The Shipping Process, Step by Step

Getting Your Goods Ready

Before you send your goods, you need to get them ready.

• Before sending the goods, you must get everything ready.
• Use high - quality packaging materials to ensure that the goods are protected during long - distance transportation.
• If you're shipping fragile items like electronics, carefully wrap them with foam or bubble wrap.
• For clothes, take measures to prevent them from getting damp.
• Clearly label the packages with information such as the items inside, quantity, weight, and destination.
• This enables the people in charge of handling the packages to know exactly what's inside.

Getting Your Papers in Order

Before your goods can clear customs and reach their destination, it's crucial to have all the necessary documentation in order.

Points for Documentation

• Commercial Invoice: This document details the value and description of your goods, aiding customs in determining applicable taxes.
• Packing List: It specifies the contents of each box, assisting customs in verifying the shipment details.
• Bill of Lading: This proves ownership of the goods and is essential for the shipping process.
• Certificate of Origin: It may be required to prove where the goods were manufactured or produced.
• Export License: Necessary for goods that are subject to export controls or restrictions.
• Ensure these documents are prepared and submitted to Chinese customs for inspection to facilitate a smooth customs clearance process.

Moving Your Goods to the Port

Once your papers are ready, it's time to move your goods from the factory or warehouse to the port. Timing is important here. If you're shipping by sea, put your goods in a container. About how to choose a 20-foot or 40-foot container based on how much space your goods need. If you're flying your goods, follow the airline's rules for packing. If you're using a courier, just hand over your packages to them.

Clearing US Customs

When your goods get to the US, they'll be checked by customs. The papers you prepared earlier will help here. If everything looks good and you pay the right taxes, your goods can go through. Sometimes, there might be problems like mistakes on the papers or goods not matching what was declared. If that happens, you'll need to talk to the right people to fix it.

Delivering Your Goods

After clearing customs, it's time to get your goods to their final destination. If you used a courier, they'll take care of the delivery. If you used another way, you'll need to arrange a truck or other transport to get your goods from the port to where they need to go.

The Different Ways to Ship

Shipping by Sea: The Big and Cheap Option

Shipping by sea is a best choice for sending lots of stuff from Dongguan to the US. It's cheap and can carry a lot. For smaller shipments, you can use Less Than Container Load (LCL), where your goods share a container with others.

Flying Your Goods: Fast and Expensive

If your goods need to get there quickly and are valuable, like jewelry or fresh food, air freight is the way to go. It's fast, taking only 2 - 7 days from Dongguan to the US. It costs more, but for urgent shipments, the speed is worth it. Air freight is also cheaper than courier services, making it a good choice for samples or high-value items.

Courier Services: The Speediest Option

Courier shipping is the fastest way to send goods. It's perfect for urgent samples or items that need to get there super fast. It's pricey, but you get what you pay for. Working with a good freight forwarder can help you get better prices. Companies like DHL and UPS work closely with freight forwarders to offer fast and reliable services.

What You Need to Know About Costs and Time

 When you're choosing how to ship your goods from Dongguan to the US, you need to think about how long it will take and how much it will cost.