International package shipping is a handy service. You can use it to send parcels from home to your family and friends who are living abroad. You can also do it vice versa, if you’re the one who’s living overseas. What’s more, you can even ship a package home while traveling.While having services for Shipping a Package is super convenient,here are few things to consider if you wish package delivery to go smoothly.
Traveling to new countries is exciting. But it may also take time. So what to do if there’s a gift you’d like to quickly deliver to your beloved ones back home? Or if you have accumulated too many things at hand that make traveling harder? That’s exactly where the international package shipping comes in.
Try to do your research beforehand
Planning is important when traveling, especially if you’re going on a longer trip. Preparing in advance will also help you with package shipping. If you know that you’ll want to send something back home from your travels, it’s smart to do your research before leaving.
There’s a lot to keep in mind if you’re shipping to Germany from the USA or any other foreign country for that matter. You’ll need to find a carrier, get packing materials, comply with the regulations for international shipping, and more. Preparation will make things several times easier.
But don’t worry if you can’t plan that far ahead. You can also research your options of sending goods overseas when you actually have an item to ship.
Find a reliable package shipping company
The first thing to do is to find a carrier that will deliver your parcel. It may seem like a pretty easy task. You can just go to the local post office, right? But package shipping is not always that simple.
Usually, there are several shipping companies operating in a country. So don’t limit yourself to the first you find. You need to be careful of scammers and shippers that provide unprofessional services. Dig deeper and compare the benefits each carrier is offering.
Are you shipping to Romania? Then, double-check if the company actually provides services to this particular country. If it does, be sure to compare the shipping rates with its competitors. Sometimes smaller name international shipping companies may actually provide excellent services at lower prices. And saving some money while traveling is always nice.
Get to know the customs regulations
During your travels, you may find all kinds of exotic goods that’d make a perfect gift to send home. But you need to be aware that not everything is eligible for package shipping. Even when sending a package domestically, there are limits. And when it comes to international parcel delivery, the rules are even stricter.
When a package leaves the country of origin and when it arrives at the destination country, it goes through customs. And every country has its own customs regulations for international shipping. That’s why you need to familiarize yourself with the laws of your home country and the country you’re traveling to.
Pay the most attention to the list of prohibited and restricted items. Avoid sending items that are considered dangerous. Your parcel might get confiscated otherwise. You’ll need to fill out a customs declaration. So be sure to check what kind of documents and information need to be provided for smooth customs clearance.
Estimate the package shipping cost
Before handing your parcel to the carrier, you should estimate how much sending it might cost. Since you’re traveling, you probably have a set budget and the package shipping cost should fit within it.
Several factors determine the shipping price: the weight and the size of a parcel, and the shipping method. It’s obvious that it costs more to ship heavier items. But lighter goods may also be expensive to send abroad if they are big in size. Larger parcels take more space in transportation vehicles which leads to fewer packages shipped at the same time. That’s why sending them costs more.
The chosen shipping method determines the price as well. Usually, international shipping companies offer two options: express and economy shipping. The first is more expensive, but faster, and the latter is cheaper, but slower. You need to carefully consider which one matches your needs better.
Once you know the determinants, you can estimate the parcel shipping cost by using a shipping rates calculator provided by the carrier.
Protect your items with proper packaging
It’s natural to wish that your items reach home in one piece. And a safe package delivery depends not only on the reliable carrier, but also on the proper packaging.
If you’re shipping small items, they might fit into a padded envelope. These mailers are great since they already have cushioning inside which will protect the goods against the impact damage. If your items don’t fit into a mailer or if you’re sending fragile items, you’ll need to get a box.
Shipping boxes come in various sizes, so be careful not to pick one that’s too small or too large. Both, stuffing your items into a box without the space for padding materials and leaving a void inside are risky when using services for package shipping.
Put cushioning on the bottom of the box, place your goods inside and fill in any remaining space with padding. Don’t forget to tightly seal the package and stick the address label.
Reconsider if it’s worth sending the parcel
You may be eager to send a package home while traveling, but your budget might not always allow it. If you go through the steps above, you’ll have an idea of how much shipping a package could cost and how much effort it would require. Then, you can reevaluate if it’s worth it.
Be mindful not only of the price, but also of the time your parcel will need to reach home. If you have free space in your luggage it might be easier to take the goods with you. Or on the contrary, sending a parcel from the country you traveled to may be cheaper. That’s why it’s important to consider both options.
Package shipping opens up many possibilities. All you have to do is spare some time for research and preparation.
