As a seller on bol.com, shipping costs are one of the largest variable costs that directly impact your profit margin. The bol.com shipping costs vary greatly depending on your chosen shipping method, the weight, and dimensions of your products. In this comprehensive article, we'll give you a complete overview of all shipping costs, compare the three shipping options, and show you how you can save on your shipping costs as a seller.
Three shipping methods and their shipping costs on bol.com
On bol.com, you have three ways to ship your products as a seller. Each method has its own rates, advantages, and disadvantages. The choice you make has a direct impact on your shipping costs, your selling price, and your profit margin.
Logistics via bol.com (LVB)
With Logistics via bol.com, you send your stock to bol.com's distribution center. They take care of the entire shipping, return processing, and customer service. You pay a fee per shipped product that depends on the dimensions and weight. The big advantage is that poor performance by the carrier doesn't affect your seller performance. Additionally, your product is eligible for the "next-day delivery" promise, which significantly increases conversion.
Shipping via bol.com (VVB)
With Shipping via bol.com, you keep your own stock and deliver packages to a PostNL or DHL drop-off point before 5:00 PM. Bol.com offers reduced shipping rates thanks to their volume. A mailbox package costs €4.15 including VAT, a package up to 10 kg costs €6.95, and a package up to 23 kg costs €13.20. You maintain maximum control over your own stock and shipping process.
Shipping via bol.com+ (VVB+)
VVB+ is the extended variant for sellers who ship more than 20 packages per day. In addition to the standard VVB benefits, you get access to the "ordered before 11:59 PM, delivered the next day" promise and can have packages picked up by the carrier at an Ampère point (drop-off before 10:00 AM). The rates are the same as VVB, but the extra service and faster delivery promise can increase your conversion. The downside is that customers cannot choose evening delivery or a pickup location.
Comparing bol.com shipping costs per shipping method
To make an informed decision, it's essential to compare the shipping costs of all three methods side by side. The table below provides a complete overview of the rates and features per shipping method:
| Feature | LVB | VVB | VVB+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mailbox package | Variable (dependent on dimensions) | €4.15 incl. VAT | €4.15 incl. VAT |
| Package up to 10 kg | Variable (dependent on dimensions) | €6.95 incl. VAT | €6.95 incl. VAT |
| Package up to 23 kg | Variable (dependent on dimensions) | €13.20 incl. VAT | €13.20 incl. VAT |
| Storage costs | Yes (per m³/day) | Own storage required | Own storage required |
| "Next-day delivery" promise | Yes | No | Yes (before 11:59 PM) |
| Customer service by bol.com | Yes | No | No |
| Return processing by bol.com | Yes | No | No |
| Carrier performance affects | No | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum daily volume | No minimum | No minimum | 20+ packages/day |
| Carrier pickup service | N/A | No | Yes (via Ampère point) |
| Evening delivery available | Yes | Limited | No |
| Delivery in Belgium | Yes | Optional | Optional |
The LVB rates are size-dependent and are calculated based on the dimensions and weight of your product. Use the Boloo LVB Box Size Checker to calculate the exact costs for your products and check if bol.com is using the correct dimensions.
Hidden costs and extra fees
In addition to direct shipping costs, there are extra cost factors that many sellers don't think of right away. These hidden costs can significantly increase your total logistics costs if you don't include them in your margin calculation.
Storage costs at LVB
With Logistics via bol.com, you pay storage costs per cubic meter per day. Products that stay in the warehouse for a long time become more expensive. It's essential to monitor your inventory rotation well with a sales dashboard. Seasonal products that remain after the season can significantly increase your storage costs.
Return costs
On bol.com, you as a seller are never allowed to charge return costs to the customer. All return costs are at your expense. With LVB, returns are processed by bol.com, but you do pay a fee per return shipment. With VVB and VVB+, you have to arrange the return logistics yourself and bear the costs. Take into account an average return percentage of 5-15% depending on your product category.
Remasurement costs and size differences
A common problem with LVB is that bol.com sometimes registers deviating dimensions for your products, causing you to pay too much. With the LVB Box Size Checker from Boloo, you can receive a report after each invoice with the differences between the charged dimensions and the actual measurements. This way, you can request a remeasurement and get back any incorrectly paid costs.
Calculating shipping costs and including them in your selling price
A crucial mistake many starting sellers make is not correctly passing on the shipping costs in their selling price. On bol.com, it's not possible to show shipping costs separately to the customer - the shipping costs are always included in the article price. As a seller, you're also never allowed to charge shipping costs afterwards.
| Cost item | Example small product | Example large product | Impact on margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | €5.00 | €25.00 | Fixed cost |
| Shipping costs (VVB) | €4.15 | €6.95 | 83% vs 28% of purchase price |
| Bol.com commission (avg. 10%) | €1.50 | €5.00 | Percentage of selling price |
| Packaging costs | €0.30 | €1.50 | Variable per product |
| Return costs (10% return) | €0.42 | €0.70 | Average per sold item |
| Total costs | €11.37 | €39.15 | — |
| Minimum selling price (20% margin) | €14.21 | €48.94 | Break-even + margin |
With the Boloo Profit Calculator, you can calculate the minimum selling price for each product, including all shipping costs, commission, and return costs. This way, you avoid selling below your cost price unintentionally.
Price star ratings and shipping costs
Bol.com has a price star rating system that indicates how your price compares to that of competitors. Since shipping costs are included in your selling price, they directly affect your star ratings. A higher selling price due to high shipping costs can lead to lower star ratings, which negatively impacts your visibility and your chances of winning the buy block.
The system works as follows: with 5 stars, you have the sharpest price compared to your competitors. With 4 stars, your price is still good. Below 3 stars, it becomes difficult to win the buy block. Keep in mind that your competitors also have to deal with shipping costs, so you can be competitive in terms of price if you handle your shipping method smartly.
Bol.com cannot calculate a price star score for all products. This may be due to a lack of competitor data or insufficient price information. Monitor your price position regularly with the Boloo Ranking Checker to see how you're performing.
Six strategies to lower your shipping costs
Smart sellers actively look for ways to reduce their shipping costs without compromising on service or delivery time. Here are six proven strategies:
1. Optimize your packaging dimensions
Shipping costs are largely determined by the volume of your package. By optimizing your product packaging - packing smaller, using less filling material, using mailbox format where possible - you can save significantly. A product that fits as a mailbox package saves you more than €2.00 per shipment compared to a package.
2. Choose the right shipping method per product
You don't have to ship all your products via the same method. Small, light products are best shipped via VVB as mailbox packages. Large or heavy products with high turnover are often more cost-effective via LVB. Make a cost-benefit analysis per product category.
3. Check LVB dimensions after every invoice
Incorrect dimension registration with LVB is a common problem. Check after every invoice whether the charged dimensions are correct and request a re-measurement in case of deviations. The LVB Box Size Checker automates this process and saves sellers an average of 5-15% on their LVB costs.
4. Combine shipments and bundle products
If customers order multiple products, they are shipped as separate packages via VVB. Consider offering product bundles that fit in one package. This lowers your average shipping cost per product and increases your average order value at the same time.
5. Monitor your return percentage per product
Returns are a hidden cost-increasing factor for your shipping costs. Analyze which products have a high return percentage and investigate the cause. Often, you can reduce returns with better product descriptions, clearer photos, and more accurate sizing. Use your sales dashboard to monitor return trends.
6. Scale up to VVB+ with sufficient volume
Once you ship more than 20 packages per day, VVB+ can be beneficial. The rates are the same as VVB, but you get access to the delivery promise "ordered before 23:59, delivered the next day" and pickup service. The faster delivery promise can increase your conversion rate, which indirectly compensates for the costs.
Common mistakes with shipping costs
Many sellers miss out on unnecessary revenue or incur losses because they make common mistakes around shipping costs. Here are the seven most common pitfalls:
| Mistake | Consequence | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Not passing on shipping costs in the price | Selling below cost price | Use the Profit Calculator for each product |
| Choosing the wrong shipping method | Unnecessary high costs or poor delivery time | Analyze costs per product per method |
| Not checking LVB dimensions | Paying too high shipping costs | Use the LVB Box Size Checker |
| Forgetting return costs in the margin | Unrealistic profit calculation | Calculate return costs (5-15% return rate) |
| Not preparing for seasonal peaks | Higher rates and longer delivery times | Plan stock and shipping in time via Product Tracker |
| Only competing on price | Race to the bottom, no margin left | Focus on delivery time, reviews, and listing quality |
| Not optimizing packaging | Sending letterbox products as packages | Measure and optimize packaging per product |
LVB versus self-shipping: when to choose what?
The choice between LVB and self-shipping (VVB/VVB+) is one of the most important decisions for your shipping strategy. Both options have specific pros and cons that depend on your situation as a seller.
Choose LVB if you don't have your own storage space, you want to focus on purchasing and marketing instead of logistics, your products are compact enough to keep storage costs low, and you want to benefit from the fast delivery promise. LVB is especially attractive for sellers with a wide range of products and average to high turnover.
Choose VVB or VVB+ if you already have storage space, you want to maintain control over the shipping process, your products are large or heavy (where LVB storage costs add up quickly), or if you have specific packaging requirements. VVB+ is interesting once you ship more than 20 packages per day and want to benefit from the faster delivery promise without LVB storage costs.
Many successful sellers choose a hybrid approach: fast-moving products via LVB for the delivery promise and slow-moving or bulk products via VVB. With the Boloo Sales Dashboard, you can analyze which shipping method is most profitable per product.
Shipping costs for Belgium and international shipping
Through bol.com, you can also sell to Belgian customers. Shipping costs for Belgium are higher than for the Netherlands. With LVB, Belgian orders are automatically handled at an additional cost. With VVB, you need to select a carrier that delivers to Belgium. Keep in mind that as a seller on bol.com, you are required to deliver to Belgium as well, unless you explicitly disable this in your sales settings.
Tip: calculate your Belgian shipping costs separately and consider including a slightly higher margin on Belgian orders in your profit calculation.
Frequently asked questions about shipping costs on bol.com
Can I show shipping costs separately to the customer?
No, on bol.com, shipping costs are always included in the product price. You are never allowed to charge separate shipping costs to the customer. Therefore, calculate your complete cost structure, including shipping costs, in advance and include it in a competitive sales price.
Is it more advantageous to ship via LVB or self-ship?
This depends on your product type, volume, and situation. LVB is often more cost-effective for small products with a high turnover rate due to lower rates and delivery promise. For large or slow-moving products, VVB may be more cost-effective since you don't pay storage costs. Use the Profit Calculator to compare on a per-product basis.
How can I get back overpaid LVB costs?
Check each LVB invoice to see if the charged dimensions are correct. If there are discrepancies, you can request a remeasurement from bol.com. The LVB Box Size Checker automates this check and shows the differences between charged and actual dimensions, so you can request targeted remeasurements.
Do I have to pay return costs as a seller?
Yes, on bol.com, all return costs are borne by the seller. You should never charge return costs to the customer. Calculate an average return percentage into your margin calculation - depending on your category, this can range from 5% to 15%.
What are the shipping costs when I'm just starting to sell?
As a starting seller, you pay the standard VVB rates: €4.15 for a mailbox package, €6.95 for a package up to 10 kg, and €13.20 for a package up to 23 kg. As your volume grows, you may consider switching to LVB or VVB+ for better rates or faster delivery promises. Carefully calculate your margins with the Profit Calculator before putting your first product online.
The shipping costs on bol.com don't have to be an obstacle to profitable sales. By choosing the right shipping method, optimizing your packaging, and accurately calculating your costs, you can save significantly as a seller. Start with Boloo for free and get direct access to tools like the LVB Box Size Checker and Profit Calculator to keep your shipping costs under control and maximize your margin.
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