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Starting an online business is not as simple as posting a few photos online and waiting for someone interested to send you a message regarding a purchase. eCommerce platforms have optimized the process so that sellers and buyers can meet at one platform and conduct transactions at regulated prices. But it’s still not so simple.
One thing that online business owners must ensure is how they can bring their products to their customers. While meetups and similar stuff can do the work for small, one-time, and non-regular sales, it won’t do for an eCommerce business. Fortunately, freight forwarding and shipping solutions are present on the market.
Importance of a freight forwarder
The main essence of a freight forwarder is to provide you with an efficient method to deliver your goods to their destination. They act as mediators between you and the shipping carrier that will transport your products. Moreover, reliable freight forwarders like ZGGShip can often give you expert advice that may help you save money in the long run.
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When picking a freight forwarder
It’s challenging to compare freight forwarding firms to work with as too many companies offer almost similar solutions. Sure, you can compare quotes from various freight forwarders, but do remember that your considerations should go beyond price. Here are some tips and steps to take when picking a freight forwarder to collaborate with.
1. Know about their reputation
One of the first things that you will come into contact with is a freight forwarder’s reputation. You can make a preliminary judgment of their services based on their surface name. To know about a particular company’s reputation, you can check their client reviews, how they fare on the web, feedback from known partners, and referrals.
Note that if they don’t usually get referred by other professionals in the same industry as you, the chances are that they do not particularly excel or are not popular in your locale. Checking about their reputation also serves as an easy way to filter out companies you would not want to work with.
2. Check their credentials
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Reputation can only imply that much, and it is somewhat easy to create a clean name with advertisements and promotions. However, while a freight forwarder’s reputation is worth considering, you should remember that their credentials are what matters. Credentials are hard evidence that will guarantee the quality of their services, truthfulness in the industry, and similar considerations.
3. Ask about their years of experience and product track record
Another thing you should consider is a firm’s experience in freight forwarding. Typically, those with extensive industry experience are very familiar with foreign policies and laws concerning goods transportation. In addition, you would want to collaborate with an experienced freight forwarder to avoid unwanted fines that may give you financial and legal liabilities.
At the same time, you would want to know the types and kinds of goods that they have transported so far. It’d be in the best of your interests to find a freight forwarder that is very familiar with delivering similar kinds of merchandise as yours. They’d have the connections fit for shipping your products.
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4. Consider their network
In the freight forwarding industry, one’s network is crucial to success. So, finding a freight forwarder with an extensive network would be excellent. Their relationships may help in getting great deals for you and even lower your expenses. The strengths of their contacts would also help in ensuring that your products will arrive on time.
5. Check the services that they offer
The service range of freight forwarding firms can vary widely. For instance, some may offer all three mainstream types of freight (sea, air, and express), while others may only offer trucking services and railway transport. Consider how you want your goods to be delivered and the corresponding delivery time per freight type.
The shipping types offered aside, finding one that can provide you with flexible services would be great. A good freight forwarding company should generally be able to provide you with the following services:
- Freight documentation
- Delivery tracking
- Warehousing and packaging
- Making freight reservations
- Customs clearance
- Pricing negotiation
- Freight insurance
6. Learn about their pricing
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There are many ways for a freight forwarder to charge you your shipping fees. One of the most common ways is to set a base price per container or kilogram for a specific shipping location, which would obviously accumulate depending on how much you want to ship. Other fees may also apply if you want to avail of additional services.
You should also look out for possible surcharges that you may not be aware of. The best way to do this is to check their terms and conditions, which we will elaborate more on below. Also, remember that while freight forwarders may charge more than the market price, you should check if they correspond to a worthwhile service.
7. Inquire about their shipping locations
Freight forwarding companies may ship to certain countries or locations only, so you should inquire whether they can help you transport your products to a specific place. Shipping internationally requires a more arduous and complicated process, so you would want to find a freight forwarder who has enough knowledge in this regard.
8. Assess their customer care services
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While excellent shipping services are to be sought, you’d really want a freight forwarder who can communicate with you in a timely manner. It’s not a secret that problems can occur midway through transportation, including storms, rising sea levels, and similar situations that may delay your shipping.
You would want to be made aware of the problem as soon as possible and whether they are doing something to help resolve the issues that came up with your goods. You can assess their speed in resolving the problems and how well they can communicate with you.
9. Learn about their fine print
Avoid hidden costs that may be included in your expenses by learning about your prospective freight forwarder’s fine print. A reliable freight forwarder would be able to explain to you upfront how their system works. Know the terms and conditions that you would have to abide by so that you can anticipate possible surcharges depending on your shipping plan. You may also need to do this if you plan to ship dangerous or sensitive goods.
10. Prioritize service quality
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Think of choosing a trustable freight forwarding firm as a long-term investment. While you may be fascinated by low freight rates and cheap shipping, you may be compromising the quality of the transportation of your goods. That said, you may be liable for financial and legal obligations brought about by violations and negligence of freight laws. Be suspicious of freight prices that are too low and always refer to standard and average pricing for comparison.
Conclusion
Online businesses can be profitable with the right configurations in place. One thing that business owners must consider is how they can deliver their goods to their clients, which boils down to picking a reliable freight forwarding firm to collaborate with. While many freight forwarders offer similar quotes, you’d have to take it upon yourself to choose the one you can trust.
You may also like: Guide To Choosing The Right Freight Forwarder
