Parcel Shipping from the USA to Eastern Europe: What You Need to Know
The demand for parcel shipping is constantly increasing. It’s no wonder since international shipping opens many opportunities. You can send items to almost any part of the world, including package shipping from the USA to Eastern Europe. To take the advantage of shipping to Europe you just need to know a few key points. Let’s begin.
Find out what you can and cannot ship internationally
Always start with gathering information. The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be. And the preparation will lead to fewer mistakes. Keep in mind that parcel shipping has its rules and regulations. And they differ for domestic and international deliveries.
When shipping to Europe, it’s useful to look into common laws valid in the EU to give yourself a general idea. But don’t forget to double-check the regulations in a particular country. While the majority of allowed and prohibited items coincide between the member states, there might be some exceptions.
You should pay more attention to the specifics of the destination country if you’re shipping to Russia or any other Eastern European country that does not belong to the EU. The way international packages are treated there might differ from Eastern European countries belonging to the EU, such as Poland, Lithuania, or Bulgaria.
Check the cost and the delivery times offered by different parcel services
It is also very important to familiarize yourself with how much international parcel shipping costs and what the approximate delivery times are. Then you’ll know what to expect from the international package shipping service. Do some research on the prices and the delivery times offered by various shipping companies. Compare them to find the one that meets your needs the most.
Some package shipping companies have two shipping options – express delivery and economy shipping. Consider which one to choose carefully as the delivery times may vary significantly. For example, if you wish to ship to Romania from Chicago, it might take 7-12 days for the parcel to arrive at the destination point. If you pick economy shipping, it’ll take even longer.
Prepare your international package
You’d be surprised at how much successful parcel shipping depends on proper packaging. It’s like a defensive bubble that will keep your items safe during all circumstances. Be sure to pack your goods thoroughly. It might be the easiest to start with a box. For international package shipping, it should be sturdy, square or rectangular, and made of cardboard or wood.
Once you have picked out the right box, move on to the cushioning. You can use a variety of padding materials, ranging from bubble wrap to crumpled paper. Whether you’ll use materials bought from the shop or something that’s found at home is not important. What’s important is to use enough cushioning materials. When sending a package internationally, keep in mind that putting several layers of padding is the best way to ship fragile items.
Include the correct address
When shipping from the USA to Europe, pay a lot of attention to the address label. Writing it correctly will ensure that your package reaches the right recipient. Different countries have different address writing systems. That’s why it’s a good idea to double-check if you got it right.
Try to write down the address clearly by hand or print it out. Choose a place to stick it wisely. Don’t put it where it’s not visible. And don’t forget to remove any other labels that might be misleading from the box surface.
Handle the customs declaration
To ensure smooth international parcel shipping, you’ll have to fill out a customs declaration. For many senders, it is the most frightening step as declaration papers look complicated and confusing. They require some effort and knowledge, it’s true. But they are not as scary once you start filling them in.
When filling in documents for international package delivery, the key is to be honest and provide the information which is asked of you. Include all items that are in the package. You should also write a short description of each of them. It’ll help the customs officers to identify the items and process them accordingly.
If you still feel lost, don’t hesitate to ask for help.
Consider the impact of Covid-19
We live in times when things may change rapidly. Covid-19 has made a huge impact on parcel shipping and logistics in general. Beware that depending on the pandemic situation certain countries might implement restrictions and even close off their borders. This might limit transportation routes and even make some destinations unavailable for shipping from the US.
Be sure to check if there aren’t any shipping restrictions to the country of your interest. It may be wise to plan shipping your parcel in advance to avoid late deliveries.
International shipping is a challenging task, but not impossible to complete. Memorize these key points and you’ll be shipping from the USA to Europe with ease.