Struggling to find a RELIABLE guide on door-to-door shipping? 

Don’t worry; here’s one!

At Leeline Sourcing, we are a Freight Forwarder company with over a decade of experience. And we’ll show you why you need door-to-door shipping for your business. Plus, how it will explode the sales of your eCommerce startup. Thus, increasing your cash flow 10X. 

The information in this guide will help you understand door-to-door shipping operations. And how to avoid common scams while shipping. 

Ready? Let’s go… 

What is Door-to-Door Shipping? How Does It Work?  

Door-to-door shipping is a RELIABLE shipping option. Where shipping companies deliver items RIGHT to your doorstep!

Basically, you order and get the products from the COMFORT OF YOUR COUCH. 

Excited about the future yet?

Plus, you never have to visit the port of destination to pick up your international shipment. EVER.

And downside…

Door-to-door shipping is EXPENSIVE as hell– extra resources to transport items to your home.  

Advantages of Door-to-Door Shipping 

Door-to-door shipping has revolutionized the game by giving buyers a ‘friendly’ shipping model. 

And it usually comes down to 2 things:

IT’S COST-EFFECTIVE

Traditionally, many eCommerce sellers consolidated their orders to save on shipping costs. 

To put it more simply…

Bundling multiple items into one truckload shipment headed to the same final destination. Thus, reducing the costs of shipping items INDIVIDUALLY.

But still…they would need to cater to order fulfillment and transport costs. 

Now, you don’t have to worry about shipping items in bulk. Or transporting it to the last address. Just pack the order and send it to a door-to-door freight forwarder. (who transports to the buyer’s house).

LESS PAPERWORK REQUIRED

Sadly, traditional international shipping methods don’t stand a chance in this era. 

I mean, who would pick filing a SH** TON of paperwork. Over sipping piña coladas by the beach as you click ‘refresh’ on your internet banking account?

Good news…

Door-to-door delivery has FEWER requirements – just file a document to the service provider. And you are good to go! No need to handle all the paperwork. EVER!

Steps Process of Door-to-Door Delivery

Ok, let’s get busy. Here’s a step-by-step guide for starting door-to-door delivery like a pro.

#1- Finding the BEST items

This is SUPER EASY.

You need to find HIGH-QUALITY products that will actually sell. And skyrocket your profit margins through the roof.

Remember this– here’s how to spot a winning product:

• They have consistent demand
• Low saturation
• Have a unique value proposition
• Potential to scale

Alright, PICASSO. Now that you have your winning product and its manufacturer. 

This brings us to…

#2- Picking a RELIABLE Freight forwarder

Here, you need a freight forwarder to handle the entire process. That includes booking freight spaces, warehousing, packaging, insurance, and distribution. 

Also, they are responsible for picking up cargo at the manufacturer’s warehouse. And transportation to the final port of destination. 

You will provide ACCURATE details of the products to be shipped. Pick a suitable door-to-door shipping option (more on that later!). Plus, pay the forwarder’s service cost. 

#3- Cargo pickup

After you’ve paid, the forwarder will pick up the cargo from the manufacturer. And load it into a container. 

The freight forwarder then transports the goods to a port, airport. Or a rail station for shipment. 

#4- Custom clearance

We are almost there…

Here, the forwarder avails ALL official documents required by the customs clearance officers. In the exporter’s country. 

The documents should clearly show the following:

• Details & nature of items
• Value of goods
• Destination country of items shipped
• Weight & dimensions of shipments

NOTE: Customs inspection might take longer for restricted or prohibited goods.  

#5 Freight Transportation

ALL goods will be assembled at the port. And loaded into a vessel – for sea shipping. 

Conversely, they are loaded into the plane if you choose air shipping. 

You will also get a tracking number showing the entire delivery process. 

#6- Delivery to buyer’s home

Once customs clearance clears the items. The courier IMMEDIATELY transports goods to the customer. Or buyer’s warehouse. 

EASY PEASY!

How Long Does Door-to-Door Shipping from China Take?

Well, it depends…

• Which door-to-door shipping services are you using?
• What‘s the final destination?

Generally, if you are far from the seller’s warehouse. The delivery time is relatively longer than for buyers living within the country. Or region.

Again, there are door to door shipping services that are SLIGHTLY faster than others. 

For instance…

DHL offers same delivery or next-day delivery for domestic shipments. And 2-8 business days for international shipments. 

UPS takes at least 1-5 business days for international D2D deliveries. And next-day delivery for domestic shipments. 

Options for Door To Door Shipping

When it comes to D2D shipping, there are three shipping options to choose from:

1. Door to door Ocean shipping

D2D Ocean freight is one of the CHEAPEST ways of shipping international goods. 

The freight forwarder picks up the cargo from a designated location. Loads it up into a container. And transports it through international oceans and shipping routes. 

Also, there are several Door to door shipping options, including:

• FCL door to door shipping. Used in shipments that occupy the whole container. 
• Door to door furniture and car deliveries. 
• LCL door to door shipping. Where a single shipment doesn’t fill a single container. That means the shipper will bundle several shipments from different buyers. 
• Medicine and battery delivery. For transporting sensitive materials. E.g., sensitive chemicals

Leeline Sourcing will handle ALL your door to door ocean shipping needs. Plus, all the tedious documentation. 

2. Door to door Air Freight

Air Freight is the #1 BEST alternative to door to door ocean shipping. It is also the FASTEST with next-day deliveries. Or 2-3 business day delivery time frames. 

Air Freight door to door shipping includes:

• FedEx door-to-door delivery
• UPS door-to-door delivery
• EMS door-to-door delivery
• TNT door-to-door delivery

The only downside is that shipping fees are crazy as hell.

3. Door to door Rail Freight

 Rail Freight is a slightly CHEAPER way to transport goods from China. Especially with countries that share borderlines with them. 

Most shippers use the Northern Railway corridor to ship items from China to Russia. And the Central Corridor to ship from China. To Eastern and Western European countries. That includes Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Spain. 

Tips for Door To Door Shipping Service 

Here are a few tips to keep you safe when door-to-door freight shipping:

Experience

Get this – ONLY work with experienced freight forwarders. (we are talking 8,9,10+ years of shipping experience!).

Why?

Experienced door-to-door freight forwarders have TREMENDOUS customs clearance expertise. And can EASILY file any document required by customs offices for smooth operations.

Plus, they’ve built relationships with air, ocean, and ground carriers. 

Again, experienced forwarders have a wider global reach. And can deliver to any shipping location under the sun. Awesome, right?

Delivery Speed

Again, this is one of the MOST CRUCIAL factors regarding shipping.

Ensure that the carrier is punctual. And won’t miss any customer deadlines.

Fast delivery is a cheat code to build strong relationships with customers. And outshine all your competitors…leaving them dumbfounded! 

Oh, and don’t forget to check whether the carrier has security measures. To protect customer items.  

Did you know:? 95% of online buyers prefer same-day delivery. Good luck making a sale with a carrier offering 30-45 days delivery!

Economical

If we are being 100% honest, the entire shipping process is hella expensive. From customs costs and warehouse to shipping fees. 

Thus, you need a door-to-door freight company that will help you save money. Which you can reinvest into the business. 

Insurance

Lastly, ENSURE that the freight forwarder provides cargo insurance on all items. (especially for costly ones). 

Knowing that your items are in an insured container relieves stress. Or anxiety at the slightest call or email from your freight forwarder. 

FAQs about Door To Door Shipping

What’s Next

One Last Thing…

Door-to-door shipping is the NEXT big thing in the shipping industry. But you need to be careful. Or you end up lighting your own money on fire. 

Just remember to crosscheck the freight forwarder’s details. And ONLY work with experienced forwarders. 

That guarantees you will ALWAYS receive goods on time. Plus, you NEVER have problems with your customers. (#RepeatedProfitableSales)

Are you looking forward to working with RELIABLE Chinese suppliers? Or find your next WINNING product? Or do you just need a dedicated logistics specialist? PERFECT! 

Hit us up at any of our service pages. And our team will be in touch in NO TIME!