Air freight is the fastest shipping method
It’s believed that every traveler has been captivated by the unique local specialties during their journey, often feeling an irresistible urge to buy them in bulk. If these specialties are small items, it’s no big deal—after all, suitcases have plenty of space. But if you fall in love with a large item that can’t even fit into an extra-large suitcase, or weighs dozens of kilograms, carrying it with you is out of the question, and taking it home on the same flight seems like a fairy tale. As a result, many people, unable to find a solution at the moment, have no choice but to give up on their “dream purchases,” missing out on treasures that are truly priceless.
In fact, with the modern logistics industry being so advanced, all economically developed and vibrant countries and regions around the world now have well-established logistics networks. A little extra effort during your travels might lead to a very different outcome. In this issue, we’ll introduce you to logistics strategies for when you’ve purchased large items during your trip, so you can sit back at home after your journey and wait for your “treasure” to arrive.
Domestic Shipping Is Very Convenient
In well-developed tourist regions, local natural resources and folk art are also often exceptionally rich, with specialties that captivate many visitors. For example, in Yunnan, located in China’s southwestern frontier, nature’s craftsmanship has created uniquely shaped root carvings and precious tropical hardwoods. The prices here are much lower than in big cities, which is truly tempting. However, these specialties often weigh over a hundred pounds or even several hundred pounds. The thought of the transportation challenges after purchasing makes many people hesitate, and they don’t even bother to negotiate prices with the vendors. Sighing at the sight of such items is, unfortunately, a common feeling among travelers facing oversized specialty goods.
In reality, China’s logistics industry is now quite advanced. Travelers should feel free to negotiate prices with vendors. As long as you’re not in a remote village with poor transportation, logistics companies’ networks generally extend there. Mr. Cai, who has extensive travel experience, once managed to buy a several-hundred-pound piece of raw wood at a low price from a precious wood exhibition store in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, and had it shipped to Guangzhou via a logistics company. His family was very proud of it. His advice is that large specialty stores in tourist areas usually have business relationships with logistics companies. Just by asking, travelers can get in touch with the right logistics provider, and the shipping costs aren’t very high.
Those familiar with the logistics industry explain that currently, for personal domestic shipping of items, besides the commonly used China Post and courier companies, you can also choose logistics enterprises that offer less-than-truckload (LTL) services. Generally speaking, companies like EMS, SF Express, and STO deliver faster and provide better service, with a starting shipping fee of over 10 yuan and an additional 5 to 10 yuan per kilogram. Clearly, the slightly higher cost of couriers is more suitable for smaller, lighter items and is currently the top choice for online shopping. In reality, many courier companies’ outlets do not accept large items for shipping, and even if they do, the fees are very high. Using couriers to ship large items purchased during travel is clearly not ideal. Large national road logistics transportation companies, which have established networks across the country, have branches or outlets in most cities and offer LTL services with lower rates. Long-distance shipping starts at around 15 yuan, with an additional 1 yuan or so per kilogram, making them the top choice for shipping large items. When LTL shipments arrive at the destination city, the consignee usually needs to pick them up themselves. At that point, you can pay an extra few dozen yuan to have the logistics company deliver the items to your doorstep, which offers a service similar to regular couriers but at a much lower overall cost.
If you’re in a remote tourist city without access to large logistics companies’ networks, don’t worry. Usually, there will be logistics markets on the outskirts of major roads in the city, where businesses specialize in transporting goods between cities. In first-tier cities like Guangzhou, transport routes with regular scheduled buses generally exist. So, after reading the above, you can feel free to shop to your heart’s content even during domestic trips.
International Shipping Offers Many Options
When traveling abroad, shoppers often feel even more regretful, thinking, “I love this and that, but I can’t bring them back!” Chinese tourists, who have come to be known as “shopping maniacs,” are increasingly unsatisfied with just buying small items. But when it comes to large items they fall in love with during their travels, transportation becomes a challenge. Those unique, often expensive or even unavailable items back home can only be missed. Miss Liang, who loves to travel, said with regret, “Think about it—every year, Europe hosts numerous renowned exhibitions showcasing newly designed products, or Italian luxury furniture meticulously crafted by hand, or exquisite Venetian glassware. These are hard to find in China, and the prices are much lower, but I just don’t know how to get them back home.” To this, netizens familiar with international shipping have offered many tips.
It’s understood that currently, the most ideal way to ship items back to China from abroad is to bring them back on the same flight as the traveler. However, large items often exceed the free checked baggage allowance set by airlines, and the fees for overweight baggage beyond the free limit are extremely high, making this clearly not the best option for large items. Additionally, abroad, you can also choose to ship items back via postal mail, international courier companies, or international freight forwarding companies. Among them, common international couriers like UPS, DHL, TNT, and FedEx have the most extensive networks, almost everywhere, and use fast air transport, resulting in shorter shipping times. However, their courier fees are relatively high, making them suitable for time-sensitive small items. International freight forwarding companies offer relatively lower quotes and provide both air and sea shipping options. Sea shipping takes longer—about two months from Europe to China—but is the cheapest and not much less convenient than air or land transport, making it a popular choice for many people shipping large items from abroad.
Similar to the situation domestically, overseas stores specializing in exporting large items usually have familiar freight forwarding companies they work with, which you can contact through the store. Many large transportation companies in developed countries can provide door-to-door sea shipping services for personal belongings and have set up branches in China. If the seller doesn’t have a recommended freight forwarder, you can also use online trading platforms like Alibaba or local Chinese community networks to find international freight forwarding suppliers. These domestic agents based in China can also ship items back from abroad, and there are no language barriers. Generally, when choosing a freight forwarder, even small items and loose cargo can be shipped via sea “LCL” (less than container load), with shipping fees calculated based on the volume of the goods in cubic meters, and any volume under 1 cubic meter charged as 1 cubic meter. The minimum weight for air shipping is 45 kilograms. In recent years, in countries with a large number of Chinese students, a service called “international personal luggage shipping” has become popular. It also uses sea shipping but charges per box (0.12 cubic meters), and the more boxes you ship, the lower the average cost.
Currently, many well-known shipping companies offer “door-to-door” services, which include picking up the luggage, delivering it to the destination, and even handling customs clearance and inspections by relevant authorities in the destination country. The related costs are included in the door-to-door service quote, but any potential customs duties at the destination are not. However, you just need to contact the shipping company in advance to arrange sea shipping.
International logistics professionals remind us that the quality of service among shipping companies varies greatly. When choosing, be sure to opt for well-known brands as much as possible, and clarify the division of responsibilities and compensation terms for shipping, ensuring there are no hidden fees domestically to avoid difficulties in resolving disputes. It’s also advisable for shippers to purchase insurance before sea shipping, with the insurance company covering the risks. Choosing sea shipping for personal belongings is best planned in advance, as the process is lengthy, and unprepared customers may find themselves at a disadvantage.