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Now you know what option to choose for your shipment, let's talk about the process of getting the products to your door. I recommend using a freight forwarding companies to handle your important logistics, because they have an established network of shipping companies that have long term contracts with them. Meaning that oftentimes, you'll be able to get a lower price with the freight forwarding companies compared to going to the couriers yourself. The freight forwarding companies objective is to manage the logistics of getting a shipment from the origin to the destination and handle the process in between like, Customs clearance, grant transportations, and more.
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After your cargo has been shipped, you want to track your cargo and prepare for arrival. Shipping goods internationally takes time. For instance, if you were to ship in China with a cargo ship, it will take around 14 days to reach the west coast of the United States or about 30 days to reach the east coast. After your product arrives at the port, your freight forwarding agent will coordinate with Customs broker to clear them through the Customs.
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Afterwards, your freight forwarding agent will arrange for the on ground transportation from the port to the destination. During this time, check to make sure that you have your commercial invoice, packing lists, and a bill of lading. These are the essential documents that you need to receive your shipment. When the courier receives your shipment prior to departing the origin country, they'll issue the bill of lading to acknowledge that they have received the shipment.
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You will need a copy of this when receiving a shipment at the destination, so they can verify that you are indeed the owner of the cargo. At the destination, you'll need the packing list or a commercial invoice for your Customs broker to clear the shipment through the Customs. Almost all Chinese suppliers will email these to you when the information listed on them is available. Make sure to get all these documents from them after your inventory has been shipped.
