The Quick Guide To Shipping   

5 Things You Need To Know For Hassle-Free Shipping 

With all the Brexit uncertainty not going anywhere anytime soon, it’s hard to know how to prepare. But one thing is for sure, no matter what happens and what decisions are made, importing and exporting goods to and from the UK is unlikely to get any easier. More paperwork, increased customs checks, and extra stringent requirements for crossing borders are all potential impacts of any changes.

However, with our quick guide for hassle-free shipping we’ve put together 5 of the key steps involved in making sure your shipping experience is as painless as possible

1.  Know Your Weight

Weighing the shipment accurately is the first step on our hassle-free shipping guide. You might need to visit a post-office for this one or invest in a suitable set of calibrated scales. Don’t guess the weight, get it right to the gram. If you can split the package into more than one and then pay a reduced carriage fee, then it’s worth investigating the fee scale of your delivery company.

2. Know Your Dimensions

Time to get the tape measure out and measure in metres the exact dimensions of your item. The size of a shipped item generally has a large bearing on the cost of shipping. Find out what dimension limits the shipping company has and how it impacts on prices. You might find that by splitting the products into two or more packages, and thereby reducing the overall dimensions, you actually save on shipping costs.

3.  Know Your Contents

The Harmonized System or HS codes are a six-digit code that is used for international shipping. The HS codes allows receiving and sending countries to know exactly what is being shipped and what it is made from. For example, a piece of office furniture made of metal might attract different charges than a piece of home furniture made of wood. Your tariffs are based on these codes, so it is important to get them right.  

4.  Know Your Responsibilities

The International Chamber of Commerce publishes Incoterms. Incoterms are basically, a set of rules that determine who is responsible for what when it comes to buying and selling internationally. Make sure you know who will be responsible for carriage costs and who will be responsible for clearance fees. Certain items attract heavy import fees, and inevitably, items with a higher value will attract more fees. Make sure there is no surprises when you go to send or receive your product. 

5.  Know Your Origin

Of course, if you’re manufacturing the goods as a UK company, you’ll know the country of origin. But as an importer it is crucial to know where your goods are coming from. The country of origin is key to determining certain tariffs and import/export rates. Certain countries of origin even have restrictions on what (if any) items can be imported. 

Linwood Raker are able to handle import to and export from the U.K. If you would like a hassle-free process, contact Ash on ash.dickinson@linwoodraker.co.uk