Freight Right
@freightright.bsky.social
Global freight forwarding and freight technology company based in Los Angles. Updates include freight market updates & uncovering the world of big & bulky ecommerce.
...by which buyers can learn about new brands and brands can unlock global reach, is merchants selling big, bulky, and oversized items.
It's worth thinking of a world where a robot is buying a bouncy house someday 🤔
It's worth thinking of a world where a robot is buying a bouncy house someday 🤔
January 12, 2026 at 9:09 PM
...by which buyers can learn about new brands and brands can unlock global reach, is merchants selling big, bulky, and oversized items.
It's worth thinking of a world where a robot is buying a bouncy house someday 🤔
It's worth thinking of a world where a robot is buying a bouncy house someday 🤔
One group of merchants, small but significant, that have been left ill-equipped for this innovation, like free 2-day shipping, one-click checkout, and generative AI as a search engine as a means...
January 12, 2026 at 9:09 PM
One group of merchants, small but significant, that have been left ill-equipped for this innovation, like free 2-day shipping, one-click checkout, and generative AI as a search engine as a means...
It's a development born from a parcel-centric view of the world. A view that, because most commerce, domestic and international, is small parcel, the solutions built should be designed to further enable this kind of commerce.
*This* kind of commerce instead of *all* kinds of commerce.
*This* kind of commerce instead of *all* kinds of commerce.
January 12, 2026 at 9:09 PM
It's a development born from a parcel-centric view of the world. A view that, because most commerce, domestic and international, is small parcel, the solutions built should be designed to further enable this kind of commerce.
*This* kind of commerce instead of *all* kinds of commerce.
*This* kind of commerce instead of *all* kinds of commerce.
So that a bot/agent can be programmed to visit a store, locate a product, add it to the cart, find the cart button, go to checkout, enter address and credit card information, pick a mode of shipping (lowest cost available, only ever FedEx if available, etc.), and complete a purchase.
January 12, 2026 at 9:09 PM
So that a bot/agent can be programmed to visit a store, locate a product, add it to the cart, find the cart button, go to checkout, enter address and credit card information, pick a mode of shipping (lowest cost available, only ever FedEx if available, etc.), and complete a purchase.
The move also leans deeper into making the buying experience a plug-and-play, interchangeable, templated experience, built on the assumption that all commerce is, generally, the same.
January 12, 2026 at 9:09 PM
The move also leans deeper into making the buying experience a plug-and-play, interchangeable, templated experience, built on the assumption that all commerce is, generally, the same.
JD Sports Fashion is one brand that has wholly adopted the idea that agents will be the ones making purchases on behalf of buyers and equipped their online stores for that future.
January 12, 2026 at 9:09 PM
JD Sports Fashion is one brand that has wholly adopted the idea that agents will be the ones making purchases on behalf of buyers and equipped their online stores for that future.
Morgan Stanley estimates "nearly half" of online shoppers will use AI agents by 2030, adding ~$115B to US ecommerce.
January 12, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Morgan Stanley estimates "nearly half" of online shoppers will use AI agents by 2030, adding ~$115B to US ecommerce.
Google and Shopify announced late last night the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), a framework designed to enable AI agents to make purchases on behalf of buyers once a store configures it.
The move, on paper, appears to reduce friction in the buying experience for end users.
The move, on paper, appears to reduce friction in the buying experience for end users.
January 12, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Google and Shopify announced late last night the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), a framework designed to enable AI agents to make purchases on behalf of buyers once a store configures it.
The move, on paper, appears to reduce friction in the buying experience for end users.
The move, on paper, appears to reduce friction in the buying experience for end users.
In a world of ecommerce solutions built with parcel-merchants in mind, big and bulky is usually left behind.
January 8, 2026 at 3:40 PM
In a world of ecommerce solutions built with parcel-merchants in mind, big and bulky is usually left behind.
And then option 4. Offer Free Shipping. Doing so would mean, somehow, absorbing all of the costs described above. If the shipment happens to be international, the costs the merchant must absorb and/or bake into the cost of their goods becomes staggering.
January 8, 2026 at 3:39 PM
And then option 4. Offer Free Shipping. Doing so would mean, somehow, absorbing all of the costs described above. If the shipment happens to be international, the costs the merchant must absorb and/or bake into the cost of their goods becomes staggering.
However, by locking in a guaranteed rate, the merchant removes the risk of losing money on a shipment. However, they also lose the opportunity to "shop around" post-purchase to find a cheaper carrier and increase their margin.
January 8, 2026 at 3:39 PM
However, by locking in a guaranteed rate, the merchant removes the risk of losing money on a shipment. However, they also lose the opportunity to "shop around" post-purchase to find a cheaper carrier and increase their margin.
The merchant passes 100% of the quoted shipping cost directly to the customer at checkout. Alternatively, they agree to a "rate card" or guaranteed rate with a provider.
January 8, 2026 at 3:39 PM
The merchant passes 100% of the quoted shipping cost directly to the customer at checkout. Alternatively, they agree to a "rate card" or guaranteed rate with a provider.
3. The "Pass-Through" or Guaranteed Rate Model
This is the model used by merchants attempting to use software or specific agreements to mitigate risk.
This is the model used by merchants attempting to use software or specific agreements to mitigate risk.
January 8, 2026 at 3:39 PM
3. The "Pass-Through" or Guaranteed Rate Model
This is the model used by merchants attempting to use software or specific agreements to mitigate risk.
This is the model used by merchants attempting to use software or specific agreements to mitigate risk.
This option often leads to disputes, as merchants frequently find they are being stuck on shipping costs by the factory compared to what they could have secured themselves.
January 8, 2026 at 3:39 PM
This option often leads to disputes, as merchants frequently find they are being stuck on shipping costs by the factory compared to what they could have secured themselves.
They simply allow the factory (ex. the manufacturer in China or a domestic supplier) to use their own preferred carrier to ship the goods. The merchant then receives an invoice from the factory for the shipping costs later.
January 8, 2026 at 3:39 PM
They simply allow the factory (ex. the manufacturer in China or a domestic supplier) to use their own preferred carrier to ship the goods. The merchant then receives an invoice from the factory for the shipping costs later.
2. The "Factory Default" Model
Some merchants bypass the quoting process entirely by deferring to their supplier's logistics.
The merchant often charges a flat rate or an estimated cost to the customer.
Some merchants bypass the quoting process entirely by deferring to their supplier's logistics.
The merchant often charges a flat rate or an estimated cost to the customer.
January 8, 2026 at 3:39 PM
2. The "Factory Default" Model
Some merchants bypass the quoting process entirely by deferring to their supplier's logistics.
The merchant often charges a flat rate or an estimated cost to the customer.
Some merchants bypass the quoting process entirely by deferring to their supplier's logistics.
The merchant often charges a flat rate or an estimated cost to the customer.
If they find a carrier who can ship it for $350, they pocket the $150 difference as profit. If the cheapest rate is $600, they lose money on the shipment. This method is labor-intensive, requiring emails and calls for every individual package.
January 8, 2026 at 3:39 PM
If they find a carrier who can ship it for $350, they pocket the $150 difference as profit. If the cheapest rate is $600, they lose money on the shipment. This method is labor-intensive, requiring emails and calls for every individual package.
The merchant charges an arbitrary flat fee at checkout (e.g., $500) that they hope covers the average cost of shipping.
Once an order is received, the merchant engages in a manual "auction". They contact multiple carriers to find the lowest possible rate for that specific shipment.
Once an order is received, the merchant engages in a manual "auction". They contact multiple carriers to find the lowest possible rate for that specific shipment.
January 8, 2026 at 3:39 PM
The merchant charges an arbitrary flat fee at checkout (e.g., $500) that they hope covers the average cost of shipping.
Once an order is received, the merchant engages in a manual "auction". They contact multiple carriers to find the lowest possible rate for that specific shipment.
Once an order is received, the merchant engages in a manual "auction". They contact multiple carriers to find the lowest possible rate for that specific shipment.
Usually, this big factor in a store's conversion rate manifests in 3 ways.
1. The "Flat Rate & Post-Purchase Auction" Model: This is the most common alternative for merchants who charge for shipping but lack real-time freight technology.
1. The "Flat Rate & Post-Purchase Auction" Model: This is the most common alternative for merchants who charge for shipping but lack real-time freight technology.
January 8, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Usually, this big factor in a store's conversion rate manifests in 3 ways.
1. The "Flat Rate & Post-Purchase Auction" Model: This is the most common alternative for merchants who charge for shipping but lack real-time freight technology.
1. The "Flat Rate & Post-Purchase Auction" Model: This is the most common alternative for merchants who charge for shipping but lack real-time freight technology.
(Shipping costs matter to 48% of buyers according to a recent study from eDesk)
January 8, 2026 at 3:38 PM
(Shipping costs matter to 48% of buyers according to a recent study from eDesk)
Merchants selling large items do, too but with an unquestionably more challenging implementation. Challenging for both the merchant and the buyer.
January 8, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Merchants selling large items do, too but with an unquestionably more challenging implementation. Challenging for both the merchant and the buyer.
Merchants selling parcel goods have n number of solutions available to them to make either possible through any mathematical combination for domestic and international purchases.
January 8, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Merchants selling parcel goods have n number of solutions available to them to make either possible through any mathematical combination for domestic and international purchases.