How we ship your goods
Everything we buy arrives first at our Shenzhen warehouse and leaves from there in a single shipment. We give you the methods with their transit time and their real cost, with no markup added.
Short answer
How is the shipping method from China chosen?
The shipping method is decided by three inputs, not by the freight price on its own: the value of the product per kilo, the real volume of the packaging and how long you can wait. Consolidated sea freight is cheaper per unit and is quoted by cubic metre, with typical transit times of 25 to 50 days depending on destination. Air freight is quoted by kilo and charges the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight, with transit times of 7 to 15 days. From about 15 cubic metres a full container usually works out cheaper than consolidation. The right decision is almost never the cheapest method, but the one that carries the product's margin without leaving you out of stock.
The four methods
Each one is quoted differently, which is why they cannot be compared by a price per kilo. The billing unit is the first thing to look at.
Consolidated sea freight (LCL)
Quoted per m³ · typical minimum 1 m³
Your cargo shares a container with other shippers' cargo. It is the natural method for small and medium orders and the one that best carries products with low value per volume: housewares, plastics, textiles, accessories.
Typical transit 25 – 50 days depending on destination, customs clearance included.
Full container sea freight (FCL)
Quoted per container · from ~15 m³
You pay for the whole container, whether you fill it or not. A 20-foot container takes about 28 m³ usable and a 40-foot one about 58 to 60. From about 15 m³ it usually works out cheaper than consolidation.
Same transit as consolidated, without waiting for a group to fill.
Air freight
Quoted per kilo · typical minimum 12 kg
The greater of the actual weight and the volumetric weight is billed (volume in cm³ divided by 6,000, usually). It is the method for product with high value per kilo and for urgent restocks.
Typical transit 7 – 15 days, customs clearance included.
Express courier
Quoted per kilo · from 0.5 kg
Door to door with simplified clearance, intended for samples and very small orders. Per kilo it is the most expensive of the four, which is why it makes no sense for volume.
Transit of 4 – 10 days.
Shipping minimums and transit times
Minimums and transit times are stable; rates are not. We publish the first two because they do not expire, and we do not publish a price table because it would be wrong within a month.
| Method | Typical minimum | Transit time |
|---|---|---|
| Express courier | From 0.5 kg | 4 – 10 days |
| Air freight | 12 kg | 7 – 15 days |
| Consolidated sea freight (LCL) | 1 m³ | 25 – 50 days |
| Full container (FCL) | ≈ 15 m³ | 25 – 50 days |
The minimums are those carriers usually apply and vary with the shipping line, the airline and the route. The times are pure transit, not counting consolidation time at the warehouse or clearance at destination.
Direct comparison
| Sea LCL | Sea FCL | Air | Express | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billing unit | Cubic metre | Container | Kilo (actual or volumetric) | Kilo, with a minimum |
| When it suits | Low value per volume, mid-sized orders | More than ~15 m³ | High value per kilo or an urgent restock | Samples and very small orders |
| Typical transit | 25 – 50 days | 25 – 50 days | 7 – 15 days | 4 – 10 days |
| Cost per unit | The lowest | The lowest at volume | High | The highest |
| Weak point | Slow; you have to wait for the shipment to close | You need volume to fill it | Bulky products pay for air | It makes no sense for volume |
| Lithium restriction | Accepts batteries with UN38.3 | Accepts batteries with UN38.3 | Limited by capacity in Wh | Very limited |
Freight is billed at cost
Freight is billed at the carrier's rate with no markup added, and you can ask for the original quotation whenever you want. We gain nothing from your freight being more expensive, which is why we do not inflate it. It is the most important difference from agents whose advertised commission is low because the real margin is hidden in the transport.
What can be done at the warehouse before shipping
The goods wait in Shenzhen until you close the shipment, and that time is used to reduce the freight bill and get the product ready to sell.
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Repacking and volume reduction
We replace oversized packaging and group units together. On light, bulky product the reduction in billable volume is usually between 20% and 40%.
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Consolidation from several sellers
We combine orders from different suppliers into one shipment: one freight bill, one clearance and one delivery instead of one per supplier.
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Removal of manufacturer labelling
We take off the manufacturer's branding and seals so the product leaves with yours.
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SKU labelling and kit assembly
Per-unit labelling for MercadoLibre Full or Amazon FBA, and assembly of sets with their own SKU.
All with prices published on the pricing page.
Frequently asked questions about shipping
Why don't you publish a freight price table?
A freight price table is not published because it would be wrong almost all of the time. Sea and air rates change every week, and the final price depends on the weight, the real volume of the packaging, the route, the season and the specific shipping line or airline. Publishing a table that expires within a month would give you a reference you cannot use and would also push you into the wrong decisions. What is published instead is the structure: what determines the cost of each method and how long each one takes.
Is there a commission on freight?
Freight carries no commission. It is billed at cost at the carrier's rate, and you can ask for the carrier's original quotation. It is one of the most important differences from other agents: a hidden margin on freight is the most common way of making an order more expensive without it showing up in the commission you are quoted.
What is volumetric weight and when does it apply to me?
Volumetric weight is a billing rule used in air freight and express courier: the greater of the actual weight and the volumetric weight is charged, where the volumetric weight is the volume of the parcel in cubic centimetres divided by a factor that is usually 6,000. A light, bulky product is charged for the space it occupies, not for what it weighs. That is why repacking and removing air from the packaging lowers the bill without touching the product.
What happens when the goods arrive at the warehouse?
Goods arriving at the warehouse are identified with your order number, weighed, measured and photographed. Receipt is confirmed to you, and you are told if anything does not match what you ordered. From that point the goods wait until you close the shipment, and during that time you can contract prep services: photography, repacking, removal of the manufacturer's labelling, SKU labelling or kit assembly.
How long can I leave the goods in your warehouse?
Goods can be left in the warehouse for thirty calendar days from the first receipt at no cost. After that, storage is billed per cubic metre and week. If you are waiting for another seller to complete your order, thirty days is usually enough; if you need to ship in batches, that is quoted separately.
Can I choose my own carrier or use my own customs broker?
Choosing your own carrier or your own customs broker is possible: the freight can be contracted on your own account and your carrier can collect from our Shenzhen warehouse, just as your broker can handle the import at destination. In that case we prepare the export documentation and hand the goods to whoever you designate. We work on DDP as well as FOB, CIF or EXW.
Ask for a freight quote with real numbers
Once your goods are at the warehouse we will know the exact weight and volume, and we will give you the methods with their current rate. No estimates that later turn out to differ.
We reply within 24 business hours. See how the process works