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Last Updated: October 10, 2023
If your business is online, you’re guaranteed to acquire a few international customers. When you ship internationally through the USPS, FedEx, or UPS, you’ll encounter some significant differences that set it apart from shipping within your borders.
Should you find yourself wondering, “How does international shipping work?”, this is the guide for you! This article will go over the top three factors to consider when shipping internationally so you can best serve your customers both domestic and abroad.
It seems international shipping rates are constantly fluctuating. Stay on top of these fluctuations by paying close attention to companies’ international rates. The major shipping services have dedicated pages for their rates:
USPS International Shipping Rates
FedEx International Shipping Rates
UPS International Shipping Rates
Additionally, you can sign up for their alerts and newsletters to stay informed on rate changes.
Meanwhile, when you prepare to pack your items, stick to the smallest sizes and weights. Compact, lightweight packages are cost-effective and get delivered quickly. Measure your items and use packaging that’s slightly larger to accommodate it. A small box is good, but a poly mailer may be better, as an article of ours explains in depth.
Finally, if you’re shipping several items internationally, consider batching them together. Shipping companies appreciate bulk shipments and may be willing to offer scaled pricing.
If someone told you that you can ship whatever you want to whatever country you want, that person is a liar. Every country has a unique and specific list of items that are banned from being shipped. Alcoholic beverages, food products, plants, seeds, and even ceramic tableware are among the most commonly restricted items in international shipping.
Shipping forbidden items can get you and your customer in a lot of trouble. First, your items will be held by customs indefinitely. Second, you and your customers may have to pay hefty fines or face even harsher penalties. International law is no joke.
The USPS has a handy list of banned and restricted items for international shipping, but we also encourage you to research the laws and restrictions of the country you plan on shipping to. Doing your research ahead of time will save you from problems down the road.
Knowing your shipping rates and restrictions doesn’t matter if your packages are not packed and marked correctly. Naturally, you’ll need your address, the recipient address, and postage for international travel, but that’s not all; some countries require additional marking, tags, and paperwork to accept your shipment.
When you’re shipping to a foreign country, read up on their shipping regulations. A few countries, for instance, demand itemized descriptions of the package’s contents, including prices and manufacturers. If you feel lost or confused, it doesn’t hurt to contact your shipping company to ensure your packages are properly marked for whatever country it’s going to.
And don’t forget about the package itself! Make sure your items fit, then fill the remaining space inside with cushioning material, like Styrofoam peanuts or newspaper. Seal the top with a few strips of high-strength carton sealing tape or water-activated kraft tape. Finally, place your shipping label on the package where it can be seen and secure it with a strip of label protection tape.
International shipping can be complicated, but if you know the rules and rates and pack your items properly, you’ll become a master in no time. At PackagingSuppliesByMail, we have everything you need to guarantee successful international shipments. Backed up by our free shipping on all packaging supplies, we can ensure your business can extend beyond its domestic borders and serve customers around the world.
