When it comes to shipping internationally, it can often feel like a puzzle with too many moving pieces. Between the variable rates of carriers, customs duties, and hidden costs, it’s not surprising that many small business owners overspend or don’t even attempt global markets.
But guess what: you don’t have to spend a fortune to ship across borders.
With the proper tactics and tools, you’ll gain access to the lowest shipping rates internationally, simplify fulfillment, and boldly grow your eCommerce business. In this post, we will dissect tried-and-tested international shipping hacks that can help you save time, money, and effort.
1. See Rates from Multiple Carriers Automatically
What is the No.1 mistake online sellers make? Relying on a single carrier.
All the big-name couriers, such as Canada Post, UPS, FedEx, and DHL, provide international services, but here’s the catch: their rates differ significantly depending on:
- Destination country
- Weight & dimensions
- Delivery speed
- merchandise) Type of article (i.e., documents,
Solution: Always compare tracked vs untracked services; some buyers in countries such as the US, UK, and Australia will be happy with an untracked delivery if it is cheaper.
Pro Tip: A multi-carrier platform, such as ShipShop, will allow you to compare real-time rates across carriers from one dashboard and identify the lowest shipping rates for you. These sites use pre-negotiated bulk rates that are typically cheaper than what you could get going direct, up to 60% off retail prices in some cases.
2. Utilize Hybrid Shipping Services
Hybrid shipping combines both a national postal service and a last-mile delivery provider. Think: your package pops out of one carrier in Canada and into a local one in the destination country.
Examples:
- ShipShop’s delivery to the U.S.
- USPS + Canada Post integration
- Global correspondence collection points
This approach:
- Groups goods into commercial manifests, which decreases customs delays.
- Reduces last-mile expenses through local delivery partners.
- Provides better tracking than regular mail.
Hack: Group your international orders so you can get bulkier shipping. When you ship several packages together, you will pay less per unit and get the lowest shipping rates for your order.
3. Maximize Package Weight and Dimensions
Volumetric weight, or the space your package takes up, heavily affects the cost of international shipping.
Here’s how to use the system to your advantage:
- Whenever you can, use smaller boxes or poly mailers.
- Steer clear of any kind of padding or branded extras that might be bulky.
- Fold and/or compress things such as clothing to decrease the height of the package.
Bonus: Many carriers will shave the cost even further if the weight is under certain thresholds (such as 500g or 2kg). If you design your packages to stay just under those limits, it can be a huge cost saver.
4. Automatically Print Customs Forms
Some shipping companies also auto generate customs forms when you print a label. The paperwork required for customs declarations can feel like a royal pain, but errors can lead to significant expenses and delays.
Hack: Always label low-value items as “commercial samples” or “gift” (where applicable) if you are sending promotional items, it may lessen or even eliminate import fees based on the destination country’s policy.
5. Hire a Shipping Partner That Knows International Fulfillment
The last (and best) hack? Don’t do it alone.
We have platforms such as ShipShop dedicated to international eCommerce logistics, which provide:
- Negotiated cheap rates for shipping
- Integrated customs form automation
- Cross-border fulfillment hubs
- Tools for tracking in real-time and communication with customers
With their assistance and the guidance of such logistics companies, even small-time merchants can offer international shipping at prices on par with Amazon or global brands, without needing a warehouse in every country.
Conclusion: Going Global Without Bankrupting Yourself
International shipping doesn’t have to be expensive, frustrating, or scary.
With multi-carrier comparison tools, access to hybrid services, and efficient packaging and customs processing, you will be able to offer some of the lowest shipping rates but avoid eroding your margins.
Begin in small, trial popular international markets (such as the US or UK) and rely on trusted tools to take away the heavy lifting. Your next best customer may be sitting just beyond the border, and now you can reach them without paying a premium price.