International parcel
For those small personal shipments and single orders, international parcel is usually the best way to go. The well known names to include the United Parcel Services, FedEx, DHL and the US Postal Service can handle these packages, although it is always a good idea to check online comparison websites to see if something cheaper is available in your area.

Apart from the speed of delivery and distance, shipping costs are calculated by volumentric weight (sometimes referred to as dimensional weight). This means that both size and weight are used to determine the cost. To get an idea of costs, the following costs’ calculator can help: http://postcalc.usps.gov/.

To ensure there are not any problems with the shipment, make sure that there are no legal issues with what is being shipped (in the country it is going to). What is legal in one locality may not be in another. It is also important to fill in any documentation (customs forms will be required) carefully since the shipment may be taxable if it is over a certain value.

To avoid damage to the goods, be very careful with packaging. It is often advisable to bubble-wrap items and pack them in a box inside a box, surrounded by packing peanuts. For added security, label each box. If water damage could be an issue, use a water-resistant box or wrap the items in plastic.

Virtually every international shipping service now offers tracking numbers on all parcels. Do not forget to consider insurance if needed and remember that international shipments usually must be prepaid.

International cargo services
When shipments are too large to be sent by express, post or similar services, international cargo services will fill the need. For those shipping more than just a package internationally, there are plenty of services to choose from, and the most appropriate for the area it is being sent from can best be found by a web search. These services can help with anything from cars to entire households. As with packages, it is necessary to make sure packing and customs declarations are carefully carried out.

When the shipment is large enough, one option to consider is a flat-rate container. You can ship as many items as they would like in the container for a flat fee. The one stipulation is that the items being shipped in the container do not exceed a certain weight. This option is therefore the most optimal when many smaller and lighter items are being shipped.

Remember the special requirements for larger shipments. When the value of the shipment is higher, a formal entry will be necessary and extra documentation to include a bill of lading and a commercial invoice will likely be required.

Freight forwarders
Most commercial shipments are sent using freight forwarders. Basically, a freight forwarder will handle all the logistics of moving a shipment from one location to another. Some of their duties include:

• The coordination all shipments, both domestic and international, from their origin to the final destination, including shipments to and from ports as well as air, sea and ground transportation.
• Insuring and managing shipments to include risk management to prevent losses.
• Container management and loading: This includes FCL (full cargo load) shipments as well as LCL (less than container load) shipments.
• If they work as consolidators, they will combine break-bulk cargo from different senders into a single shipment for the best possible rates.
• Documentation support: To ensure the goods d not get held up for lack of documentation, freight forwarders will make sure those involved in the shipment provide all documentation that will be necessary to clear the goods through the ports (home and destination) and customs. This includes the bill of lading, waybill, commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and any other documentation that may be required depending on the type of shipment.
• Customs clearance: When requested, freight forwarders can arrange customs brokers to formally clear the goods through customs. They will also coordinate with customs in putting goods in bonded warehouses when there are unpaid duties.
• Storage: Freight forwarders can also arrange other storage as needed.

Advantages of using freight forwarders

• While it is possible to arrange the shipment of large orders of goods without a freight forwarder, they offer enough advantages to make their fees, generally included in the cost of the shipment, worth it in most cases.
• Apart from saving time and the need to have to arrange complex logistics, freight forwarders can also help companies save money. Being specialized in the shipping industry, they are well informed on its regulations and requirements (in many countries if it is a larger company) to move things efficiently. In addition, with their contacts with carriers and other business partners, they can often get the best rates for their clients.
• In some situations such as when trans-shipment is necessary, they can route goods through ports with the most favorable tax rates and regulations.

See freight forwarders for a better understanding of the services they offer. Freight forwarders range in size from the large to small domestic firms, but all will provide freight quotations. One criterion to consider when choosing a company is whether or not it is registered with the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Simplify Drop Shipping With Doba

One of the biggest downsides to running a drop shipping business is finding the best product distributors, suppliers, or manufacturers. Fortunately, a company called Doba is available that connects drop shippers with suppliers of a wide variety of goods. They also have quite a few other services that give marketers an easy way to find new products, connect their websites to Doba, and even directly publish sales through Doba to various online retailers.

When someone joins Doba, they get immediate access to a huge database of product listings. This database can be searched to find new products or brands to promote. Once products are selected, they can be directly sold to customers. The payment is collected directly from the customer, then an order is placed with the supplier through Doba to have it automatically delivered. A supplier only gets paid after a customer has already paid the drop shipper.

Commercial international shipping
International shipping, especially for commercial users, is centered on container use. They allow goods to be easily transferred between ship and land transportation and save untold amounts in shipping costs. The two most used container sizes are as follows:

20 foot shipping containers
Once the most popular container size, shipping units are now based on their capacity. The twenty-foot equivalent or TEU, can thought of as offering enough space to ship the contents of a roughly a two bedroom house.

40 foot shipping containers
Better suited for maximum efficiency, 40 foot containers have now become the standard.

Full container load
Whenever shipping internationally, it is always best to ship by full container load (FCL) if possible. Those ordering by FCL will see a significant reduction in the unit costs of shipping. Goods will also ship more quickly since they will not have to sit at a container freight station to be combined with other orders to fill a container (most goods are shipped by container regardless). This reduces the chances of shipping damage since the loading can be more properly monitored, and there is no chance the merchandise will be combined with another type cargo that could be potentially damaging. For more fragile goods, shipping by FCL is sometimes the only economically practical option.

Shipping quotes
When ordering goods from a factory, there are several types of quotes provided. While every quote will include the costs of production, the quotes vary in how much of the costs of shipping and insurance they include. These are some common terms used when pricing is given:

• Ex-factory is simply the cost of the goods without any freight or insurance costs included.

• FOB (Free on Board) includes the costs of the goods with shipping to a specified location, usually on board a ship, but not the costs of international shipping to the country the goods are destined for.

• CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) covers all costs to include shipping and insurance to a port at which the merchandise will be unloaded for customs and delivery.

While CIF is a common way to quote prices, those with the right experience and connections can often reduce international shipping costs by having the factory quote the FOB price and arranging shipping through their own channels.

Enter freight forwarders
Most people having merchandise shipped from a factory overseas will use freight forwarders. Freight forwarders should have the connections and expertise to arrange international shipment by land, sea and air. Thus, those using freight forwarders must make sure they have the proper global reach both where the merchandise will originate and where it will be shipped to. They also need to have the ability provide all the documentation that is required on their part to clear goods through customs. Some of the documentation required in international shipping include the following:

• A bill of lading is the single most important document in internationals surface shipping. It is issued by the carrier of the goods and sets the terms between the owner of the goods and the shipper. It will state all the information about the shipment to include where it came from and where it is going.

• An airway bill is similar to a bill of lading only it is issued by the air carrier and is used for air shipments. It is basically a contract to deliver the goods.

• A commercial invoice is provided by the seller to the buyer to prove the purchase. Since the applicable customs agency will use this invoice to determine the value of the goods, it is critical that this document be complete and accurate.

• A packing list is a more detailed description of what the shipment contains. It will include a numbered list of the content and its condition.

While these are the standard documents required for all shipments, there are various others required for different types of products. For example, export licenses are required to ship certain products to some countries. This is why it is so critical to have a knowledgeable freight forwarder and customs broker if one is not experienced in international shipping.

With residential shipments, requirements are much less stringent. Regardless of the type of shipment, acquiring knowledge of international shipping is the first step in controlling its costs. Use an understanding of how it works to find the lowest shipping costs.

• International shipments of manufactured goods can be broken down into the following steps:
• The manufacturer declares the goods are ready for shipment.
• Customs is contacted to clear the goods for export.
• The cargo is picked up and taken to the port of departure.
• The goods are loaded for shipment and given final customs clearance for export.
• The cargo is shipped to the port of entry in the destination country.
• The cargo is unloaded and cleared through customs (the necessary documentation should be prepared prior to arrival)
• The goods are picked up, shipped and delivered to the buyer

What freight forwarders do
With all the steps and paperwork required in shipment, freight forwarders are sometimes referred to as the travel agents of trade, since they make shipment so much easier. They are basically companies or individuals that arrange transportation between countries through regular shipping channels. Some of their functions include:

Documentation
Freight forwarders help prepare and review paperwork to include the commercial invoice, shipper’s export declaration and the bill of lading. They can also be utilized to insure proper marking and packaging. For smooth shipment, transshipment and customs clearance, all documentation should be prepared early and ready before the goods reach port, and a freight forwarder will help insure everything is done properly.

Arranging shipment
If the goods are on the other side of the world, it can be difficult to ship without help. A good freight forwarder will help find the best shipping channels to keep everything moving until the goods reach the final destination. They are particularly useful for smaller orders when the quantity ordered is less than a full container (LCL). A freight forwarder can help lower the costs of shipping this way by combining different shipments to make a full container load (FCL).

Consolidating payments
Freight forwarders can pay taxes, shipping and other expenses on the buyer’s behalf and will consolidate different payments into a single bill.

Insurance
Freight forwarders are usually able to supply insurance services to cover potential shipping problems.

Other advice
The right freight forwarder can provide valuable advice and help avoid costly problems on other issues that might arise.

Things to look for in a freight forwarder
Anyone who is in need of freight forwarding services should look around to find the one that best suits them. Some things that should be looked at include the rates, accreditation, experience, global reach in both the country the goods originate from and where they will be shipped to, office location, if they have a single point of contact and their consolidation services if the goods shipped will be LCL.

The final decision on using a freight forwarder will depend on the level of experience of the importer, and the ability of the importer to negotiate with the shipping companies for better terms. The complexity of the shipment, time factors and the possibility that the freight forwarder may be able to negotiate the best shipping rates all need to be considered. While freight forwarders are often the best way to move goods, they may not be in some situations.

Most international shipping is now based on shipping containers. Shipping containers have greatly increased the ease and efficiency in which goods are handled. They have also substantially reduced shipping costs and have revolutionized shipping and international trade.

Twenty or forty-foot containers are used for most shipments. Whenever possible, the quantity of goods ordered should be adjusted to best utilize container space.

A full container load (FCL) is the most cost-effective way to ship goods. In most cases, there is a significant drop in unit shipping costs when goods are shipped by the container load. For some shipments, such as fragile products that require special packing or other special care, FCL may be the only shipping option available.

Various circumstances prevent clients from ordering and shipping by FCL. For these shipments, the transportation costs are based on less than full container load (LCL). While LCL is more expensive than FCL, it is nonetheless more cost effective than other shipping methods. LCL shipments are first sent to a container freight station (CFS) where they are combined with other shipments to make a full container. After the shipment reaches its country of destination, the goods are separated at another CFS.

Different types of cargo require diverse types of containers. For example, perishable goods are shipped in thermal containers (also known as reefers), tank containers are used for liquids and gasses, dry bulk containers are needed for free-flowing solids such as grain. However, the most common type of container is the general purpose or dry cargo container used for most shipments.

Listed below are various port-to-port shipping times. Please be aware that these are only estimated shipping times. They do not include loading, unloading, customs clearance or transferring LCL shipments to a CFS warehouse (3-4 days). Shipping times are longer if the container vessel stops at another port before reaching its final destination.

From Hong Kong to the U.S.
Hong Kong – Los Angeles= 12 days
Hong Kong – San Francisco= 12 days
Hong Kong – Chicago = 18 days
Hong Kong – Seattle = 18 days
Hong Kong – Houston = 18 days
Hong Kong – New York = 26 days
Hong Kong – Miami = 28 days

From Hong Kong to Canada
Hong Kong – Vancouver = 19 days
Hong Kong – Toronto = 26 days

From Hong Kong to Australia
Hong Kong – Brisbane = 18 days
Hong Kong – Sydney = 11 days

From Hong Kong to New Zealand
Hong Kong – Auckland = 16 days

From Hong Kong to Europe
Hong Kong – Antwerp = 23 days
Hong Kong – Barcelona = 21 days

From Shanghai to the U.S.
Shanghai – Los Angeles = 14 days
Shanghai – San Francisco = 14 days
Shanghai – Chicago = 20 days
Shanghai – Seattle = 20 days
Shanghai – Houston = 20 days
Shanghai – New York = 28 days
Shanghai – Miami = 30 days