Case Study: Chicago Music Exchange achieves over $350,000 in parcel shipping savings with Sifted

World’s Best Guitar Store Negotiates Better Parcel Shipping Contracts

Chicago Music Exchange, a long-established retailer of vintage, new and used musical gear that ships more than 140,000 packages a year, engaged Sifted to get control of rising parcel costs and better understand the impact of its carrier agreements. CME asked Sifted to apply its LI Pro - Logistics Engineering service to mine shipping data, identify costly patterns (like unnecessary 2nd‑day air and dimensional surcharges), and recommend contract and rate changes.

Sifted analyzed line‑level shipment data, transit times, package dimensions and contract terms, then provided tailored negotiation guidance and agreement redesigns to secure more favorable UPS and USPS rates. The work delivered over $350,000 in shipping fee savings in year one, positioned CME to minimize future General Rate Increases, and left the company with clearer, business‑specific parcel agreements — benefits driven directly by Sifted’s Logistics Engineering.

Chicago Music Exchange

Brian Robertson

Shipping and Receiving Team Leader