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Shipping items internationally can be an intricate process, filled with various checkpoints and regulations. One of the most common hurdles faced by shippers is when items get stuck in customs.

Understanding why this happens and knowing what to do can save time, reduce stress, and ensure your goods reach their destination.

Here’s a guide to help you navigate these situations effectively.

One of the primary reasons your items might get stuck in customs is because they are prohibited or restricted in the destination country.

Each country has its own set of regulations dictating what can and cannot be imported. If customs officials identify any items that are not allowed, they will hold the shipment.

If this happens, the first step is to contact customs to understand the specific issue.

Customs officials can provide detailed information about why your items are being held. Once you have this information, you can arrange for the return or disposal of the prohibited items.

To prevent this situation from occurring in the first place, it is crucial to familiarise yourself with the 

 of the destination country. Always double-check this list before shipping to avoid sending items that are restricted or prohibited.

Another common reason for shipments being held in customs is incomplete or incorrect paperwork. This could involve missing invoices, packing lists, or improperly filled out customs forms. When documentation is not in order, customs cannot process the shipment, leading to delays.

To resolve this issue, thoroughly review and correct all documentation. Make sure that all required documents are complete and accurately filled out. If any documents are missing, submit them promptly to avoid further delays.

To prevent such problems, double-check all paperwork before shipping, ensure all forms are filled out accurately, and consider working with a professional shipping company like JustShip, which handles all the necessary paperwork for you.

 can also cause your shipment to be stuck in customs. If duties and taxes are unpaid or incorrectly calculated, customs will hold the shipment until the outstanding amounts are settled.

In such cases, check for any outstanding payments and settle them promptly. You can contact customs or your shipping company for detailed information about the required payments.

To avoid this situation, research and calculate all duties and taxes beforehand, and budget for these costs in advance.

service can simplify the process, as it includes all duties and taxes in the shipping cost, ensuring there are no outstanding payments when clearing customs.

4. Discrepancies Between Declared and Actual Contents

Customs officials will hold shipments if there are discrepancies between the declared and actual contents. This includes differences in declared values or quantities.

To resolve this, provide accurate information and corrections to customs. If necessary, submit proof of the actual contents of the shipment.

To prevent such issues, ensure that the declared values and quantities match the actual shipment. Conduct a thorough check before shipping to verify all details are correct.

JustShip’s shipment form, sample of detailed declarations

5. Unable to Contact Recipient to Provide Needed Info

Sometimes, customs may require additional information from the recipient, and if they are unreachable or unresponsive, the shipment will be held.

This can be particularly frustrating but can be resolved by providing multiple methods to contact the recipient, such as phone number or emails.

To prevent this issue, ensure that the recipient's contact information is accurate and up-to-date.

Notify the recipient in advance about the shipment and potential customs requirements, so they are prepared to provide any needed information promptly.

Facing issues with customs can be daunting, but with the right knowledge and preparation, these problems can be minimised or avoided altogether.

Always stay informed about the regulations of the destination country, double-check all documentation, and maintain clear communication with all parties involved.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure a smoother shipping experience and avoid the frustration of having your items stuck in customs.

Find out why items get stuck in customs and how to efficiently address these issues to ensure your shipments reach their destination.

What to Do When Your Items Get Stuck in Customs

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the highlights of the shopping year, where deals and discounts rule. One of the most attractive offers you can make is free shipping. But how can you offer this without cutting into your profits?


Let's dive into some strategies that help keep both your customers happy and your margins intact.

Assessing the Suitability of Free Shipping for Your Business

The viability of free shipping largely depends on what you’re selling. If your products are high-margin, like designer clothes or electronics, you can more easily absorb the cost of shipping.

For businesses selling low-margin items like accessories, offering free shipping might require more careful planning. Consider special promotions rather than a blanket policy: maybe free shipping on orders that meet a certain price point.

Different customers value different things. Some might choose where to shop based on free shipping alone, while others might consider it just a nice bonus.

Use customer surveys, feedback, and purchasing data to understand how much your shoppers care about free shipping. This will help you decide whether it’s worth offering broadly or just in specific cases.

How to Cover the Cost of Offering Free Shipping

Offering free shipping can entice customers and boost sales, but it's vital to manage this perk so it doesn't diminish your profits.


Below are some strategies that can help cover the costs associated with free shipping, ensuring it becomes a benefit rather than a burden during the holiday shopping frenzy.

Implementing free shipping can be effectively managed by incorporating a part of the shipping cost into your product prices.

This approach, while subtle, can maintain your bottom line while making the offer more appealing to customers. The key is to evaluate your average shipping costs carefully and adjust your product prices accordingly.


This strategy is particularly effective for products with a moderate price range, where a small markup can cover shipping expenses without deterring your customers.

It’s important to approach price adjustments with a keen understanding of customer perception. A minor price increase might be acceptable to most customers if they perceive greater value in the free shipping offer.


For example, if the average cost of international shipping is $15 per item, you might consider increasing the price of a popular product from $45 to $50. This adjustment not only helps partially cover the shipping costs but also maintains the attractiveness of the 'free shipping' offer, encouraging more customers to purchase. The increase is modest enough to be seen as reasonable by customers, especially when framed as part of a free shipping deal.

By adjusting prices subtly, you not only cover some of the shipping costs but also harness the marketing power of 'free shipping', a significant draw for customers.

This strategy doesn't have to fully offset the shipping costs; even partial coverage can reduce the financial impact. Moreover, the allure of free shipping is likely to drive higher order volumes, potentially offsetting the additional costs through increased sales.

This balanced approach helps enhance the appeal of your offers, boost customer satisfaction, and foster loyalty without sacrificing profitability.

Encouraging customers to increase their purchase size each visit is key to maximizing the benefit of free shipping.

Techniques like showcasing related products, offering upgrades at checkout, or promoting limited-time bundles can effectively elevate the amount customers spend.


Strategically setting a minimum purchase amount for free shipping is another practical approach; this threshold should be realistic, encouraging customers to add more to their carts without feeling pressured.

Promotions such as "spend $50 more to qualify for free shipping" can motivate customers to buy additional items, thereby raising the average order value.

Example: Love Bonito offers free standard shipping with a minimum spend of S$60

Offering free shipping selectively is a smart way to manage costs. You might restrict it to products with higher profit margins or to customers in regions where shipping costs are lower. This helps in targeting the benefit where it impacts positively both on logistics and profitability.

Another approach is to offer tiered shipping options: perhaps free standard shipping that takes longer, with an option for customers to pay for expedited delivery if they need it faster.

This not only caters to different customer needs but also helps in balancing out the shipping costs across different service levels.

As we gear up for the bustling Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, it's crucial to plan how you'll offer free shipping without compromising profits.

To aid in your efforts, we're excited to announce that JustShip has launched a new, more affordable 

This timely addition could be the perfect solution for small businesses looking to expand their customer base overseas to the USA and UK while keeping shipping costs in check.

Ready to transform your shipping strategy this Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Explore our 

cost-effective ecommerce shipping solutions 

By integrating JustShip's shipping options, you can confidently offer free shipping and captivate your customer base, all while keeping your costs in check.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to elevate your sales and customer satisfaction. Start now and get ahead of the holiday rush!

Unlock the secrets to offering free shipping this Black Friday & Cyber Monday without sacrificing profits. Learn strategic tips to delight customers and maintain your bottom line!

Master Free Shipping This Black Friday & Cyber Monday Without Hurting Profit

Free Shipping Offers Secrets: How to Nail It This Black Friday & Cyber Monday Without Hurting Your Profits

Everyday, our customers come in with a variety of requests – from shipping beef rendang to e-scooters – so much so that we’ve decided to roll out a series of articles for common restricted items per country.

For this article we’ve chosen to start with the country that has the highest number of shipping requests for the month of August. Here are three things you need to know about 

In 2008, the Chinese milk powder scandal was a significant food safety issue. Manufacturers tainted milk and infant milk powder with melamine to artificially boost protein levels in the formula, leading to thousands of babies poisoned and even six deaths. Trust in China’s domestic milk powder manufacturers dropped, and demand for foreign brands surged.

Our customers often want to send over milk powder or baby milk formula to China, so we’ve summarised the 3 main key restrictions to note before you pack:

Baby milk powder shipped to China has to be 

 of baby milk powder AND milk powder per package 

Bellamy’s Organic Infant Formula Milk Tin (900g)

You might want to ship in bulk as a single package. But if one tin is about 900g – 1kg, you might be better off shipping this in as multiple packages.

2. Laptops, mobile phones, electronic devices.

 is not uncommon. If you’re looking to 

, it must have the China Compulsory Certification (CCC) safety mark on the device itself.

Electronic devices that are declared as personal effects are not subjected to this regulation. However, when in doubt, always check with the Chinese authorities beforehand lest your package be rejected by Chinese customs if it violates any restrictions.

 has multiple concerns in terms of packing and customs regulations that you can find here (link) – but for shipping artwork to China, there’s just one main thing to note:

If you’re shipping artwork that is, but not limited to, fine art pieces, any media, film or photographs, they cannot be deemed detrimental to the political, economic, cultural and moral interests of China.

There are many do’s and don’ts of shipping items overseas, and certain countries are trickier than others. Want to ship to China and wondering if your items are restricted? 

We offer the most customer-friendly rates for a friction-free shipping experience. Got a parcel? JustShip with us today!

There are many do’s and don’ts of shipping items to China. Here are three things you need to know about shipping to China.

Blog

Be Wary of Shipping these 3 Items to China

1. Milk Powder, & Baby Milk Powder.

2. Laptops, mobile phones, electronic devices.

3. Artwork, antiques, cultural artifacts

When In Doubt, Ask JustShip!

Related posts

What to Do When Your Items Get Stuck in Customs

Free Shipping Offers Secrets: How to Nail It This Black Friday & Cyber Monday Without Hurting Your Profits