5 Tips for Beginners: How to Ship Internationally

5 Tips for Beginners: How to Ship Internationally and Avoid Rookie Mistakes

How to ship internationally—an ecommerce entrepreneur’s next frontier. Broadening your sales horizons and exploring international markets is an exciting prospect! This marks a new chapter in your online business’s story, so let’s get you off to a good start.

International shipping can sometimes feel intimidating and complicated, especially when you’re learning something new. Luckily, there are practical ways to simplify the process and make global ecommerce shipping possible for entrepreneurs.

What are the most common rookie shipping mistakes?

Not to scare you, but new international shippers commonly make mistakes that cost time, money, and headaches. Like anything new, shipping internationally comes with risks, and it’s important to understand potential pitfalls so you can avoid them. The good news is that these five rookie mistakes can be easily avoided by using a few shipping tips and multi-carrier shipping software for international package shipping.

5 Rookie Mistakes for International Package Shipping:

  1. Not accounting for transit delays – Add an extra 1-2 days to the delivery date.
  2. Inaccurate product descriptions – Match descriptions to the HS code wording.
  3. Underestimating shipping costs – Research duties, taxes, fees, and currency.
  4. Improper packaging for transit – Choose the right package type and smallest size.
  5. Not keeping up with changing regulations – Use shipping software with updates.

What is multi-carrier shipping software for international package shipping?

Multi-carrier shipping software is commonly a cloud-based tool used by businesses to simplify the complex processes of shipping parcels around the world. International parcel shipping solutions may offer features to help shippers:

When you use a multi-carrier parcel shipping solution, technology removes much of the guesswork and helps to prevent costly mistakes.

5 tips for how to ship internationally

Though experience is the best teacher, smart shippers can save a lot of time, headaches, and money by following these best practices from the beginning.

Tip 1: Add an extra 1-2 days to the delivery date.

Rookie mistake: not accounting for transit delays

International shipping includes customs clearance, which can significantly impact transit times. Every package passes through an inspection process to make sure all the customs requirements are met.

How to avoid this issue:

When you first start shipping to a new country, always add a day or two to the transit time the carrier gives you.

Tip 2: Match descriptions to the HS code wording.

Rookie mistake: inaccurate product descriptions

Inaccurate product descriptions are one of the biggest causes of customs clearance problems. Customs documents require a detailed written description of each item in the package.

How to avoid this issue:

Understand the details of your own products and find the correct HS codes. The more specific your product descriptions, the better chance your package has of arriving on time.

Tip 3: Research duties, taxes, fees, and currency.

Rookie mistake: underestimating shipping costs

International shipping costs differ because you must also account for duties, taxes, and fees.

How to avoid this issue:

Use an online international shipping calculator to estimate duties and fees, and communicate those charges to the customer ahead of time.

Tip 4: Choose the right package type and smallest size.

Rookie mistake: improper packaging for transit

International shipments are more prone to damage and subject to environmental factors.

How to avoid this issue:

Research packaging regulations for your destination country and test the durability of your product and packaging.

Tip 5: Use shipping software that stays up to date.

Rookie mistake: improper packaging for transit

How to avoid this issue:

Research packaging regulations for your destination country and purchase the appropriate shipping supplies. Test the durability of your product packaging to ensure it can withstand transit conditions.

How can I get started with international shipping?

As you start into international sales and ecommerce shipping, begin by researching the countries closest to your home base. Here are some questions to answer:

  1. Is there a market for my product in this country?
  2. What are the duties, taxes, and fees to ship my product there?
  3. Are customers willing to pay for shipping costs?
  4. What may affect shipping?
  5. What are the packaging and customs regulations?
  6. Which shipping software has the features I need?

Key Takeaways