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Glite Dictionary
handling cost

handling cost

3.2
An amount of money that a seller charges to prepare and pack an order for delivery
  • noun
translation icon : costo de manejo
  • Market forces encourage manufacturers to minimize packaging waste, at least by weight, because of shipping and handling costs.
  • shipping and handling cost

Examples

  • As consumer demand in the West dried up and exports dwindled, brokers actually waived the transport fee and only charged a minimal handling cost.

    Academic text (2009)

  • I know some people, but the fix and shipping and handling costs will be as much as just buying another PS3.

    Blog text (34)

  • When placing an online order, make sure to check the shipping and handling cost before payment.

  • The total invoice will include the product price along with applicable handling costs for delivery.

  • E-commerce sites often provide a breakdown of shipping and handling costs on the checkout page.

Synonyms

handling charge
vshandling cost
1 3.7

A small fee for packing and sending an order

also covers money the seller spends to prepare, package, and deliver goods

Antonyms

savings
606 1.0

Money put aside, often in a bank, to use later or for emergencies

Surface Forms

handling cost singular
handling costs plural

Morphology

handling + cost

The meaning is directly compositional: 'handling' (the act of processing, packaging, or dealing with goods) + 'cost' (monetary charge) yields the charge for handling. This noun–noun construction is common and has clear equivalents in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Handling cost comes from the simple idea of paying for the work of handling goods. In markets and warehouses sellers would add a cost to cover the time to 'pack', 'move', and 'prepare' items, so today handling cost means the extra charge for getting an order ready and shipped.