The eCommerce industry is becoming saturated. However, billions of consumers exist worldwide, so the opportunities for broadening your target audience and growing the business are endless. To succeed in this endeavour, you must discover the best way to ship packages internationally.
Fortunately, this blog post will provide you with pieces of advice to help you thrive. Let’s dive in!
How to Ship A Package Internationally?
To start, you have to identify your target destination country. Identify their regulations for importing products to ensure that you do not ship anything prohibited. Also, you should check the documents needed to ensure you get them before shipping them out.
Then, you must choose a reliable shipping partner based on your requirements. The costs vary drastically based on package type, dimensions, insurance, and mode of transportation. Choose the option that fits you best.
Later in this article, we will show you a shortcut to an easier and more convenient shipping process which takes away most of the hassle.
Requirements and Documents to Prepare
Shippers must get the necessary documents to send their items upon shipping. While requirements may differ depending on the destination country, below are the standard documents you need to submit.
Customer’s or Commercial Invoice
The customer’s invoice is one of the primary documents to ship a parcel. It should indicate all the goods and services provided to the client, the total value amount, and the preferred payment mode. You have the option to either send a printed paper or electronic invoice to the customer.
A commercial invoice plays a vital role in the export process, as it is a particular document that facilitates your shipment’s customs clearance. With the help of a properly and accurately documented commercial invoice, customs officials can quickly determine whether taxes and import charges are applicable to your package. Moreover, it avoids shipping delays.
Certificate of Origin
From the word itself, “origin” is a document in which a commodity or goods were manufactured. Similar to the commercial invoice, a Certificate of Origin (CO) discloses information about the product, the recipient’s location, and the exporting nation.
Bill of Lading
The essential document used in sea transport is the Bill of Lading. It serves as a receipt for transported goods, a contract of carriage, and a title-granting instrument.
If you think about it, gathering all of these documents takes time and effort.
A shipping provider allows you to skip this step. You don’t have to exert energy or time to comply with these requirements, as they will process them on your behalf.
Packaging
While the primary purpose of packaging is to ensure that the goods are safe from any damage during transport, handling, and storage, packaging also affects the viewers’ perception of your products. Research indicates that a well-thought-out product package can attract more customers. It also increases brand awareness and quality.
On the other hand, packaging can also affect the shipping cost. So, you need to carefully consider the packaging design and materials used to ensure you hit your goal without exceeding the budget.
Prohibited Items When You Ship Package Internationally
Most, if not all, shipping companies do not ship prohibited because it is highly illegal; however, if you wonder what happens if someone sends banned goods. Shipping prohibited items may lead to additional expenses.
Once caught, the entire package could be either returned to the sender, seized, or disposed of. You may also have to pay fines and sanctions or be banned from shipping.
Thus, you must check the rules carefully to ensure you do not send anything considered prohibited. You can check this list to know the items you cannot ship to other countries or contact your chosen shipping company or customs for more information about the prohibited items.
Cheapest Way to Ship A Package Internationally From Canada
Stallion Express is the cheapest way to ship a package internationally from Canada. Our partnerships allow us to provide discounted rates to online sellers starting as low as $5.69 for international shipments.
Over-the-top international shipping rates are one of the biggest reasons for cart abandonment. It makes customers have second thoughts about buying items, regardless of their price and quality.
So, one leverage you can take advantage of to attract international customers is to offer affordable international shipping rates. With the right shipping provider, you can make this possible without losing any profits. International shipping does not have to be expensive!
Consider Stallion Express
Being the leading Canada-based shipping provider, Stallion has helped thousands of Canadian sellers ship their products securely and cheaply across countries. With APC and PostNL as our courier partners, you can guarantee that everything will go smoothly, without any hassle, and worth every penny!
Furthermore, we simplify the paperwork process mentioned above. Instead, just fill out the necessary information prompted on our dashboard.
Note that unless you are shipping to Europe, you should keep this update in mind.
How Does it Work?
Before you can take advantage of the perks our clients enjoy, you have to register an account first. Once you have already provided the details needed, you will be redirected to your Stallion Dashboard.
You can do plenty of things inside the platform, such as create an international shipment, integrate your online store (Amazon, Shopify, eBay, Etsy), schedule a pickup service (Stallion Direct Pickup or UPS Pickup), and many more!
You do not have to visit the post office and deliver your package personally. You can simply drop off the item at the nearest Stallion branch, and they will do the rest of the work for you, including customs clearance. The courier (APC and PostNL) will then hand them to local postal authorities so the package can reach your customer.
Aman looks after the content marketing department at Stallion Express. He is passionate about helping businesses grow by providing informative and up-to-date trends in the eCommerce industry. Outside the office, you can find him on the soccer field cheering on Real Madrid.
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"Stallion Express is a game changer for small business owners like myself. My online store wouldn't be where it's at today without the Stallion Express team."
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