Whether you’re a business which ships goods to your customers internationally or you’re a private individual who’d like to send an international shipment, there are several things you need to know about international deliveries. Especially international shipments from Spain, which can be affordable and hassle-free, depending on the partner that you choose to help you with your shipments. This is why we’ve prepared this article to help you stay on top of the requirements for accurate and timely international shipments so that you have one less thing to worry about. Let’s take a closer look.
What is needed to send a package internationally?
Several requirements must be met before you can send a package internationally. This applies to both B2B and C2C shipments. Here are seven of the most important ones.
Check the regulations for the destination: Some countries have peculiar requirements in terms of shipping. For example, you cannot send bird feathers of any kind to or from France at all. If you had a hat with feathers in it that you wanted to send to a friend or customer in France, for example, this would be a no-no. Most products such as electronics, jewelry, furniture and other small items have limited restrictions. But be careful when it comes to food, wines, medication and other items. It’s best to check the destination country’s import regulations and shipping requirements before you even think about shipping.
Select a customs broker and determine the terms: If the item which you’d like to ship abroad is in the so-called safe zone, you now need to select your customs broker and determine the terms of your agreement. This broker is there to ensure that your shipment is not delayed. In the business world, delays can be costly in terms of losing you current customers or damaging relationships with existing ones. Therefore, you need to pick a broker who is reputable and efficient to ensure that you do not face any hassles, and if you do, that these are resolved as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Collect important information: Next, you will want to collect important information about your shipment. This includes answering questions such as:
- What is the purpose of your shipment?
- Are you shipping a commodity or document?
- What is your commodity’s value?
- What is your commodity’s country of origin or country of manufacture
- Do you know your commodity code in the Harmonised System?
- Do you want to estimate duties and taxes?
- Who will be the importer and/or consignee?
- Who is going to pay for transportation charges and duties and taxes?
Once you have this information, you can proceed to the next step.
Gather the required documents for customs: The Commercial Invoice provides customs officers with information about your product being shipped. It’s one of the most important ones but there may be others including the pro forma invoice, catalogues, packing lists and more.
Prepare your shipping label: Now you’re ready to prepare your shipping label. This will include all the necessary details about both you – the sender – and your customer – the recipient. This label should appear at the top of your package or envelope and should not be obstructed by other pieces of paper or materials. In other words, it should be legible and unobstructed. Information on your shipping label will include the sender’s and recipient’s names, addresses and phone numbers; the description, quantity and value of the commodities in the shipment; and the weight of the package.
Submit the customs documents: A full set of completed customs documents can help you save a lot of time. This is why you need to have all the information about your package on hand to ensure you can answer questions like: what is the item being shipped, to which destination, what is it made from, what are its intended uses and what is the country of manufacture. Thereafter, it’s time to submit your documents to customs and you can either do this manually or with a partner.
Pack the items and have them delivered: You’re now ready to pack the items and have them sent off to the right destination. However, bear in mind that you need the right packaging for different products. Ensure that if you’re using boxes, that they’re spacious enough to accommodate bubble wrap or other isolation materials to protect the package from being damaged. More fragile items such as wines may require more careful packaging as well. You can always opt for cheap international shipping but you should remember to balance out the cost with the potential loss of value should your parcel not arrive as intended or even damaged.
Why to use trusted courier company in Barcelona?
Looking for courier companies in Barcelona to help you with international shipping? Look no further than DRG-Solutions. We provide a highly rated courier service in Barcelona to give you the peace of mind that you need when you’re sending items of value either locally or abroad. Got any questions? Simply reach out to us and we’d be more than happy to assist!
