While shipping the goods or products to another country or continent, the shipper needs to take into account many things. The procedure for international freight shipping is far more complex than for domestic shipping.
Regardless, whether you’re a business, or an individual, if you are planning to ship your products overseas and want to ensure if everything is sorted out properly, here are the 7 things you must check before you ship:
1. Custom Rules
Yes, this is the first and foremost thing to consider while sending the international shipment. No matter if you are shipping by road, rail, sea or air, you must clear customs to ship your products internationally. Properly filled-out papers are also essential in successfully entering the foreign country. The paperwork mainly includes two custom forms, one for the country or origin and another for the country the product is going to be shipped to.
2. Custom Fees
When you ship your products to another country, a fee, called custom fee, is charged by the custom department. The amount of this fee is determined based on the official market value of the product and the country it is destined to; meaning you will be paying more if your product price is higher. Thus, it is recommended that you should check the custom fee rates of various countries before shipping the freight.
3. Shipping Cost
This fee is charged by the company offering freight shipping services. It is also inclusive of the additional freight taxes applicable for specific products. To grab the best shipping rate, you will have to visit several shipping companies in your country and learn about their shipping tariff. The easiest and fastest way to do this is to make use of the internet. Companies that offer international shipping services to only specific countries charge differently than the companies that offer their freight services all across the world.
4. Transit Time
When you want your shipment to be delivered at the destination? The answer to this will certainly help you plan your shipment. Remember, international shipment have far more chances of getting delayed than domestic shipment. Some countries don’t have overnight delivery option. And, of course, it depends on the type of the product you’re shipping, as the custom may take it longer than expected to clear your shipment, so plan accordingly.
5. Packaging
Make sure the shipment is packaged and labeled properly. Based on the product and destination country, packaging needs to be handled. If you have no idea or no time for right packaging options, choose a freight forwarding company that handles packaging as well.
6. Carriers
They are the medium of transportation for your goods. Usually, this is determined by the shipping company you hire. You can ship the products via sea, air, rail or road carriers. Choose the one that offers the right set of time and cost.
7. Insurance
Product damage risk is quite higher for international shipments. Thus, it is safe to get your shipment insured from possible mishaps or damages. Insurance is a must if you are shipping highly valuable products overseas.
Bearing these 7 points in mind, you can ensure that your international shipment reach the destination hassle-free.