The same intl shipping route is quoted at $7800 by some, while I quote $8500. Why do they still choose to be my customers?

"Just tell me how much a container to Colombia costs. Don't say anything else!" Customers often ask this.

It seems simple, but it’s really not easy to answer. Should I quote a high or low price? Should it be a fast ship or cost-effective? For instance, from Shenzhen to Colombia, there are eight shipping companies like Maersk, MSC, COSCO, etc. The journey time ranges from 21 days to over 50 days, and the prices range from $5000 to $7000, meaning there are significant differences in both duration and price. Different prices come with different transit times and services. Some intl shipping agents quote a flat price, like $7800, without informing the customer about the shipping company, transit time, included services, or costs.

When the customer sees the $7800 quote, they think it’s cheaper than your $8500 quote, but there could be unforeseen risks later on. Just last Friday, a friend sought my help with an intl shipping issue. He had a shipment from Tianjin to Dar es Salaam in Africa. After the shipment was sent, he realized the consignee could not be an individual! So, even though the goods would arrive at the port in early August, there were issues with the bill of lading, and customs clearance at the destination port was also uncertain. My friend panicked immediately upon hearing this! These problems arose because it was his first time exporting, and the intl shipping agent he chose was unprofessional, which was the root cause of the issue.

Therefore, intl shipping quotes are not just about comparing prices; they must match the services included. It’s about what kind of ship is needed, the required transit time, and so on. You also need to understand the shipment details, and the shipping agent must know how to handle any emergencies during transit.

For example, the transit time for full containers and consolidated cargo is usually very different. Consolidated cargo has to wait until a full container is gathered, which could take a week or even a month. Just like the example to Colombia, the slow container takes over 50 days, and consolidated cargo might take even 100 days. So it’s not just about comparing prices. For intl shipping, the price is just one part; price + transit time + service are the complete package, and none can be omitted.

We have been in the intl shipping business for 26 years, with many operators having 7 or 8 years of experience. Our staff often asks who the consignee is when booking space because some shipping companies accept individual consignees, some do not, and some even refuse shipments from certain countries. The situation is very complex. Therefore, intl shipping involves dealing with many different departments like shipping companies, customs, quarantine, aviation, etc. You need to know their rules and interact with various countries and regions with different cultures, making it very complex. In other words, intl shipping is truly a service where experience reigns supreme, and a single misstep can lead to costly lessons. Every experience comes from a painful lesson.

Some intl shipping company salespeople quote dozens of prices a day but rarely close deals. This is because they don’t understand the customer's needs; they just quote prices without explaining the services included with each price. This leads to customers only seeing the bare numbers and comparing prices blindly.

Simply comparing prices is the most primitive behavior when selecting an intl shipping agent. The key is to design an overall plan based on the customer’s needs. This tests the intl shipping agent’s years of logistics experience and resources. Hence, we at Hongmingda Logistics design appropriate plans based on customer needs, which cannot be achieved by merely comparing prices.

We know the advantageous routes of each shipping company, the cultural habits, and regulations of each country. For over 20 years, industry giants like Walmart, Costco, Huawei, and more than 100 other notable companies have consistently used Hongmingda intl shipping services. Hongmingda intl shipping agents are never late unless there’s a natural disaster or man-made calamity.

Having operated for 26 years, we have an 1800 sqm Grade A office building in Shenzhen for you to visit or video call. We have our own logistics fleet, and a 6000 sqm overseas warehouse in Atlanta, making us one of the few in the industry. You can contact me anytime at jerry@swwlogistics.com.cn.