carbon emissions. Since our inception in 2004, we’ve drastically reduced the number of empty miles by matching shippers and carriers with empty truck space.
Our electronic bill of lading, or eBOL, is another way we streamline the process making things easier for all parties involved. This provides the visibility you need to keep merchandise moving and allows you to easily share that information with your team.
We’ve also got your back should something happen. Our Ship With Confidence Guarantee is the assurance you need to know your shipment is covered from pickup to delivery. On top of that, we offer our uShip Protection Plan that provides additional peace of mind for the items being returned.
Are you ready to create a big and bulky return policy that works for your business? Let’s talk!
