www.zonguru.com Open in urlscan Pro
52.49.198.28  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

Loading...
Home
Features
Solutions
Researchers
Sellers
Enterprise
Get a Demo
Tools
Niche Finder
Product Research
Chrome Extension
Product Research
Sales Spy
Product Research
Love-Hate
Product Research
Easy Source
Product Research
Keywords on Fire
Listing Optimization
Listing Optimizer
Listing Optimization
Business Dashboard
Business Metrics
Keyword Tracker
Monitoring & Alerts
IP Monitor
Monitoring & Alerts
Email Automator
Customer Engagement
Review Automator
Customer Engagement
View All Features
Pricing
Free Resources
FREE TOOLS
Keywords on Fire
LITE
ASIN Index Checker
Profit Calculator
NEW
Product Tracker Sheet
Stay up to date
Blog
Podcast
Events Hub
Live Weekly Training
Learn


Free Resource Center
About
ZonGuru
About Us
Careers
Charity
Partners
Contact
Product
Help Center
Marketplaces
NEW
Data Accuracy
Testimonials
Login
See Pricing






READY TO MAKE THE BIG FBA BUCKS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON?


Let our Amazon experts show you how to leverage the power of ZonGuru to smash
your sales goals. You’re invited to a 15-minute Rocket Demo so you can see the
ZonGuru tools first-hand.

Book your seat now!
Product Research & Sourcing


WHAT IS A FREIGHT FORWARDER – AMAZON LOGISTICS 101

Posted on 
May 12, 2022
  by
Mansoor Ali



ZONGURU EASY SOURCE

GET ACCESS TO TRUSTED, RELIABLE, VERIFIED SUPPLIERS.

UNLOCK OFFER

For sellers just embarking on their Amazon journey, transporting goods across
international borders (usually from China to global Amazon marketplaces) might
seem daunting. 

But shipping inventory halfway across the globe is easier than you think, thanks
to service providers known as freight forwarders. 

A freight forwarder can pick up your goods from the manufacturing site, load
them on a carrier, handle the complex paperwork, and safely transport your
products to an Amazon fulfillment center. 

Working alongside reliable service providers minimizes the risk of running out
of stock (OOS), instances of damaged inventory, and not being able to capitalize
on increased consumer demand during popular holiday seasons and Q4. 

This blog will answer questions like:

 * What is a freight forwarder?
 * What are incoterms?
 * What are the advantages of freight forwarding?
 * How to find reliable freight forwarding service providers?
 * What are the costs involved in freight forwarding?

Let’s start with the basics: what is a freight forwarder?


WHAT IS A FREIGHT FORWARDER?

A freight forwarder or freight forwarding company are logistic experts
responsible for moving cargo (or freight) across the supply chain. Freight
forwarders don’t transport goods themselves—they act as intermediaries who rely
on their contacts with popular carriers to move goods across international trade
routes, i.e., the air, ocean, railroads, or highways.


WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF USING A FREIGHT FORWARDER?

Some of the advantages of working alongside a freight forwarder include:


DIRECT HELP FROM EXPERTS

Even if you were to spend hours researching and learning about customs clearance
procedures, documentation costs, and freight charges based on volume and weight,
there’s no substitute for experience. 

Reputable freight forwarders have been in the game long enough to know how to
deal with international custom clearance issues, supply chain bottlenecks,
worker strikes, natural disasters, and emergency reroutes, to name a few.
Working alongside the experts reduces the risk of damaged goods and prolonged
delivery times.


LOW TRANSPORTATION COSTS 

Partnering up with an international freight forwarder is, in most cases, the
most economical option. An abundance of freight forwarding companies ensures
that prices remain stable so Amazon sellers like yourself can transport goods
without breaking the bank.

Note: We strongly recommend comparing pricing plans for multiple freight
forwarders. That’s because it’s difficult to estimate the actual markup costs,
but once you do your research and learn about the average market rate (for
transporting freight across the same route), it’s unlikely that you’ll get
scammed. 


SAFEGUARD YOUR INVENTORY (AND REPUTATION!)

Working with renowned international freight forwarding companies like DHL, and
Kuehne + Negal, there’s peace of mind knowing your goods are in the right hands.
These logistics service providers deliver freight on time and implement the best
storage and transportation practices.



Proper storage containers and continuous on-board surveillance protect fragile
and sensitive goods from damage and theft. In addition, investing in the right
freight forwarding services ensures your inventory reaches buyers in the best
condition—increasing customer satisfaction and reducing the likelihood of
negative product reviews.

Some freight forwards also offer freight insurance that guarantees reimbursement
(according to set terms and conditions) if your goods get damaged, lost, or
stolen in transit. 


TRANSPORT SMALL QUANTITIES

Not every Amazon seller needs to transport a container’s worth of inventory,
especially beginners who want to learn the ropes by selling a few dozen
products. 

Freight forwarders provide consolidation—also called less than container
(LCL)—services where they store multiple consignments in a single container,
spreading shipping costs among all participants.


TRACK AND STORE INVENTORY

Freight forwarders use advanced Transportation Management Systems (TMS) to keep
their clients updated regarding their freight’s whereabouts. Such service
providers can also arrange warehousing services usually owned and operated by
their affiliates.

Once you reach out to freight forwarders, prepare to encounter plenty of supply
chain and logistics jargon. The most popular of these are called Incoterms,
something Amazon sellers should know about.


WHAT ARE INCOTERMS?

Set forward by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Incoterms are sets
of rules that define the responsibilities of buyers and sellers (i.e., importers
and exporters) in international trade. These terms clarify each party’s duties,
costs, and associated risks, ensuring greater accountability and smoother
transactions. 

The following are popular Incoterms:

 * Ex Works (EXW): The manufacturer produces the goods and stores them at the
   production site or a warehouse of choice. Then, the responsibility to pick,
   pack, and ship the goods to an Amazon warehouse falls on your (or your
   freight forwarders) shoulders. 
 * Free Carrier (FCA): The manufacturer must produce and load the goods onto
   your (in this case, your freight forwarders) transport. The manufacturer is
   also responsible for the safekeeping of your goods, export clearance, and
   delivery to the port. After that, the risk passes onto your freight
   forwarder.
 * Free on Board (FOB): The manufacturer must produce and deliver your inventory
   to the port and on board a vessel. Free Alongside Ship (FAS) is a similar
   term where the manufacturer places your goods alongside the ship and not on
   it. FAS is commonplace except in cases where inventory is difficult to load. 
 * Cost and Freight (CFR): CFR is similar to FOB, except that the manufacturer
   or freight forwarder is responsible for the safety of the goods so long as
   they remain on the vessel. Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) goes one step
   further by adding the responsibility of insurance to the manufacturer or
   freight forwarder.

Note: FAS, FOB, CFR, and CIF are all basic incoterms used for inland waterway
and sea transport.

 * Delivered at Place (DAP): The supplier or seller of goods is responsible for
   delivering goods to a foreign destination. DAP does not include the risks and
   costs of clearing customs or unloading the goods. Deliver at Place Unloaded
   (DPU) is a related term where the seller must also bear the cost of unloading
   the goods.
 * Duty Delivery Paid (DDP): The manufacturer or your freight forwarder is
   responsible for transporting the cargo from the point of origin to an Amazon
   fulfillment center and taking care of everything in between. 

Duty Delivery Paid (DDP) is the most convenient option for Amazon sellers
because you essentially outsource all the risk and paperwork involved to a third
party. However, going for any other options will require you to get in touch
with and work alongside multiple forwarders or agencies, distracting you from
the task at hand, i.e., setting up an Amazon business.


WHERE TO FIND RELIABLE FREIGHT FORWARDERS?

There’s no shortage of freight forwarders to help you ship products from China
to any one of the international Amazon marketplaces. The easiest (and often most
economical) way to find one on Alibaba.com is by typing in “freight forwarders”
in the search bar and hitting enter. 

Browse through the recommendations to see the cargo charges, shipment types, and
other details. Also, don’t forget to read the customer reviews, time spent on
the platform, and verified status to select only the best and most reliable
forwards in the market.


WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FREIGHT FORWARDER AND A SHIPPER?

People tend to use the term “freight forwarders” and “shippers” (or shipping
line) interchangeably, but they refer to different things. A shipping line
business is responsible for transporting cargo safely between ports. 



On the other hand, a freight forwarder is responsible for transporting the cargo
to the vessel, loading and unloading it between ports, and delivering the goods
to a stated destination (based on the incoterm agreements upon by both parties).

Note: The term “shipping” used on Amazon or for Amazon-related fulfillment
activities refers to delivering products from a storage facility or an Amazon
fulfillment center to buyers’ locations.


FREIGHT FORWARDING FOR AMAZON BUSINESSES – A COST BREAKDOWN 

The cost of freight forwarder services varies. While it’s difficult to determine
whether the services offered are worth the price tag, knowing the expenses
incurred by forwarders when transporting goods helps create rough estimates.

Note: big names in the freight forwarding industry don’t shy away from offering
their clients a detailed breakdown of costs. This helps in comparing quotes
between different suppliers and choosing the best option.

Here’s are some services forwarders charge their clients for:

 * Carrier cost: The cost of transporting your goods across the land, air, rail,
   or sea. Generally speaking, sea freight is the cheapest (and has the longest
   shipping time), whereas air freight is on the costlier side (fasting shipping
   times). 
 * Container cost: Your inventory will be large enough to qualify for a Full
   Container Load (FCL), i.e., you pay for an entire container that only
   contains your goods or Less than Container Load (LCL), which consists of
   inventory belonging to different sellers (and therefore, is less expensive).
 * Freight volume and weight: The freight’s volume is converted into volumetric
   weight and charged accordingly, or the actual weight is taken into
   account—whichever value is greater.
 * Freight type: Non-generic cargo like fragile, hazardous, or
   temperature-sensitive goods require special care, which adds to the loading,
   unloading, storage, and overall transportation costs.
 * Additional packaging: Your goods may be subject to extra packaging or
   palletization based on the local and international trade and shipping rules.
   Don't overlook this cost; otherwise, your inventory might get sent back for
   repackaging!
 * Documentation expenses: Includes the usual documentation expenses needed to
   clear goods for import and export as well as the bill of lading and necessary
   invoices.
 * Insurance cost: Don’t skip out on insurance—it’s needed to protect your
   freight against potential damages. Also, verify with your forwarders whether
   insurance is included in the quotation or it needs to be purchased as an
   add-on.

There may be other costs involved in the quotation, but these ones are usually
included in a quotation.


CONCLUSION – AMAZON SHIPPING AND LOGISTICS DONE RIGHT

To sell on Amazon, you need to carefully plan and execute essential tasks like
keyword research, product hunting, Amazon PPC, listing optimization, and product
sourcing (including shipping). 

To get in touch with suitable suppliers and freight forwarders, you need to sift
through endless pages on Alibaba.com and individual websites, read up on
customer reviews, and maybe read up on a few blogs and YouTube videos.

Fortunately for you, there’s a tool out there that can help you get in touch
with some of the best product manufacturers/suppliers in China, and it’s called
Easy Source.

Thanks to a collaboration between ZonGuru and Alibaba.com, the Easy Source tool
shortlists reliable and quality manufacturers for related niches with just a
click of a button. These suppliers also have links with leading freight
forwarders and can fetch you some fantastic discounts!

But don’t take our word for it—avail a 7-day ZonGuru Easy Source tool free trial
and see for yourselves!

‍


ZONGURU EASY SOURCE

GET ACCESS TO TRUSTED, RELIABLE, VERIFIED SUPPLIERS.

UNLOCK OFFER

No items found.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE




MANSOOR ALI

Amazon FBA Consultant

Mansoor is an e-commerce enthusiast and problem solver. After completing
numerous Amazon and online selling courses he applied his skillset to help
sellers find financial success within highly competitive niches. Today, he
offers Amazon Private Label consultancy services to businesses and solopreneurs
around the world.




ZONGURU EASY SOURCE

GET ACCESS TO TRUSTED, RELIABLE, VERIFIED SUPPLIERS.

UNLOCK OFFER


ZONGURU EASY SOURCE

GET ACCESS TO TRUSTED, RELIABLE, VERIFIED SUPPLIERS.

UNLOCK OFFER

No items found.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE


Get Started


START USING ZONGURU

Discover opportunities. Maximize your sales. Grow your Amazon business!


INTERESTED IN OUR TOOLS? TRY FOR FREE

Get started with ZonGuru, access all the tools with a FREE trial.

Start FREE Trial



HOTTEST AMAZON PRODUCTS

Searching for a product? Access the ultimate product guide here!

Download eBook


MILLION DOLLAR PRODUCT CHALLENGE

Watch this 4 part series covering the latest data-driven methods.

Take on the Challenge
More from Our Blog


YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Industry News & Trends



ZONGURU VS. SELLERAPP

In this review, we perform a side-by-side comparison of each software. We
promise to try our best to use only informed, data-driven talking points with
clear objectives.

Posted on 
Mar 29, 2021
  by
Kimberlee French
Industry News & Trends



ZONGURU VS SELLICS: HEAD-TO-HEAD SOFTWARE COMPARISON

Which platform takes the title of BEST all-in-on Amazon seller software? Which
FBA seller toolset delivers the most value? To answer these questions once and
for all, we decided to take a no-nonsense look at the strengths and weaknesses
of ZonGuru and Sellics in a head-to-head comparison. Before you part with your
hard-earned cash be sure to educate yourself on which software delivers the
goods!

Posted on 
Feb 25, 2021
  by
Kimberlee French
See All Posts

LEARN MORE

FeaturesPricingGuru ToolsBlog

ZONGURU

About UsCareersAffiliate ProgramPress KitWrite for Us

SUPPORT

Help CenterResource CenterFAQ

ACCURATE DATA

ZonGuru aims to provide the most accurate data and estimations in the industry.
As official partners with Alibaba and Amazon, we have access to the best data
sources in our industry to help reach our goal.
© 2022 ZonGuru
Terms of Service

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy