Shipping and return costs: what really affects an order

A label price or flat delivery rule may not match a carrier settlement. A result needs a source and a cost-quality label.

From shipment to confirmed cost

  1. 01

    Shipment

    Tracking number, order reference and status form the operational relation.

  2. 02

    Initial cost

    A rule or available source cost can be used only as an estimate.

  3. 03

    Carrier settlement

    An invoice or settlement can add COD, return and surcharge lines.

  4. 04

    Reconciliation

    Higher-quality evidence replaces weaker evidence without double counting.

Not every delivery price is an actual cost

The cost shown while creating a label can differ from later settlement. COD, return, fuel, oversized-parcel, handling and address-correction charges can change the final amount.

A logistics rule or a price list must therefore remain an estimate. A specific amount is not confirmed evidence on its own.

  • tracking number and shipment ID
  • order reference or supported line matching
  • shipping and delivery status with dates
  • cost source, currency and quality

How to avoid double counting

The same shipment can appear in BaseLinker, a carrier feed and an invoice. These are pieces of evidence for one economic event, not automatically three costs.

A carrier invoice should replace an earlier estimate or weaker confirmation. Result history should then explain why order contribution changed.

What to check before using margin

Check that a cost relates to a specific shipment, order and period. Review delivery, COD handling, return handling and surcharges separately.

Before settlement arrives, a result can show an estimate, but the decision must see its quality. It is not a final accounting margin.

Check this area using your own data

Create an account, connect a supported source or use a controlled import.

Start analysis