6 min. read
How to Reduce International Shipping Costs:
Learning how to reduce international shipping costs is an essential part of an international shopper’s journey. It’s a necessity, especially if you’ve ever had your heart set on a product from halfway across the globe, only to be knocked down by shipping fees. But here’s the thing—it doesn’t need to be complicated.
Apart from looking for the cheapest international shipping rates, you can apply a few more tactics to get whatever you want without paying an arm and a leg for delivery. Whether you’re shopping to spruce up your wardrobe, kitchen, living room, for your small business, or getting a gift for a loved one, it’s possible to do it without leaving your wallet gasping for air.
How to Reduce International Shipping Costs In 10 Ways
Does international shipping cost more? That’s the question every shopper worries about when trying to shop in international stores. But it doesn’t have to be the stumbling block between you and the joy of shopping overseas.
Here are some of the best strategies to help you shop in international online stores and get your package to your doorstep cheaply.
1. Have You Selected the Right Website?
The first step in how to buy things from other countries online is choosing the right website. Always choose stores that offer international shipping. If not, at least make sure it ships to your country. There are now several online retailers that cater to global customers, however, not all of them ship to every country.
Here are some quick tips for selecting an international shopping website or e-commerce platform-
- Check for international shipping policies on the retailer’s website
- Read product reviews and store ratings to ensure the site is trustworthy
- Look for any restrictions on what can be shipped internationally (some countries may restrict specific goods like electronics, food, or alcohol)
1. Use Package Forwarding Services
Sometimes, your favorite store may not offer international shipping to your country. And if it’s the only store offering what you want at an unbeatable price, you might end up paying more in shipping to get your package home. Since it’s almost impossible to shop in most international online stores if you don’t live in their particular countries, you can use a package forwarder like Jetkrate.
With an international forwarder like Jetkrate, you get to shop at any online store in the UK or New Zealand as if you live there. When you sign up for an account with the forwarder, you’re issued with a forwarding address that you can use as your delivery address during checkout.
Then the forwarder consolidates your orders into one neat package and ships it to you, saving you from those frustrating multiple shipping fees. With delivery to more than 200 countries through DHL, New Zealand Post, and FedEx, you can have your package in as little as 2 days! Sounds interesting, isn’t it?
2. Consolidate Your Shipments
Another tip on how to reduce international shipping costs entails consolidating your items into a single package. But how’s that even possible, you may ask. Well, online stores won’t consolidate your orders and deliver them as a single package. All they do is process each order separately, even if the delivery address is the same.
So, instead of paying for each item to be shipped individually, services like Jetkrate (yep, them again!) combine your orders into one single package. What this does is drastically cut your costs, especially when shipping bulky or multiple items. This also comes in handy during customs clearance, where your items are cleared as a single package, saving you more money and time.
3. Avoid Duties and Customs Surprises
Speaking of customs clearance, this is the silent killer of international shipping. If you’re not keen enough, import taxes can double the cost of your order. So, before placing that order for that kitchen appliance (or anything else), find out about your country’s customs policies on such items.
In most situations, small items whose value doesn’t exceed a certain amount are exempted from taxes. But you can never be sure, especially if you’re still new to international shipping.
You don’t have to stress yourself about customs clearance, though, Jetkrate can handle this aspect for you. With flexible insurance and customs declarations, you can be sure there won’t be surprises when your package arrives in your country.
4. Shop and Ship During Off-Peak Periods
During busy seasons like Black Friday and Christmas, almost everyone’s shopping, and therefore shipping fees tend to be a bit higher. So, if you don’t want to be slapped with shipping expenses that leave you questioning whether you made the right call, place your orders in off-peak shopping seasons.
Plan your international shopping a bit earlier before peak seasons, or after, and take advantage of slashed shipping fees and discounts.
5. Use Discounts and Promo Codes
Again, during off-peak seasons, shipping traffic is lower. So, most shippers and package forwarders like Jetkrate offer discounts to encourage shoppers to start shopping. So, while shopping in your favorite stores, also look out for shipping services that offer promotions and discounts.
6. Use Lightweight Packaging
Have you ever bought something online, and then it was delivered in a rather awkwardly bigger box that could have been twice smaller? Chances are, the packer never gave it too much thought. And if shopping from an international store, it’s out of your power to reduce the packaging.
Luckily, when you use a package forwarder such as Jetkrate, once your package arrives at the collection center, unnecessary packaging material that adds weight is removed. The goods are then repackaged in safe, eco-friendly, and lightweight packages that help cut the overall weight of the shipment.
This goes a long way to reduce your overall shipping costs, considering that the shipping fees are determined by the dimension and weight of the shipment.
7. Negotiate With Sellers
In case your store offers international shipping, it doesn’t hurt to negotiate for a better price, especially if you’re placing a high-value order. Some online stores can even offer discounts on shipping costs for orders above a certain limit. If this is the case, you can order to this limit or surpass it to enjoy discounted shipping costs.
8. Use Shipping Membership Programs
Another hack on how to reduce international shipping costs involves using membership programs from retailers who offer international shipping. These programs can offer discounted or unlimited shipping to help you lower your shipping costs. Think of it like Amazon Prime, offering free delivery and exclusive deals, but for international shopping. For more insights on managing costs, check out our guide on shipping belongings from the UK to Australia.
This strategy best applies if you frequently shop from the same online store. The membership can help you cut on your international shipping costs in the long run.
9. Pick the Right Shipping Carrier
Shipping carriers are all created differently. At times, you’ll find that the fastest option isn’t the cheapest—and let’s face it, not every package needs to arrive like yesterday. So, it pays to spend a little more time comparing shipping offers from carriers like UPS, FedEx, and DHL. This can help you find one with the best deal for the delivery speed you’re looking for.
Leverage tools such as Jetkrate’s shipping cost calculator to find out what it would roughly cost to ship a package according to weight and dimension. Alternatively, use Parcel Monkey to compare prices across different carriers, to help you choose wisely.
10. Be Keen When Filling Out Paperwork
In situations where you have to do the paperwork yourself, such as in business, making mistakes will only make your shipping cost more and probably take even longer. So, when compiling the paperwork, ensure the commercial invoice and any necessary customs documents are filled out correctly. Countercheck to ensure the value of the item, country of origin, and sender and recipient’s details are correct.
Improper paperwork can lead to fines or delays in your package delivery. In other cases, it might even be impounded. That calls for you to check your country’s customs requirements to ensure the shipping process is completed successfully.
Not everyone has the skills or experience to tackle such shipping difficulties. That’s why it’s always advisable to use a freight or package forwarder. Since they’re in the business, they understand the customs regulations of countries better than individuals. This allows you to simply sit back, relax, and wait for a notification that your package arrived successfully.
11. Choose Your Insurance Correctly
Another important consideration when looking for how to reduce international shipping costs is to consider insurance. International shipping comes with risks that may predispose your package to damage while in transit. It’s also common for losses to happen as well.
Before placing your order with a seller that offers international shipping, check to ensure that they don’t already charge for insurance. This is especially important if you don’t feel their cover is sufficient. If that’s the case, consider insuring your shipment independently to cut down on your international shipping costs.
If you decide to use a package forwarder like Jetkrate, there are more affordable insurance covers available to choose from. This gives you peace of mind, knowing that your package is secure and will be adequately compensated if something unexpected were to happen.
Wrapping It Up
International shopping is all fun until it’s time to deal with the nightmare of shipping. If you’re not keen enough while shipping, your overall cost of shipping can be way more expensive than the items purchased. That’s why it’s necessary to learn a few tricks on how to reduce international shipping costs.
Through these 10 strategies, including using an international package forwarder and consolidating your package, you can incredibly reduce your shipping costs. These tips can help you get your hands on that most wanted item without breaking the bank.
If shopping at online stores in the UK or New Zealand that don’t offer international shipping, you can leverage Jetkrate’s package forwarding service to eliminate unnecessary costs in your shipping process. Sign up for a free account today and receive a forwarding address to use as your delivery address during checkout.