If you want to send small items, for example after your private sale on eBay, Hood, Kleiderkreisel etc., you have another option besides parcel, package and letter. Various postal companies offer the so-called consignment of goods.
The postage for goods is cheaper than the normal letter delivery of items. On the other hand, the transport takes longer because the goods are treated as subordinate. The standard delivery time is 3-4 days. The consignment only reaches the recipient after several days, depending on the postal company and the current volume of consignments.
Only goods may be sent with the consignment
As the name best shipping from us to singapore already says, only goods and not personal messages and letters can be sent with this mode of shipment. Depending on the supplier, samples or objects such as spare parts, electronic devices, mobile phone accessories, textiles and household goods are permitted.
The consignment of goods is therefore particularly suitable for all those who want to send goods to the recipient without personal words. Only invoices, delivery notes and other documents relating to the goods are permitted as enclosures. Individual letters to family, friends and acquaintances must not be enclosed. The operating instructions and the payment form can therefore be enclosed, but not the personal birthday greetings.
The consignment must be openly packed and labelled
For a possible control of the contents, the consignment must be packed open. It must be possible to open and close the envelope or carton without damaging it. Envelopes with rivet fasteners or cartons with tuck-in flaps are suitable for this purpose. If there is inadmissible content in the consignment, it is returned or additional postage is charged to the recipient. The consignment must be marked with the words “consignment of goods” and franked.
The consignment of goods offers less security than the dispatch of parcels
Shipments are offered without a tracking number and uninsured. If the shipment disappears or is damaged, the value will not be refunded regularly. Without a tracking number, it is also impossible to track where the shipment is. Another disadvantage of the consignment: As a rule, the consignment is delivered without confirmation from the recipient, which makes proof of access more difficult. In the event of a dispute, the sender can hardly prove that the recipient has received the goods.
As an alternative to shipping the goods, shipping as a parcel can therefore be an option. Depending on the parcel service provider, this is regularly insured between 500 and 750 euros and can be tracked by shipment tracking. Attention, however, with parcels: Depending on the provider, these are also not insured or only insured to a lesser extent and sometimes not traceable via tracking.
International shipment of goods
Until the end of 2018, it was possible to send consignments of goods internationally. Since 01.01.2019, however, Deutsche Post AG has only been offering this service to commercial shippers. Consumers complain that, for example, sending a forgotten charging cable on holiday would no longer cost € 3.20 but € 9.00 within the EU or € 16.00 to countries outside the EU.
Collectors of stamps or postcards also face the problem that shipping goods abroad makes no sense given the often relatively low value of the item. Deutsche Post AG refers to the Universal Postal Union Treaty. According to the agreement, however, only the joint dispatch of letters and goods is not permitted. It is still possible to offer an international shipping service for private individuals. To our regret, however, this is no longer provided for in Deutsche Post AG’s portfolio.
If your company sends parcels abroad, it should observe certain rules. Different tariffs, regulations and a longer transport route place different demands on the shipping than when sending within Germany. To avoid ambiguities, we would like to introduce some tips that will make shipping abroad easier.
Requirements for export packaging
Stable protective packaging is essential when shipping abroad. Packages that are shipped internationally are exposed to more risks because the transport route is longer. They have to endure more, because they are loaded on their long way from the truck to the plane and back into the truck again, for example. They may be thrown back and forth. For this reason, this should be kept in mind when packing the goods.
Filling and padding material is suitable as reliable transport protection for the interior. Air cushion films, cushions, bags, packaging chips, foam films, paper and cardboard cushions, edge protection and drying agents are ideal. According to international standards, packages should be able to withstand a fall from a height of one and a half metres.
Legal requirements
In addition to the requirements for export packaging, the transport route, climatic conditions, legal regulations and transport costs are relevant for shipping abroad. What may be delivered depends on legal regulations.
Products made of wood, straw and hay are considered critical in many countries and may either not be imported or only be imported under strict regulations. Wood packaging must be treated according to the IPPC standard (ISPM 15). Then it is considered harmless and may be imported. Our wooden folding box is, for example, suitable for export to the USA, Canada, Mexico, China, etc.
Cartons made of corrugated board are considered harmless and may be imported. Due to their low weight they are easy to transport. Large containers and inkapallet cartons, which together with a pallet form a homogeneous unit, are perfectly suited for export. They are quickly erected and quickly filled.
Before dispatch
In addition to bureaucratic regulations, any adjustments to the address label must be made prior to shipment. Each country addresses its letters and parcels differently. In some countries there are no house numbers, postal codes or street names, which can lead to confusion. In the USA, Canada and Australia, first the city, then the abbreviation of the state and finally the postcode are mentioned.
To be on the safe side, you should write your e-mail address or telephone number on the label. In case of discrepancies, you can be contacted for further information. In addition, you should be in close contact with the recipient and inform them of the delivery time. Depending on the mode of transport (air or sea freight), the goods will arrive faster or slower.