Alibaba shipping costs explained, sea freight edition
This video covers what happens after you place a bulk order on Alibaba, focusing on sea shipping costs and timelines. It explains that sea shipping quotes are port-to-port only, additional taxes and duties apply on arrival, and cheaper shipping takes longer.
The lessons
Remember unit cost from suppliers never includes shipping, taxes or duties
Sea shipping is cheaper but slower, budget around 28 days to arrive
Sea shipping quotes only cover port to port, plan for extra costs once it lands
Avoid peak shipping dates to get the best sea freight rates
Questions people ask
Does the per-unit cost from my Alibaba supplier include shipping?
No, the cost per unit you get after placing a bulk order does not include shipping costs, import taxes, or duties. You need to budget for these separately.
How long does sea shipping take from Alibaba?
Sea shipping is the cheaper option but takes longer, roughly 28 days to arrive in a country like Australia. The rule of thumb is the cheaper the shipping, the longer it takes.
Transcript
This is how you import products from Alibaba. Part 4, we've got to talk about these shipping costs. So once you're happy with samples, you need to place your bulk order. After you tell them how many units you're going to order, they're going to give you a cost per unit.
This does not include any shipping costs, import taxes or duties. Here's what you need to know for sea shipping. Basic rule of thumb, the cheaper it is, the longer it takes. Sea shipping cost you get is from port to port, not from door to door.
And when it lands in your country, you need to pay the following costs. The list of the ones here for Australia. Get to you, sea shipping is going to take about 28 days. To get the best sea shipping costs, try and avoid these dates.
Heaps more shipping information to come, so follow for more.
