Technological advancements have made shopping for products overseas easier than ever. You can shop for anything from Brussels, Germany, and France at the convenience of your desk. Whether for business or personal needs, if you need it, you can get it.
While online shopping is undoubtedly a breeze, getting the goods to your destination is the difficult part. The go-to option for delivering products from overseas are courier services, and they get the job done. In fact, the global shipping industry is expected to be worth a staggering $15.38 billion by 2028.
The problem is with so many international courier services in the market today, how can you tell you found one. Picking from the plethora of options can be a daunting task, but that’s where we come in. Today, we’ll be showing you how to pick the right international courier service from the pack.
Check Whether the Courier Service Meets Your Specific Needs
Before you start looking for a courier service, it’s important to know exactly what you want from the company. This is especially true if you’re shipping products for your business. A couple of things to consider include:
Your customers’ needs: Consider how much your customers are willing to pay for the overseas products. This lets you know whether shipping the products in question is worth it. Also, look at how urgent the customers need the products.
The products you’re shipping: How heavy and what size of products are you shipping? You also need to know the exact cost of the products for taxation reasons.
Your competition: Take a peek at that competition and find out how they ship their products. Maybe their international courier service in the industry. Borrowing a few ideas from your competition is never a bad thing.
Once you have all your requirements down pat, you can now look for couriers services that can meet your needs. This can help narrow down your options to a few courier companies that are up to the task.
Consider Their Speed of Delivery
We already mentioned something about urgency before. Delivery speed is a crucial factor you should consider when picking a courier company. Finding a courier company with fast delivery speeds will certainly give you the edge over your competition.
However, it’s worth noting that some courier companies may charge a little extra for faster delivery. Most consumers and business owners don’t mind the additional pricing. If you’re a business owner, you’ll have to find ways to offset the extra courier costs.
Consider How Much the Courier Company Charges
The cost of service shouldn’t be your primary consideration when picking an international courier service for shipping. You need to find a courier company that aligns with your budget and won’t stretch it. It’s imprudent for a business to overspend on shipping if it can’t make up the shipping costs.
That said, settling for the cheapest option may also work to your detriment. Courier companies that charge meager rates are likely to have substandard service quality. Also, expect dreadfully slow delivery speeds from the same.
The best approach is to explore your options and find a company that matches your budget. Some of the big names in the courier industry may not have the friendliest rates. If you do your digging, you may stumble on a lesser-known company with lenient rates and superb service quality.
Consider Their Tracking Capability
Look for a courier service that offers state-of-the-art package tracking, so you can track the movement of your goods all through the shipping. It’s normal to be a bit anxious, especially if it’s your first experience with the courier company. Excellent tracking will give you much-needed assurance because you can keep an eye on your package throughout the journey.
Inquire about the tracking capability and experience of a courier service before settling for them. Pay particular attention to the level of detail the courier company is willing to provide. Ask what technology they use for their tracking, and do some research on it.
Ask Whether That Have Any restrictions or Packaging Restriction
Some international courier services may have certain restrictions on what items you can ship. Some also have restrictions on specifications like size, weight, and material. That said, it’s important to ask if the courier company has any restrictions on what items you can ship through them.
Some of these restrictions aren’t because of the courier company but country legislation. That’s why it’s important to check whether any country-specific legislation binds the courier from shipping your specific items. Steer clear from any company that flouts regulation to ship your products; this is never a good sign.
Check the Company’s Packaging
It’s important to check how the courier company packages its products. According to law, all international couriers must package their products before dispersing them. However, different companies have different methods of packaging their products.
Ask the courier company about their packaging process and see whether it’s right for your products. You can suggest your own packaging process, but the courier will likely charge you extra for the specific packaging. This could be worth the extra cash, depending on the products you ship.
Check Online Reviews and Testimonials
Online reviews and testimonials allow you to learn volumes about the courier service you have in mind. You can gain crucial insight into the company’s service quality, delivery speeds, and customer service by reading online reviews. These reviews and testimonials are accounts of previous clients’ experience with the company.
On-site reviews may not be super reliable.
Choose the Right International Courier Services for Your Needs
It’s hard to understate the importance of international courier services, especially for eCommerce. The international courier service tips above should help you make the right choice when looking for a courier service. Don’t be scared to share this international courier service advice with your friends and business partners.
If you’re looking for expedient international shipping and delivery, contact us today, and we’ll sort you out.