INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING TRICKS EVERY COMPANY MUST KNOW

Presently international shipping represents a key process in many businesses’ structure. Shipping your products overseas is often a simple process, especially if you engage the services of a reputable shipper. However there are important factors which companies should bear in mind the next time they make a dispatch. Every nation has its own customs, and this can in some cases affect the smooth passage of a consignment from one country to the next.

Usually each country has a list of proscribed materials which will be confiscated if they are discovered. These regulations may vary from nation to nation. In all cases, it’s best to make a few inquiries before importing into a country if you are not absolutely sure about the safety of your consignment.

Australia

Exporting packages to Australia, for instance, can sometime prove complex. The country is known for its fragile eco-system, consequently there are strict regulations covering the import of everything from soil and plants to pesticides and wildlife. The Australian officials are presumably to refuse entry to parcels which they suspect contain any prohibited items, so make certain you always check before shipping.

Japan

If your company is going to trade with Japan, the value should to be declared in advance. If consignment equates to more than 300,000 yen (approximately $28400) , it will be not possible to ship it straight to the recipient’s address. When the consignment enters the country, will be contacted by the Japanese authorities, and he or she will then be expected to collect it from the local delivery office. For time-sensitive products, it must be borne in mind.

United States

Day-to-day, thousands and thousands of packages are delivered from different countries to the United States. However many senders don’t realize how many potential restrictions may be involved in the shipping process. The usual list of suspects may come as no great surprise and sending fresh fruits and vegetables can be complex operations.

China

Packages that contain products meant for for political promotion are probably to be impounded in China. The same rule applies, incredibly, to many items with the label ‘Made in China’. The country protects its trading operations at every opportunity, so be careful what you send. American beef products and various medications are all on the Chinese prohibited list.

Mexico

There are major restrictions which need to be remembered when exporting to Mexico. Restrictions on imports include alcohol, tobacco and medications, but there are also issues facing the movement of pencils, bicycles and compact discs. By using international parcel specialists, you can be sure of having expert help along the way.

Italy

Italy imposes restrictions on the import of certain food items that include milk for infants, while in France there are limitations on the movement of a range of different products, including artificial-fibre pyjamas and pencil erasers which look like food. Extra-strength alcohol and potatoes are just some of the items that you cannot import into Norway. In New Zealand, it is prohibited to import car tyres, chewing tobacco and anything trout-related.

Sending certain sensitive items overseas is perhaps not as simple as you thought. Each country appears to have particular quirks, and falling foul of these restrictions can be a frustrating, time-consuming and ultimately costly experience. Make sure you find out the facts before waving goodbye to your parcels.

How to Get Paid When Your Customer Is in Another Country

Getting a recalcitrant customer to pay upis always tough, especially when s/he is in another country. Butthis doesn't mean that you will be not paid. In this case you just need to put a little extra effort in it in order to be well-prepared before you ship your products.

Laurel Delaney, a successful entrepreneur, author, speaker, educator and blogger has prepared a list of very important tips for importers and exporters. In her book "Exporting: The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably" we can find a number of strategies to help make sure we get paid. Let's have a look at some of them.

Paypal

Many entrepreneurs have recourse to Paypal when it comes to international transactions using it even for amounts up to $10,000. But there is an important point you should know about before shipping: Paypal charges 2.9 percent for domestic transactions and 3.9 percent for international ones.

"As you grow, that 2.9 or 3.9 percent is going to look more and more onerous, and is going to cut into your profit margins. "You don't want to be paying those fees just for collecting money," Delaney says.

Cash in Advance

It's very hard to get your payment in advance, says Delaney. On the other hand, "You won't get what you don't ask for. There is a remote chance it can happen. The hungrier they are for your product or service, the more likely it is that they're going to do it."

There is a decent alternative that is to ask the customer to pay in installments. One common arrangement is for the customer to pay a third up front, a third while you're doing the manufacturing, and a third when you release the goods and they receive the products.

Sight Draft

Sight drafts are used with both air shipments and ocean shipments for financing transactions of goods in international trade. "It is the most common financing tool used by small- and medium-sized businesses that are doing business overseas", says Delaney. "You'll need some help from your bank and your shipping company or freight forwarder to set it up."

Importantly, a sight draft allows you to draw a check on your buyer's bank account. With a site draft, your international client will not be able to take possession of the shipment until they sign a document saying the shipment has been made. When they do, their bank will pay you.

Letter of Credit

A Letter of Credit is mostly used for long-distance and international transactions since they ensure that payment will be received. Using documentary letters of credit allows the seller to significantly reduce the risk of non-payment for the shipment by replacing the risk of the buyer with that of the banks.In effect, a letter of credit substitutes the creditworthiness of your customer's bank for that of your customer itself.

A letter of credit will be paid in conformity with the conditions in the letter of credit itself, which often include an inspection of the shipment itself.

In general, a letter of credit will cost you about 1/8 of one percent of the value of the shipment, says Delaney. "It brings you peace of mind," says Delaney, "It's worth the price, and it's worth your time."

If You Didn't Prepare in Advance…

If your customer has already received your goods, and you have done nothing to be sure you get paid, all is not lost. But you have got a lot of legwork to do. "It's almost as if you're treating the customer as if they're local," says Delaney.

For a small dollar amount, start with a simple email, says Delaney. Ask: "Is there something we failed to do? Perhaps we do not understand the timeline for payment?" Mention that you will send someone to their office to discuss it in person.

If that doesn't work, send a more insistent email, and say that really, you would hate to have to ask the U.S. Embassy for help, because you wouldn't want to do anything to tarnish this most valued customer's reputation. If the customer still refuses to pay, you absolutely can go to the U.S. Embassy in the customer's country and ask for their help. Often, just the threat of this will get people to pay up.

There are other ways to find government officials who can help you in this situation. At www.export.gov, pull down the tab for the market your delinquent customer is located in. There, you'll find a list of specialists categorized by industry or product. Find the specialist in your product and country, explain them in detail what is going on, and ask them for help.

"Almost nobody will do this," says Delaney. That makes your odds all the better when you do.