International Shipping Mistakes to Avoid
International shipping is the movement of commercial parcels from one country to another. Many online sellers offer international shipping to attract audiences beyond their native countries. Because of the complexities of moving a parcel from one country to another, international shipping is a little costlier than domestic deliveries. Ecommerce has expanded the customer base, and it's no surprise many are moving to expand their roots in markets outside their home countries. Though joining the global economy exposes businesses to a wider platform, poor implementation and common international shipping mistakes can lead to losses, e.g., when you're denied custom clearance. Therefore, it is important to familiarize yourself with all the shipping terms that may negatively impact your online business.

Mistakes to Avoid When Shipping Globally.
Avoid the following shipping mistakes when shipping products to overseas customers.

1.Failing to Research Customs Regulations.
Custom laws and shipping restrictions vary from country to country. This means that the same good may be ship free to other countries, but need an import license or some form of certification in other countries. Not doing thorough research about the policies in your destination country, may lead to international freight problems. In some cases, shipments are denied custom clearance, and business owners must spend more money to correct this mistake. By the time you ship a second consignment, you would have spent a lot of money correcting the initial mistake. And in the worst scenario, such international shipping mistakes lead to the loss of an entire shipment to custom authorities' confiscation. These risks explain why merchants must understand the relevant customs rule and shipping restrictions before moving items across borders. If not sure, seek the help of a trade consultant or an experienced freight forwarder, with prowess in the shipping procedures for your target country.

2.Wrong Timing.
Timing is the key to success, whether you're importing materials or goods from a foreign supplier, or sending your products to overseas customers or distribution facilities. Failure to understand proper timing when planning inward shipments or promising delivery to customers can hamper your international supply chain.

3.Know your transit times.
Track the maximum time your shipment is likely to spend in transit before making any promises to a customer. Transit times matter because delays or uncertainties may slow the whole process and ruin customer expectations. When making promises, be sure to consider the possibility of delays in import or export customs clearance. Unpredictable deliveries and broken promises can ruin the customer experience.

4.Be aware of validity periods for freight quotes.
Another timing issue that totters new international shippers is the elapsed times between receiving a quote from a traditional or online freight forwarder, and the expiry date. You want to act while the quote is valid to avoid difficulties in booking your shipment because obtaining a new quote can lead to further delays. This problem is less likely to occur with an online forwarder, as you will probably receive a new quote within moments of application. But working with a traditional forwarder can mean several days of delays.

5.Overlooking packaging needs.
Packaging requirements and proper practices naturally depend on the nature of the goods to be shipped. Businesses often underestimate the degree to which freight is exposed to handling mishaps. For instance, in ocean shipping, containers can shift on the deck of a vessel or drop off at the port by mistake. Carefulness in packaging should start even before the physical preparation of freight for shipping. Determine, first, how many terminals your goods will go. This includes the handling done in between the points of origin and destination. More terminals mean more risks to your products. Understanding these simple steps and following best practices can help a business avoid international shipping mistakes, leading to serious losses. Packaging Tips Follow these best practices to help protect your goods from the risks of international shipping.

a)Understand your target market.
Knowing who you are selling the product to is the first step to designing effective packaging. Know the targeted gender, their preferred pickup points, how packaging influences decisions, and more. Such questions will influence color palette, packaging shape, among other elements.

b)Choose packaging that makes sense for the physical product.
It is wise to select packaging that matches the kind of product that's inside. Like glass items or liquids, some products may need a little extra protection to ensure they reach the destination safe and sound. This may call for a more durable package or padding on the inside of the vessel. Also, consider size and shape that is reasonable for the product in transit.

c)The package should market what you're selling.
The package design should clearly define the parcel contents and must not display any misleading information or images. It should also convey the value of the contents.

d)Consider what it will look like in-store.
Prioritize the selling point of the item when packaging. Ask yourself, such as how much of the packaging will be visible, what color and design will stand out, and more. If the products are to be sold online, consider a design that can be adapted across multiple platforms.

e)Use easy-to-open packaging.
Difficult to open packages may push the final user to adopt forceful methods, leading to damages. If possible, add parcel opening instructions to guide the client through every process. Use direct and clear messages, "tear hear."

f)Create a versatile package design.
Being versatile is necessary not just in packaging, but also in business as a whole. In packaging, it means building package design that you can alter easily based on product and seasonal variations. Variations may be a different shoe style, a new flavor of food, or another variable that may require a little change in color or design. It is also important that the package can be transformed to go well with the product inside.

g)Choose an appropriate material and invest in it.
The preferred packaging material must preserve the product form and quality. The packaging, being the first impression in a product, must capture a customers' attention. Prepare a reasonable budget for a professional designer, quality printer, editing software, and other elements to produce quality and stunning designs that attract more prospects. Other quick packaging tips include

• Use of sturdy cardboard boxes.
Heavy-duty boxes are the best option for heavy objects. If you reuse old boxes, check for any damages. However, it is advisable to avoid reusing boxes. Be sure to seal all the seams, not only the top and bottom seams. Goods may be exposed to wet conditions in the shipping process, and unsealed seams can weaken cartons, increasing the risk of damage to its contents.

• Package perishable items properly.
If you are shipping perishable goods, it is necessary to use leak-proof bags or boxes. Perishable goods must also be shipped with the fastest means possible.

• Don't forget the inner packaging.
One of the best ways to avoid shipping-related damage is to fill any space in the box with unique inner packaging materials, like bubble wrap or foam peanuts. Finish the process by carefully stacking them on pallets and wrapping the pallets and boxes with shrink-wrap. This will keep the boxes secure, protecting them from unconducive weather that may affect the goods.

•Use a permanent marker.
While labeling the boxes, use only permanent markers. After packing all boxes, label everything clearly, and add the correct addresses. Many shippers often plunge into wrong or incorrect labeling, which can have a drastic impact on products' timeliness.

•Check your labels.
To avoid delays, all address labels must be correct. Wrong labels can also increase shipping charges. Your labels must include specific markings and display information such as the country of origin and the presence of hazardous materials. Include your address to ease communication in case of anything. These labels can also be used to track goods and ensure their safety. These little steps can help minimize international shipping mistakes, which often impact businesses negatively.

6.Overlooking cargo insurance.
Insurance covers one from potential loss or damage to freight during shipping, but the fine print of insurance policies and schedules rarely makes for engaging reading. However, ignoring insurance details can attract a heavy price later. As uninteresting as that small print may be, you owe your business the decency to read and understand it. You can also ask your insurer or freight forwarder to explain an insurance product's details before you commit to it. For instance, insurers may specify that their cover depends on how certain types of goods are packaged. If your freight falls into such a category, you might find out too late that the expensive cover you purchased is worthless, especially after something has happened to your shipment. This will hit you hard because you would have no way to recoup the cost of losses or damages to your freight. Always be keen to avoid such international shipping mistakes.

7.Over-depending on your service providers' knowledge.
As a serious business person, it helps to acquire in-depth knowledge of international shipping procedures and not depend entirely on your service provider's experience. It's also much easier to hammer out deals with your shipping partners if you know the complexities involved and how they affect your enterprise. Freight rates, international shipping trade lanes, insurance policies, and shipping laws change regularly, so you want to keep track to avoid rip-offs Proficiency is not necessary, but a little knowledge can make a big difference in international shipping rates and eventually impact your profitability.

Cheap is Expensive: Why You Should Avoid the Cheapest Freight Rates
It is natural to want to choose the cheapest rates, but many times cheap turns out expensive. Such international shipping mistakes can be deadly as the truth is often hidden from the business owner who signs up hoping to cut costs. Throw-away rates can mean increased risks of theft or damage to your shipments. The initial shipping charges are not the most important costs to consider when choosing a freight forwarder or international shipping company. Instead, it helps to consider factors like;
• How long has the service been business?
• How responsive is the service to you as a customer?
• Does it ship the products you want to move?
• Does it know the regulations of the destination country you are sending to?
• Does the service know what to do if something goes wrong?
A freight forwarder or shipping company that hasn't been in business long enough may lack the experience to accomplish essential tasks. Avoiding such freight forwarder is a good way of avoiding international shipping mistakes that may come your way. Working with the cheapest freight rates may prove even costlier if your shipment delay is denied custom clearance, parcels get lost or are handled incorrectly.

How to Avoid Freight-Charge Mistakes.

The following are some ways to avoid falling for cheap rates.

•Understand the role of freight forwarder and the specific functions they are to carry out.
Once you know the exact role they are supposed to play, you can never be a victim. A freight forwarder can be a person or a company that organizes and plans your shipment. This includes getting your cargo from the original point to the final destination. Forwarders may not move your cargo physically, but they do process by communicating with all the people and moving all the parts involved. It's a process involving people and parts, making it a little more complicated for an average person or company with limited knowledge. It's advisable always to do research on this and seek recommendations from business associates, friends, and family who may have used reliable freight forwarders.

•Know your trading terms.
Before approaching a forwarding company, research more about it, and have an overview of how activities are carried out there. Understand what shipping charges will apply when transporting through various ports. This will protect you from freight forwarding scams that may cost you extra.

•Check the normal shipping cost.
To familiarize yourself well with the shipping charges and costs, get multiple quotes from multiple freight forwarders, and estimate the average amount you will be expected to pay. If prices seem too good to be true, then it is probably a scam. Too low or too high prices are the first sign of fraud; such international shipping mistakes can ruin your bottom line.

•Watch out for fake addresses, websites, emails, and phone calls.
Study the validity of your freight forwarding service keenly. You can check its website for legitimacy while being wary of fake sites. Also, watch out for fake emails and phone calls asking you to make payments or give out any personal banking details.

•Understand the mode of transport your goods require.

The various modes of transport include;

1.Air-freight.
It is an expensive but a quicker mode of transport for international or domestic shipping. It is usually preferred for smaller volumes of cargo.

2.Ocean freight.
You can use ocean freight for a cheaper and most eco-friendly transport mode at the international or domestic level. It is the best approach for large volumes of cargo.

3.Road freight.
For a quicker doorstep delivery either locally, regionally, or between various countries within a Trade Union, road freight is the most common mode of shipping. It's cheaper on short distances.

4.Railway freight.
Excellent for long-distance deliveries where we need to carry large volumes of cargo either locally, regionally within a trade union, or these days, even between continents.

•Hidden Fees & Charges.
At the initial stage, when hammering out shipping rates, you may get seemingly low prices. After the shipment reaches its destination, you may face more charges than what you had agreed on. Phony freight forwarders hide some charges to look cheap in the customer's eye, leaving them with hefty costs afterward. A reliable Freight Forwarder can streamline your international supply chain. Forwarders must communicate clearly and accurately the services they offer to customers. The freight forwarder takes care of freight movement and ensures relevant information is communicated to appropriate parties in good time. Freight forwarders make your international supply chain flexible and allow firms to respond quickly with minimal labor requirements as regards to logistics

In conclusion
Small businesses looking to ship products globally often make shipping mistakes that can threaten to ruin a company's bottom line. These common international shipping mistakes can be avoided if businesses spend more time studying the rules and procedures involved in moving items across borders. Analyze all risks upfront to avoid unseen loopholes that could lead to problems like denied custom clearance.