When you send a parcel outside the country, there are many aspects to take into account. For example, there are different rules in each country regarding customs and import duties and every carrier has different requirements and conditions. How do you ensure that your customer in Germany receives his order without problems? Here are 10 tips that make it easier to ship internationally.
- Packaging
Make sure the shipping box is firm. Fill the package with filling material such as bubble wrap or polystyrene foam and cover the corners of the package with extra tape. The packaging must be able to withstand a fall of 1.5 meters according to international regulations. Note that you do not use newspapers as padding material in connection with certain censorship rules abroad.
- Addressing
Always enter the e-mail address and the telephone number of the customer on each shipping label. This significantly increases the delivery probability.
- Delivery time: Express or regular?
Take a good look at the average delivery time for shipping to Germany and clearly communicate this to your customer. For example, regular mail items to Germany can be on the road for more than a month before they are delivered. Mail networks, are often somewhat slower than the Express networks. Therefore offer the customer the choice whether they wishes an Express shipment (possibly at extra costs), or a normal shipment.
- What is and what is not allowed for international shipping?
Each country and every carrier has different rules about what you can and cannot send internationally, so always check the website of the carrier for the latest information. UPS has developed a handy tool in which you can see the specific conditions per country.
Often the following items are not allowed for international shipping:
- Aerosols
- Alcoholic beverages
- Fresh fruit and vegetables
- Petrol or oil
- Nail polish
- Perfume
- Poison
- Insurance
Do you ship goods with a lot of value? Then it is wise to make a recital to insure the package against damage and loss.Foreign shipments are losing relatively more often than shipments within the country. If you choose to use international shipping of many packages, then it is possible to take out separate transport insurance per package. The rates for this vary per carrier.
- Customs regulations
Firstly, it is very important to understand the customs rules of the country where you are going to send. When international shipping of all parcels outside the country, customs clearance is a requirement. For this you need to add enough paperwork to the package.
- Not sure? Contact the carrier or intermediary
The carrier and / or agent are aware of the most recent customs regulations for the country of destination. Therefore do not hesitate to contact us as the rules sometimes change.
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