How to ship personal items from China,Personal belongings transported by sea from China to other countries require understanding of three things: process, required documents, and related costs
- Find a reliable freight forwarder or shipping company and choose a reputable freight forwarding company that specializes in international shipping. The freight forwarding company has a complete mailing process to ensure that all packages arrive safely and smoothly at their destination.
- Properly package your package, ensuring that it is packaged in a standard express box, using sturdy hard shell packaging materials, and being careful not to have various logo fonts on the outside of the packaging. If there are fragile items such as glass inside the package, it is highly likely to break. Because the containers are stacked with hundreds of kilograms of packages. So, another key point is not to put fragile items inside the package.
- There are two main methods for determining the transportation method and transporting packages by sea:
LCL: For smaller shipments, your package will be merged with other shipments in one container. Imagine it as a sea carpool service, where your package will be transported along with others’ packages on the way.
At this point, if a package with sensitive items appears in a container and happens to be spot checked by customs, then your package will also be implicated for no reason.
So be careful of freight forwarders who promise to transport everything at low prices.
Full Container Load (FCL): For larger goods such as large furniture, you can even rent the entire container yourself. This is like booking a private luxury sedan for your package, which can have exclusive services, but it also means the price is not low. Mainly used for international relocation.
- To understand the necessary documents, you need to know which documents are required for international transportation, which are basically handled by freight forwarders for you. Mainly including:
Bill of Lading (BOL): serves as the document for the contract between you, the shipper, and the carrier.
– Commercial invoice: a detailed invoice containing product description, value and recipient details.
Packing list: A list of all items in your shipment, including weight, dimensions, and packaging materials Certificate of origin (COO): A document certifying the country of manufacture of your goods.
Import and Export Forms: Taking the United States as an example, depending on the nature of your goods, you may need to fill out other forms required by the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
- Pay attention to customs regulations and restrictions
Familiar with US customs regulations and restrictions to avoid any unpleasant accidents. These freight forwarders will tell you all about it. Ensure that your shipment does not contain prohibited or restricted items. Ensure that every item in your package meets the requirements for smooth passage.
- Estimated shipping cost
The cost of transporting packages by sea depends on several factors, including:
- Transportation method (LCL or FCL)
- The size and weight of your package
- Distance between the port of origin and destination
Additional services such as insurance, customs clearance, or door-to-door delivery.
- Package tracking
Once your package is en route, you can usually use the tracking number provided by the freight forwarding company to track its trajectory.
How to ship personal items from China and transport them,Please remember that the cheapest choice is definitely not the best
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