Tragedy Strikes

We’ve all been there. Business was running smoothly. You’re making some strong sales and getting all your orders ready to go out to your customers. You’re excited! You’re on top of the world! You’re making your business dream come true, one package at a time. In the heat of all that fervor; tragedy strikes! Not too long after you have your product picked up to be shipped, you’re looking through the invoice information for your customer, and you realize that the package is going to the wrong address.

 

 

Have you ever shipped a large box that seems to weigh nothing, yet the invoice you get is higher than you expected? This likely has to do with the difference between dimensional weight and actual weight. We all know how to find the actual weight of our international packages; we just look at the scale the box is sitting on and read the number. But why does my 10 lb shipment in a 12x12x12 inch box cost less than those same 10 lbs in a 24x24x24 inch box?

All too often a simple error or a missing piece of information in an address can mean that your shipment will be delayed, or, in more extreme cases, never arrive at its destination at all. In this article, we will cover the proper way to format an international address to ensure that this does not happen to you.

If you're looking for the best international shipping companies, there are a few things that you should keep in mind before making a decision.

We have some exciting news to remind you about: Optimal Ship supports Online Bill Pay! Our Online Bill Pay is a secure and simple to use bill pay system that affords you peace of mind. Here are some of benefits of using Optimal Ship’s Online Bill Pay:

DHL introduced an Emergency Situation Surcharge (ESS) back in April of 2020. Today they have announced new changes that will be effective as of May 24th, 2020.

A freight forwarder's marketing strategy -- or lack of one -- can say a lot about how they will be to work with. As you select your freight forwarder, keep these do's and don'ts in mind.

If a freight forwarder falls in the "Don't" category, be careful. You'd likely be much better off with a different freight forwarder. If a freight forwarder falls in the "Do" category, they are likely a good choice. Here are our Marketing Do's and Don'ts for how to choose a freight forwarder, followed by an infographic reference with this information.

Do's: What You Should Look for in a Freight Forwarder 

Experience

It's easy to get into the freight forwarding business, but harder to do it right. 

Country Agents

Does the freight forwarder have connections in the country you're exporting/importing from?

Correct Services

Not all freight forwarders offer the same services. Does this one have everything you're looking for?

Good References

How are the reviews across the web? Do you know anyone who uses this freight forwarder? More references are better.

Responsive

Your freight forwarder should answer the phone, emails, and any correspondence in a really reasonable amount of time.

 

Don'ts: What You Should Avoid in a Freight Forwarder

No Website

No website is a no-go. Make sure your freight forwarder has a presence online.

No Phone Number

Some freight forwarders try to save money by not providing "live" customer service, or upcharging for it. The best do not.

Lack of Reviews

Are there just no reviews across the web? They could either be silenced by the company or too new to have any yet.

Dormancy

Does the freight forwarder have a consistent online presence, or do they come and go? Watch their website for up-to-date information, as well as their blog and social media accounts -- if they have them.

Unwilling to Help

Customer service isn't helpful when they don't know what they are doing or can't help you. They should go above and beyond to help you. Don't settle for less.