As a student, if I want to order an essay online, I can do so with relative ease. I just select the research paper writer, give him the details, and wait for the result to show up in my email. But what If the product I want is not digital?
After all, you can’t email a T-shirt or a souvenir.
For most of human history, people’s movement was restricted to the area immediately surrounding them. And, of course, some areas would be rich in some resources, while poor in others.
Tools, food, clothing, and artworks were limited to what can reach you physically in a decent amount of time. And in case you wanted something from far away, you had to pay a lot.
Modern life is made possible by international shipping. People in the frozen tundra have bananas and pineapples in their supermarkets due to international shipping. We get to use computers made across the globe, and students can receive packages from home even while studying abroad.
Getting started
You do not have to be a giant multinational corporation to start shipping. Individuals can do so as well, granted they take the time to do a bit of research.
Every item for student shipping overseas fits into a category, both in your home country and the country to which it is sent. Most of the time it will be different. It will be a good idea to verify if your product can be considered a hazard in any way.
In addition, consumables such as drugs or food may require special types of certification. The cases vary, so it can be hard to set a specific guideline. However, it would be best for you to contact the intended courier and double-check. Most couriers are large enough that they have a support line or any other type of information provider staff.
Before you proceed, make sure that the courier doesn’t have some sort of discount for student overseas shipping. Many of them do, so it’s no use spending extra money if you don’t have to.
After you have selected the courier and calculated the price, it will be time to prepare the package and write the address. Be sure to write down every single detail that you can. There are no assumptions to be made, based on local familiarity.
You should include company details and contact information for both you and the receiver. If possible, be sure to write them in the native language, or use local lettering i.e. Japanese, Cyrillic, Arabic, etc.
Nowadays, there is also the option to incorporate a QR code directly on the package.
Even though you are just a student, it is good to familiarize yourself with international shipping paperwork. After all, many students run small businesses that require shipping.
For example, every influencer under the Sun has some sort of T-shirt or merchandising scheme. Others make hand-crafted trinkets, or maybe you wrote a book without the support of a publisher.
Establish the dimensions of the package
Shipping for college students will rarely involve packages that are very heavy or massive. Books and small trinkets are mainly the focus here. Still, depending on the “to” and “from” countries, they may need you to be very specific in regards to the dimensions of the package.
You may need to measure it yourself and specify the length, height, and width. Try to be as accurate as possible, as any deviation can potentially slow down the process.
Protections and insurance
This subject is highly variable, depending on where you live. Yet, some countries have parcel insurance up to a certain sum. For example, if the package is somehow destroyed, you will get paid for that specific amount. The system functions identically to any other type of insurance.
Maybe if you are mailing a single thing one time, insurance is not worth getting. This is especially true if the contents are not that expensive. However, if you are intent on mailing regularly, I would recommend package protection.
The golden rule
You can lose both time and money by not getting shipping right. Most countries reserve the right to stop your package at customs. If for any reason, it triggers suspicion or the details aren’t filled in correctly, the delivery will be sent back or severely delayed.
You can lose both time and money in this situation, so it is best to avoid a negative outcome.
How to package and wrap
Of course, the most basic advice is to wrap the item itself to keep it safe from damage. While most couriers take care not to bump packages or subject them to blunt trauma, that situation is not a guarantee.
Bubble wrap and paper as padding work very well and are relatively cheap. Student international shipping does not have to cost an arm and a leg. Also, if you plan on running a small merchandising business, you can buy bubble wrap in bulk.
Similar to providing shipping details, more effort will be rewarded in this situation. The standard practice is to place the paper documents for shipping in some kind of plastic protector. Then, the docs should be taped on the widest side of the package.
The ideal situation would suppose that each document has its plastic wrapping. This will further decrease the chance of damage, blotting from moisture, or tearing as someone hastily manipulates and tries to read paper sheets.
Conclusion
Shipping requires a bit more focus and attention to detail than electronic correspondence. Mistakes will cost you time, money, or both.
Be sure to measure twice and cut once. Take care to select a courier that balances quality with price, and make sure to read up on the receiving country’s laws, standards, and even language.
