Getting International Shipping Company Quotes is Easy on Shiply

International Shipping

The rise of e-commerce around the globe has opened up the options of buyers and sellers from all over the country, but the one issue is that international shipping isn’t always straightforward. There are a number of companies to compare and factors to consider which can often put you off the idea of shipping something internationally, but it doesn’t always have to be so difficult.

On Shiply there are hundreds of international shipping companies ready to send you personalized bids for your item, often up to 75% cheaper than usual rates, but first, you need to collect some basic information about your shipment.

How Much Does International Shipping Cost?

With a large number of variables involved it is very difficult to give any kind of estimate as to how much an international freight quote will be, but below are a number of factors that can affect the cost of your shipment:

Distance -  How far your item needs to travel will have an impact on the price of your international shipment. Longer journeys require more fuel and may even require stopovers.

Customs - Along with how far the item needs to travel is to which countries it is traveling to. Customs costs can vary between countries so you will need to look into the laws for your destination, but it could be more costly or cheaper depending on which countries the travel is to and from.

Item Size - How much space your shipment needs to take up will also affect your international shipping quote. Larger and heavier objects will naturally allow for less space for other items and so will cost more to ship.

Timings - If you need your items shipped internationally by a certain time then this will be factored into the price. It may mean that your item needs to be rushed somewhere to get on a boat or plane and you can expect your quote to reflect this. You should also be aware if timings are a concern, that some customs offices can cause unforeseen delays.

How Can Shiply Help Find International Shipping Companies?

With a large choice of companies out there ready to carry out your international shipment, as well as a number of factors and research involved it is no wonder that people often feel overwhelmed when trying to ship overseas. This is where Shiply can help you.

By filling out a simple form that gives us the size of your item, the pickup location, and the delivery location you can start receiving personalized quotes from affordable international shipping companies directly to your Shiply inbox. This gives you one space where you can compare prices and message individual companies asking for further details. Shiply also has a feedback and rating system which allows you to browse international freight quotes with confidence that your chosen company will provide.

Shiply also operates on a backload basis, meaning that international shipping companies are looking for items to fill up empty space in their vehicles. Not only is using our platform good for the environment, but it can also be up to 75% cheaper than standard rates.

Preparing Items For International Shipping

There is more preparation that needs to go into an international shipment than a domestic one, here are a few things we recommend doing before your item is picked up:

Documents - International shipping requires a lot more documents than regular shipments. Whilst you will need to do some independent research to know exactly what you need for your shipment in particular (look at customs guidelines for the countries involved), here are a few examples of documents that are sometimes required:

• 
  Proforma Invoice


• 
  Commercial Invoice


• 
  Packing List


• 
  Certificate of Origin


• 
  Bills of Lading


• 
  Dangerous Goods Form

Check Condition - You should always check what condition the item being shipped is in before it is picked up. This is just a check to make sure you will be able to identify if any damages occur during transit.

Take Photographs - Rather than committing your condition check to memory, take high-quality photographic evidence with timestamps. This will allow you to accurately compare the item's condition upon arrival to what it looked like before and the photographs are solid evidence of the condition before, should any disputes arrive.

Packing - This may largely depend on how your item is being shipped and will be something you should discuss with your chosen international shipping company, but always ensure your item is well protected with bubble wrap or similar material, and if a pallet is required then make sure your items are securely fastened before they are shipped.

What To Do After Delivery

Once your item has been delivered you should check that its condition is as you expected, this is where the photographs can really come in handy. If there are any issues, raise these immediately with your chosen international shipping company. 

If you are happy (or unhappy) with your shipping company then please leave a review and a feedback score, this not only allows them to improve in the future but also helps future Shiply users to spot the best and most trustworthy companies.