Dropshipping International Shipping: 9 Things to Know
Quick answer: International dropshipping shipping means your supplier or fulfillment partner ships orders across borders to your customers. To do it well, choose carriers by rates, coverage, tracking and delivery time, know each country’s import rules, customs duties and taxes, include a proper commercial invoice, consider shipping insurance, and use light, protective packaging. Set clear delivery expectations on your store, and consider overseas warehouses to deliver faster.
International shipping is something to figure out to take your eCommerce business to the next step. You already want to expand your business abroad, right? International dropshipping allows you to sell products worldwide without leaving your home. But how to do it right?
This page helps your online store gain a foothold in the international dropshipping business.
Relation of Shipping and Dropshipping
Shipping basically means the act of transporting a package or item from one place to another. This term is not to be confused with the slang word “ship” which means that a person likes a certain movie, celebrity, couple, character, series, or thing.
Dropshipping means that you partner with a wholesale supplier or manufacturer who will directly package and ship the products to your customers. Or, you can be the said wholesale supplier and be the one to ship the products to customers of your partner wholesale vendor.
As you can see, shipping is directly tied to dropshipping. It is an important factor to consider when choosing which dropshipping supplier to partner with. In this post, we will discuss the ins and outs of international shipping.
How does International Dropshipping Work?
There are two ways to look at what is considered dropshipping internationally.
One form of international dropshipping is when your supplier is located in a different country than your business. For example, let’s say both your supplier and customers are in the UK; however, your business is legally based in the US.
You will want to be sure you calculate currency conversions properly when calculating profit. You are also at the mercy of the exchange rate.
The other areas to consider when shipping internationally are breakage, weight, and price. Shipping a product that easily breaks, is heavier than average, or doesn’t hold a profit margin to justify the higher shipping costs, can sometimes outweigh the opportunity you may have with an international supplier.
9 Things Dropshippers Need to Know about Dropshipping International Shipping
You can choose from different carriers such as USPS, FedEx, UPS, Australia Post, UK Royal Mail, and Canada post. You can check out their website to know import regulations for international shipments of the destination country. You can also see tools and instructions for shipping across borders such as metric conversions and price lists. Or you can choose to ship internationally with Shopify Shipping.
These are the factors that you need to consider in choosing a carrier:
Shipping options, Rates, Coverage, Tracking or Mapping tools, Delivery Time frame, Fees, Package size, and Policies.
Every country has its own regulations, clearances, and restrictions for packages coming from abroad. You need to be familiar with importation laws and regulations for every country where you will ship your products.
Shipping carries a lot of risks. As you can imagine, cargoes containing the packages have to travel by land, sea, and air to get to their destination. Depending on the destination country, there will always be risks involved such as shipment delays and errors that are not controllable.
Thus, it would be wise to get insurance so that losses can be covered. There are different insurance companies so you need to study and compare their policies, requirements, and coverage. Choose the best, most reliable insurance that offers a lot of coverage.
The shipping rates can vary depending on a lot of factors:
Shipping Carrier
Custom Regulations
Size and Weight of the Package
Country of Origin and Destination Country
To check the shipping rates, you can check out the shipping guide, services, and features of these shipping companies:
FedEx; USPS; UPS; Australia Post; Canada Post.
Depending on the destination country, shipping carrier, and customs regulations, delivery time will vary from country to country. You need to take into account the delivery time to get the package across to the shipping address of the customer. Give an allowance in the delivery date so that you can provide proper expectations to the customer.
International shipping requires you to have a sales invoice which is part of the documentation.
Shipping carriers also offer paperless or electronic invoices such as UPS Paperless Invoice and FedEx’s Electronic Trade Documents. This way you will be able to transmit the invoice to customs and obtain clearance from them.
There are a lot of international shipping carriers that offer tracking services for shipped goods. So you need to also consider that when choosing what carrier to partner with. Once you can track the shipments, you will know whether the parcel or package has arrived at the shipping address or not. You will also know if there are shipment delays and issues or if the shipment is being held at customs.
Most consumers value the packaging and presentation of the products as much as the product itself. Aside from ensuring that products are neatly packaged, the packaging is also an important factor in shipping. Depending on the package size and weight, shipping rates will vary.
You can choose the materials for the packaging of your products to make them more presentable to customers. You can have your own creative packaging design that showcases your brand. Plus, opt for lightweight, protective materials to package your products so you can get cheaper shipping rates. You can also choose to have a creative label in the packaging to further delight your customers.
You also need to be aware of the terms and conditions of the carrier as well as the dropship supplier if you opt for dropshipping. Make sure that you know their return policies and exchanges, payment methods, insurance, and guarantees, to name some.
By knowing the ins and outs of international shipping, you will be better equipped when shipping your products to customers while maximizing your profit margins.
Dropshipping International Shipping Concerns: How to Deal with Customs Duties and Tax Problems
Transparency and honesty in your business is the key to dealing with customs duties and tax issues. Customers including the customs authorities always appreciate honesty and will not be tight on your drop shipping business. Simply keep in mind these are normal issues you have to face since you are doing business on an international scale. Also keep in mind that you are subject to political risk and changes in postal fees and import rules. In recent years, changes in the US have significantly increased the cost of international shipments, particularly from China.
Find a professional agency or consolidator to help you to handle it. Shipping service providers like DHL, FedEx, or Yunexpress will definitely do this work.
Conclusion
To do international shipping right, you’ll need a strategy that works for you and your business. You don’t have to know everything about shipping, but you do have to understand the available options and find an approach that will fulfill your shipping needs in the long run. Honest FulPhilment offers 30+ shipping lines and 18+ overseas 3PL warehouses, so you can choose the right balance of cost and speed for each market.
FAQ
Can you dropship internationally?
Yes. Dropshipping lets you sell to customers in other countries while your supplier or fulfillment partner ships the orders. You need to plan for longer delivery times, customs duties, taxes and currency conversion.
How does international dropshipping shipping work?
When a customer orders, your supplier or fulfillment partner packs the item and ships it with an international carrier or shipping line. The parcel clears customs in the destination country and is delivered by a local carrier, with tracking along the way.
Who pays customs duties when dropshipping?
It depends on the shipping terms. Either the customer pays duties and taxes on delivery, or you collect them at checkout and the shipment is sent duties-paid. Be clear about this on your store to avoid refused parcels.
How long does international dropshipping take?
Delivery time depends on the origin and destination country, the carrier or shipping line and customs clearance. Storing stock in a warehouse in the destination country shortens delivery significantly.
What is the cheapest way to ship internationally for dropshipping?
Dedicated ecommerce shipping lines and postal services are usually cheapest for light parcels, while express couriers are faster but cost more. Light, compact packaging also lowers shipping costs.