For international you have to find the tire kickers and the serious shippers. One tell of a cheap (not our customer) is they ask for “barrel shipment” this is usually done by consolidators and the sell the space of a barrel in a container. They have built volume to where they can fill a container in a reasonable amount of time. For most stores we are not in a position or city to be able to offer this type of consolidation.
In most case one or two boxes will always be cheaper small package world. When you start getting a few hundred pounds then freight gets into the race. But only door to terminal. If you try and go door to door with ocean freight for a 250 lbs shipment it will rapidly cost more than the same shipment by air. Over time you will get a feel for a minimum price for ocean freight, you will get a feel for the minimum air freight. You don’t have to quote on the spot but if you can be able to say, we did a 300 lbs shipment last week and it cost $900 to the port in London. So your 300 lb shipment to Paris will probably be pretty close to that. You have given then a quick and easy price, if they are thinking of $100.00 you have saved a lot of work. If they were thinking of $750.00 you still have a chance to get the job.
I can help get you pricing but remember, we need the same information (and more) that you need to price a domestic shipment. Having complete information helps, full address, weight, dimensions, content description, value for customs.
For international shipments keep in mind that multiple cartons should be palletized. But when you palletize cartons, especially for Europe you need certified for export pallets. These are common probably same ones you see all the time, they have a large HT-123456 stamped on it. The HT is heat treated, the numbers are the builders certificate. The charges are based on the space you take up including the pallet and packaging.
All of Europe requires HT pallets and crates, Australia and New Zealand REQUIRE fully certified, complete stamping, and in some case specific stamps for their country. These are two destinations NEVER to screw with and cut corners, you will lose every time.
They are so paranoid about bugs that if you list shoes, or worse golf shoes on the inventory they will open and inspect the shoes to make sure they are 100% clean from any dirt. This can be a very costly mistake, VERY costly. All our customers shipping there are told all about the different ways that THEY could get into trouble. Shoes, boots, garden tools (will make the inspectors go nuts)
Almost every country “requires” the HT stamped pallets, Africa, and the far east are not ALWAYS pushing it but it is safer to ship HT than be caught without a pallet/crate being stamped. Yes, in SOME cases you can build your own crate out of materials entirely manufactured that qualify. This means no lumber, it is widely debated if pressure treated qualifies. I don’t believe it does as it is treated for rot prevention, not for bugs. Bugs can and do infest treated lumber (sometimes).
You want to make sure you have complete description of the contents, a shipment I worked on with a store had one tube of hair gel. Just one and it held the shipment up for weeks causing delays on top of delays. The customer had declared all toys, then it became toys and shirts, then toys, shirts, pants, then they added the gel after it was caught and held.
You as the shipper are ultimately responsible for additional fees on these shipments. If the consignee doesn’t pay the duty and taxes, it could be billed back to you. If the shipment doesn’t clear customs due to product not being declared, this comes back to you. You want to make sure that you have made it clear with your customer that in the event of these types of issues that they in turn will be responsible. Be proactive, talk to your customer, communicate with the consignee, make sure both parties are aware of any restrictions, limitations.
I am always concerned when someone is stating, “we don’t pay duty or taxes” not on this stuff. My response is okay, just so you know, anything crossing any international border is subject to duty, taxes, VAT (value added tax) and governmental fees. We are not customs, we are not going to say yes your right. Communicate with your customer and consignee once the shipment has been dispatched. Explain to everyone the process, what is included, what is not. Leave no doubt, doubt will cost you. When I run quotes, I always add a line that depending on the service will read,
“Does not include duty, taxes, brokerage, clearance, delivery, insurance nor any destination terminal fees. I recommend to stores to pass on these restrictions/limitations.”
International Air freight is subject to shipper and consignee database checks the day of the shipment. Once the data is submitted to the carrier they can and will run a check of “no fly” or “no ship names” if the shipper or consignee are listed. Your freight isn’t going anywhere, you can’t check in advance as they check only on the day of pickup.
For quoting assistance please go to the AMBC Freight page on AMBC site, there you will find Assisted quote form, we even have an International assisted quote form
Jeff Ballantyne
AMBC Freight
PackFreight Network
1465 Woodbury Ave
Portsmouth NH 03801
603-431-4205
Think like a customer, work like a professional. Ethics before profits.
Source: AMBC Blog