Is my online business or physical goods? Are there any special procedures I need to follow when using shipping company services? Online business or just physical stores.
The need for international shipping companies has become paramount in today's world thanks to the internet and diverse e-commerce platforms. It is now essential for everyone to be thoroughly familiar with shipping terminology, principles, and the operational methods of shipping companies to facilitate smooth and easy transactions and the shipment of goods.
Therefore, we have provided you with this comprehensive article in which we will discuss topics related to various shipping processes, including:
Shipping companies in Türkiye and their services
Shipping companies or freight forwarders are the entities that organize transportation from one place to another, including dealing with individuals and businesses. They transport goods from the factory to the final distribution point.
Freight transport is not the personal responsibility of a freight forwarder; rather, they act as an expert in the field. The freight forwarder works within a logistics network, contracting with numerous transport companies, including international shipping companies, air freight companies, rail freight companies, and trucking companies.
The process of goods reaching their final destination typically involves multiple shipping methods and types, such as simultaneous sea and land freight.
Because the shipping agent has experience in handling international shipments, he offers you advice on the best way to ship what you need, ensuring the safety of the shipping process and reducing costs for you.
This is what a shipping company in Turkey does. First, the shipping representative will understand your requirements. Then, they will guide you to the most suitable method and provide you with a convenient shipping process through the various shipping solutions offered by the company.
Understanding the different types and methods of shipping can save you money in the long run when choosing what suits your needs.
Types and methods of shipping goods
The purpose of providing information about shipping types and methods is to enable you to choose the shipping method that suits you best. The most important and internationally recognized types and methods of transport are the three main shipping methods.
- Air freight
- Land freight
- Sea freight
It is the process of transporting goods by placing them on a wooden base, and these bases are known as pallets.
The maximum payload of the largest cargo plane is up to 600 tons of cargo, while a sea vessel can carry a payload of up to 400 tons.
In terms of cost, air freight is more expensive compared to other means of shipping goods.
For more information about air freight, please see the following article. Air Freight.
Air freight is divided into two categories.
- Regular air freight
- It means “express air freight” or “express mail shipping” in Arabic.
Regular air freight
The transport process is carried out via airlines from airport to airport. Goods are loaded at the airport in the country where they are located and transported to the nearest airport in the destination country, using available airlines.
Shipping will be much cheaper compared to express shipping, but the recipient is responsible for receiving their goods from the airport. This type of shipping requires providing official invoices for the goods and opening a shipping statement, which will entail some costs; therefore, it is advisable to resort to regular air freight if the quantity of goods is large.
For documents and small parcels weighing less than 100 kilograms, it is best to use express shipping.
Fast shipping
Parcels in this country are sent via express shipping companies, which are large international companies operating in the private sector. Examples include:
- DHL
- TNT
- UPS
- Fedex
The state-run postal service is considered less expensive for shipping compared to PTT, which is the Turkish state-run postal service.
When dealing with international shipping companies, you are provided with a tracking number for your shipment in order to know its location at any time and thus be reassured of its safety.
Goods are delivered to the specified address, either directly or door-to-door. This type of delivery is therefore recommended for e-commerce websites, as it is suitable for small to medium-sized orders weighing no more than 1000 kilograms. Furthermore, buyers in other countries may be deterred from purchasing if the process is inconvenient or if shipping takes too long.
Online store owners should make sure to contract with agents for international shipping companies to ensure that their operations run smoothly and with complete convenience for the buyer.
In addition, freight forwarders offer their customers discounts from the global shipping company instead of going directly to it, as a result of the agency agreement that was signed between them.
To learn more about international shipping companies, their shipping methods, and available prices, please read the article. International shipping companies and the transportation methods they use are among the most important aspects of freight transport.
2- Land freight
It is displayed in streets or designated areas. Trucking is used in many economic sectors, such as transportation and trade, for full truckloads or lesser truckloads. The price of road freight is lower than air freight, regardless of distance. However, for those who need delivery as quickly as possible, air freight is the preferred option.
3- Sea freight
This process involves loading goods into containers, which are then placed on board massive cargo ships. These ships can accommodate approximately 15 containers, meaning the maximum cargo capacity of the largest vessel is 400 tons.
Sea freight is one of the most economical methods, as it is used in most international trade operations, due to the ability to transport large quantities of goods, which reduces shipping costs and thus reduces the cost of the final product and thus increases its sales volume in the market.
Container types vary according to their sizes, and among the most common sizes are the 20-foot container or the 40-foot container.
After mentioning the main types of shipping and their methods in international shipping, and gaining knowledge about them, you must resort to a freight forwarder in your country, as he is the intermediary who mediates between you as the owner of the shipment (whether you are an importer or exporter) and the sea/air freight forwarder (who owns the means of transportation such as a ship or plane).
How do you find and contact a shipping agent?
Shipping companies in your country: First, conduct a search on a search engine. For example, "Shipping company in Turkey." Then, you can contact several shipping companies in Saudi Arabia, inquire about prices and delivery times, and finally reach an agreement with the company that best suits your needs.
When searching, you should ensure the company has extensive experience in the field and diverse agreements with various international shipping companies and freight forwarders, as this will help you secure the best services and deals. The best shipping company in Turkey will offer you attractive prices and a variety of shipping options to suit your needs.
For shipping services from Türkiye, you can contact us and inquire about our services.
Once you find the right shipping company, you need to learn how to calculate shipping costs and what factors are considered when calculating shipping rates.
Shipping companies often face unreasonable questions when it comes to shipping costs. Customers call the shipping company and inquire about the shipping price, simply asking and waiting for an answer!
Unfortunately, this makes communication difficult and takes a lot of time to provide the appropriate service to the customer.
Being able to determine the correct shipping price requires providing him with detailed background information, such as:
There is no fixed price for all countries, of course due to the different distances that will be traveled in each country. For example, shipping from Türkiye to Saudi Arabia is not the same as shipping from Türkiye to Australia, and so on.
- Therefore, you should tell the shipping agent which country you wish to ship to.
- The weight of the shipment must be reported after it has been placed in a suitable box.
- Inform him of the volumetric weight of the box.
- Inform him of the type of shipment.
- If you prefer a particular shipping method, let him know.
Shipping prices are affected based on these reasons, and this is not only related to shipping prices in Türkiye, but is agreed upon globally between shipping companies in Türkiye and in other countries.
Depending on the shipping method chosen, the shipping cost will also be affected. For example, if you choose express shipping, don't ask about the price per kilogram if the quantity of goods is small, as international shipping companies have their own methods for determining shipping costs per weight. Read the article about international shipping companies and their shipping methods. Inform the shipping agent of the actual dimensions and weight of the box, and they will determine the correct price accordingly.
The type of cargo is of great importance to detect, as there is a list of prohibited materials - perform the following operation: What restrictions and permission are required for international shipping? -
Does this price include customs fees?
We must understand the meaning of customs and customs clearance before answering this question.
Shipping customs and duties
Customs duties are levied on goods when they cross international borders. They are a specific tax imposed by each country on those goods, as stipulated in the country's customs law. Customs duties are collected from importers upon the goods' arrival in the country. These duties aim to increase government revenue and protect domestic industries from unfair competition. The duties vary depending on the type and quantity of products, with higher duties imposed on luxury goods and large quantities. Customs also determines the procedures for clearing goods and paying the applicable duties. Customs authorities in each country impose duties and taxes on every shipment that passes through customs points.
Therefore, customs inspects goods to determine if they require any specific inspection. For customs clearance, the customs authority inquires about the goods and determines their value. The customs value is calculated upon the goods' arrival at the customs port before delivery to the importer. Customs will inform the consignee of any updates.
In the case of express shipping via international courier companies, the shipping company, as the current owner of the goods, applies the customs duties to the customs authorities, as stated in the bill of lading. Therefore, express shipping companies provide customs clearance services for all shipments, pay the duties upfront, and then pass all those expenses and costs on to the importer who owns the goods during the delivery process.
So we return to the question: Will the shipping prices offered by shipping companies in Türkiye or any other country include customs duties if they are applied?
Answer: Absolutely not. The shipping price does not include customs duties. Customs authorities are responsible for determining the value of those taxes and duties. This process only occurs when goods are inspected upon arrival at the customs port. Therefore, the goods are the importer's responsibility, so why should shipping companies bear the importer's taxes?
Talking about customs leads us to discuss the required shipping documents.
Required shipping documents
There are many shipping documents available. The shipping documents used in the process of transporting goods from one country to another vary depending on the import and export location, the nature and type of goods being exported, and the shipping method used, whether by land, air, or express. International shipping companies contribute to completing these complex procedures legally.
International shipping documents consist of:
- bill of lading :
This section refers to a written document called an "invoice," exchanged between the shipping company and the owner of the goods. The invoice contains detailed information, including the quantity and type of goods, the shipping date, and insurance coverage, if applicable.
- Commercial invoice
- Certificate of Origin
- packing list
For more information on this topic, see (a) Required Shipping Documents.
As a company founded on the principle of fostering diversity and solidarity within our team, we believe that respecting and appreciating diversity in backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs contributes to building a strong and cohesive team. We support collaboration and empathy among team members and encourage open and honest communication. We are committed to developing an inclusive and inclusive work environment that promotes equal opportunities and supports inclusivity. We strive to promote diversity and solidarity in every aspect of our work. As a shipping company in Turkey, we are a significant trading platform that caters to people from various countries seeking to purchase Turkish products. We strive to facilitate the shipping process for merchants and online store owners in Turkey. As part of these efforts, we have authored explanatory articles on international maritime transport, covering all aspects of the shipping process, so that merchants can focus on developing their businesses without the worries and hassles of shipping products abroad.
Shipping companies in Türkiye for online stores
Shipping is a crucial part of e-commerce operations. Merchants must optimize their shipping strategies, streamline the process, and provide fast delivery to their customers, ideally within one or two days, and at most a week. This must be done without imposing unacceptable price increases on the customer.
The process begins with choosing a shipping company. This is a suitable opportunity to transport the products you offer in your store, as some shipping companies only transport certain products.
After agreeing on a suitable shipping company, the online store owner must determine their shipping pricing strategy for delivering products to their customers. Should they adopt a free shipping policy or list the shipping cost under each product?
Free shipping is one of the best policies to avoid leaving your shopping cart unfinished. You've overwhelmed your customer with multiple accounts and varying prices, making it harder for them to make a purchase decision.
Beware of mistaking the term "free shipping" for a true free shipping service. Ultimately, shipping companies must charge for their services. Therefore, someone will always have to pay, whether it's the customer or the merchant.
However, the customer will be charged a value that covers shipping costs, and this value will be reasonably added to the product price.
There is a shipping method with a fixed, predetermined price. Shipping is available for products of the same size and weight at a fixed rate. You must ensure that shipping costs are not excessively incurred for customers.
Thanks to God, we have completed our work on creating a comprehensive guide containing essential information for anyone needing shipping services, whether they own an online store or need to import from Turkey. This information is available to everyone.
This applies to all international shipping companies worldwide. Please refer to the articles for each topic on the blog for more in-depth information. These articles were referenced while discussing the topic.
We welcome your requests to discuss specific shipping-related topics. Please contact us via the following form.