Many online merchants face unexpected shipping costs and customs delays when importing products from China. Hidden LCL charges, slow transit times and confusing documentation are recurring issues. What logistics problems have slowed down your store supply chain?
I suspect most of us are dropshippers, selling digital goods or just our time & skills. Are you just starting out? Did you talk to businesses before deciding on being in the shipping industry? I'm curious about one thing, assuming your business is already up and running - has the volume you ship to each country changed since the US got tarrif-happy?
The worst part is when you think you've paid for everything, and then some extra fees pop up. And because of the delays, your stock gets stuck for weeks while customers aren't exactly willing to wait
From the seller side, the surprise fees hurt more than the slow shipping. What helps: ask the forwarder for an all in quote to your door in writing, including customs clearance and local delivery. Keep a small safety stock locally so one late shipment does not empty your listings. And if you sell on marketplaces like TikTok Shop or Amazon, late dispatch counts against your account, so order earlier than feels necessary before busy months like Q4.