International shipping is a complex process with many moving parts. In this guide, we’ll walk through the main steps of international shipping as well as supply you with some tools to help make your next shipment a success!
Determining Where You’ll Ship
Once you’ve determined where your international customers are coming from, it’s time to consider the specifics of their destinations. The following list will help you determine where your products are being shipped:
- Country
- City
- Postal code
- State or province (or state/province)
- Region (for example, state in the United States)
- Continent (for example, Europe or Africa)
The final two options are less common but still worth considering: hemisphere and zone.
Finding an International Shipping Price
To find the best international shipping price, you’ll need to do some research. However, what you’re looking for isn’t a single price—it’s the combination of rates from several carriers that gives you the best total cost.
To get started, research which carriers service your destination country and how much they charge for shipping. Then look at all of their rates to see if one carrier is consistently cheaper than others.
If that doesn’t work out, it might be time to consider using a freight forwarder (also known as an international logistics company). These companies can help reduce costs by negotiating lower rates with several carriers at once on behalf of their customers instead of having them contact each carrier individually.
By comparing these negotiated rates with those directly from carriers themselves (via websites like Freightos), customers can choose which option works best for them and then pass this information along to their freight forwarder who will take care of everything else!
Preparing Your Package for Shipment
It’s recommended that you remove all the items from the box so that it’s lighter, but if you’re shipping large items or fragile items, this may not be possible.
Remove any packing materials that may have been used like bubble wrap, foam, or Styrofoam peanuts, and make sure the box is clean and dry. Mark the outside of the box with your return address in case there’s something wrong with it at customs and they need to contact you for inquiries on how to process your shipment back into Canada.
Marking Your Package for International Shipping
On top of removing all contents from inside your package, there are some additional things that need to be done before shipping internationally:
Marking Your Shipping Label: In order to ship internationally through Canada Post or UPS/FedEx, there will be an additional fee added on top of what you paid when purchasing postage online (which includes tracking numbers).
When purchasing postage online make sure this extra fee has been added to your total bill before submitting payment – otherwise it won’t go through! If no extra charge was added then contact us right away so we can set up an account with them on our end too 🙂
Shipping Methods and Transit Times
There are several different shipping methods to choose from, and each has its own benefits and drawbacks. Here’s a quick rundown of the most common methods:
- Express Mail International (EMS)
- Priority Mail International (PMI)
- First Class Package International Service (FCPIS)
- Priority Mail Express International (PMEI)
Customs, Duties, and Fees
The customs, duties, and fees that you are liable to pay when shipping internationally can be dependent on a number of factors. For example, it’s important to note that not all countries have the same thresholds for what they consider “small” or “large” packages. In some countries, anything over 1 kg (2.2 lbs) is considered large and subject to higher customs charges.
Other countries may have different thresholds for different types of products; e.g., certain produce items might be charged differently than others based on their weight or size at the entry point into the country where they are being shipped from – often referred to as exportation value – versus their original cost price when purchased by a consumer in his/her home country – often referred to as importation value.
Tracking Your Package
Tracking Your Package
When you’re shipping internationally, you should always track your package. That way, if the package is delayed or lost, you’ll be able to get a refund or replace your product. If there’s an issue with customs processing and they need to investigate further before releasing the goods into circulation in that country, then tracking will help them locate where exactly on its journey it is located at any given time.
This can also be helpful when shipping internationally with a third party (like FedEx) because they often won’t accept responsibility for tracking packages themselves; instead focusing on making sure that their systems are up-to-date so as not to lose any parcels in transit!
International shipping has a lot of factors, but there are tools to help you.
International shipping is a complicated process that involves many factors, such as weight, size, and destination. The list of things to consider can be overwhelming at times, but there are tools available to help you determine the best price for your international shipment.
In order to get the best price on an international shipment, you need to know where it’s going. There are many tools available online that will allow you (or your customers) to find out how much it costs to ship something from one country or region of the world—or even just within their own country—to another region or state.
Conclusion
We hope that this guide has been helpful to you. International shipping can be tricky and complicated, but it’s not impossible. With the right tools and knowledge, you can make sure your packages reach their destination safely and on time—no matter where they’re going!
