Selling overseas? Trust Ezbuy Japan’s international shipping services

Selling products overseas can seem daunting for e-commerce sellers who are used to only shipping domestically. Navigating international shipping options, import/export regulations, duties and taxes in another country requires research and strategic planning. This is where working with a knowledgeable international shipping partner like Ezbuy Japan can give sellers an advantage. In this article, we'll explore key considerations around international shipping and why Ezbuy Japan is a trustworthy choice for Japan-bound packages.

Types of international shipping services

Various options are available for international shipping services, each with its own advantages and considerations:

• Air shipping

This is the quickest choice and ideal for time-sensitive shipments. It offers faster delivery but is generally more expensive compared to sea freight. Transit times typically vary between 2 to 10 days, depending on the destination.

• Sea shipping

When cost-effectiveness is a priority for your international shipping, sea freight is the way to go. Transit times for sea shipping usually extend from 2 weeks to over a month, depending on the chosen route. It's particularly suitable for high volume or heavy shipments.

• Express service

If speed is of the essence, express services provide expedited delivery with strict time-definite service standards. While they are pricier than standard air freight, they offer faster delivery. Examples of express service providers include Japan Post (JP Post), Yamato Transport (Kuroneko), Nippon Express,...

• Consolidators

For businesses looking to save on shipping costs, consolidators can be a viable option. These companies combine shipments from multiple businesses into a single container, which results in discounted rates when compared to direct shipping. However, it's important to note that this approach may entail longer transit times.

Factors to consider when choosing an international shipping service provider

Critical factors to consider when you're in the process of choosing an international shipping partner encompass the following aspects:

• Delivery speed: It's imperative to assess how urgently you require your shipment to reach its destination. Opt for a service that aligns seamlessly with your specific fulfillment priorities.

• Cost: Striking a balance between delivery speed and cost is paramount. Sea shipping tends to be the most economical option, albeit slower. In contrast, air and express options offer faster delivery but come at a higher expense.

• Reliability: Opt for a provider renowned for its unwavering commitment to on-time delivery, coupled with a robust tracking system to ensure the smooth progress of your shipments.

• Destination country: Confirm that the shipping company has an extensive reach to your intended destination country and possesses a profound understanding of the pertinent regulations and requirements.

• Language assistance: In scenarios involving non-English-speaking countries, such as Japan, it's advisable to search for shipping partners that offer multilingual customer service to facilitate seamless communication.

• Customs expertise: Engaging with an experienced partner can prove invaluable when navigating the complex realm of customs documentation and managing duties and taxes, thereby minimizing potential shipment delays.

• Reputation & Reviews: It's prudent to select a well-regarded company with a track record of positive feedback from its current international shipping clientele, underscoring their trustworthiness and quality of service.

• Insurance: Ensure that your valuable goods are adequately protected against potential damage or loss. Conduct a thorough comparison of providers' standard coverage versus declared value coverage to make an informed decision.

What is the cheapest way to ship internationally?

Sea freight is consistently the most budget-friendly international shipping method. It's ideal for sellers focused strictly on keeping costs down versus delivery speed.

Consolidators that combine shipments into one container also offer significant savings over direct air/sea shipping. Rates can be 50-80% lower thanks to the aggregated volume discounts consolidators receive.

Here are some tips sellers use to reduce international shipping costs:

• Compare rates across multiple carriers to find the best price.

• Leverage discounts for high volume shipments.

• Ship via the most direct route possible.

• Use cheaper package types like soft envelopes where allowable.

• Ask carriers about current promotional rates or first time shipper discounts.

• Consider slower transit times like economy air vs. express.

• Purchase insurance from a third-party provider vs the carrier directly.

While sea freight is the cheapest, consolidated shipping or discounted economy air can offer a balance of cost and faster delivery.

Tips for successful international shipping

Shipping products internationally introduces more complexity versus domestic fulfillment. Below are some essential guidelines for ensuring a smooth global order fulfillment process:

• Master paperwork requirements: Understand that each country has its specific customs documentation requirements, such as commercial invoices, packing lists, and origin certificates. Collaborate with a partner experienced in handling these intricacies to avoid any potential issues.

• Get import/export licenses: Be aware that certain products may necessitate licenses or permits for international shipping. It's crucial to conduct thorough research on these requirements well in advance to prevent any delays in your shipping process

• Know duty & tax rates: Implement a system for classifying your products by their Harmonized System (HS) code and accurately calculate the duties and taxes owed. This proactive approach will help you prevent unexpected billing discrepancies for your customers.

• Carefully packing: Ensure that your shipments are carefully packed. Utilize robust outer packaging designed to withstand the rigors of international transportation. Include appropriate internal supports, moisture barriers, and clearly labeled packages.

• Insure valuable inventory: Protect products against damage or loss by obtaining sufficient insurance coverage from your chosen carrier.

• Provide delivery updates: Set clear customer expectations regarding international transit times and establish a tracking system. Notify your customers when their orders have successfully cleared customs and are nearing delivery.

• Go with an experienced partner: Consider working with a shipping provider who specializes in Japan or your target countries. Their expertise can make international shipping smooth and seamless.

Why should choose Ezbuy Japan's cross border shipping service?

For ecommerce businesses targeting Japan, Ezbuy Japan offers an ideal international shipping solution. Here's why you can trust us for your orders:

• Dense shipping network: We collaborate with famous shipping carriers in Japan to ensure the smoothest shipping process for merchants when doing business in Japan

• Affordable consolidated rates - Combining shipments with other sellers into one container allows Ezbuy Japan to secure discounted shipping costs. These savings get passed on.

• Focused Japan expertise - Shipping protocols, customs and duties are nuanced by country. Ezbuy Japan has specialized knowledge of requirements to support foreign businesses selling in Japan and Japanese merchants selling overseas. 

• Reliable delivery - Ezbuy Japan uses trusted carriers for prompt delivery. Shoppers can expect orders to arrive 7-14 days after clearing customs.

• Simplified customs clearance - Ezbuy Japan handles required Japanese import documentation so sellers don't have to. This prevents shipment delays.

• Multilingual support - Ezbuy's team offers English and Japanese customer service for smooth communication and issue resolution.

• Robust last mile options - Shipment tracking, door delivery, delayed delivery and pickup options provide delivery flexibility for recipients.

• Seamless returns - We facilitate returns from Japan back to the seller through convenient drop-off points.

• Insights to grow globally - Ezbuy provides data on performance metrics to inform future cross-border expansion decisions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Ezbuy Japan cross-border shipping service is the ideal choice for e-commerce businesses targeting Japan. With its specialized knowledge of shipping protocols, affordable consolidated rates, reliable delivery, simplified customs clearance, multilingual support, robust last mile options, seamless returns, and performance metrics insights, we make it easy for sellers to expand into the Japanese market with confidence.