1/23/2025

Shipping Internationally from Shopify: Navigating Duties and Customs

Shipping your products across borders can feel like you're preparing for a grand expedition into the unknown. It’s exciting, but there are potential pitfalls lurking beneath the surface, especially when it comes to duties & customs. Fortunately, we've got your back with some practical tips for shipping internationally from your Shopify store.

Understanding International Shipping

Shipping internationally refers to transporting goods across foreign borders. This process is vital for connecting global economies & facilitating sales to customers beyond your home country. Shopify makes this process relatively straightforward, but knowing the key factors related to customs & logistics is crucial.

According to Shopify's guide, international shipping is typically costlier than domestic shipping because it covers longer distances & often involves multiple transport modes: air, land, or sea. Plus, you'll be dealing with import duties & taxes owed to the destination country. Documentation for international shipments can also become a bit of a labyrinth. Thankfully, we’ll break it all down!

Why International Shipping Matters

The importance of international shipping can't be understated. Did you know there are currently over 2.71 billion online shoppers in the world? Yep! That’s a staggering number & a huge market waiting to be tapped into. In fact, retail e-commerce sales reached an astounding $5.8 trillion in 2023 (Statista) and the average order value for international sales is $121, compared to just $9 for domestic sales (Statista).

So, if you're not considering selling internationally, you're merely limiting your business potential. Embrace the opportunities this enormous audience presents!

Building Your International Shipping Strategy

Creating an effective international shipping strategy is not a one-size-fits-all sort of deal. Here’s how you can refine yours:

1. Determine Your Shipping Zones

Begin by identifying which countries you want to ship your products to. Consider starting small by focusing on nearby countries—like if you're based in the US, you might try Canada or Mexico first. To gauge demand, check your shop’s traffic analytics (Shopify) to see where visitors are coming from. This helps you address your international audience's needs more effectively.

2. Familiarize Yourself with Country Rules & Regulations

Before you dive into shipping, make sure to familiarize yourself with the regulations for the countries you are selling to. Certain products may be prohibited in some countries; knowing these specifications can save you a ton of trouble.

Here are a few ways to get this information:

Use the UPS tool to check country-specific rules & regulations for the origin & destination countries.
Always consult customs websites specific to those countries or reach out to local customs offices for guidance.

3. Transparent Fees Are Key

Honesty is the best policy, especially when customers are browsing checkout options! Make sure to inform your customers about any possible additional shipping fees including import duties, taxes, etc. Surprising them at checkout with unexpected costs can lead to cart abandonment.

You can use your shipping policy to build trust (Shopify's shipping policy). Clearly state who pays for duties & taxes, ensuring that your customers know what to expect. Implementing a tool like the Shipping & Promo Bar helps promote your shipping rates to a larger audience!

4. Consider Duties & Taxes When Setting Prices

Import duties are fees imposed by the destination country's government on goods shipped into the country. Generally speaking, the customer (not the seller) is responsible for paying these duties when receiving their order. However, making this clear at checkout can enhance customer satisfaction & lower the chances of returns.

Using the Duties & Taxes calculator integrated with Shopify, you can set up your store to collect the necessary duties at checkout, helping manage your customer’s expectations. You really don’t want to spiral down the path where customers are misled about costs - trust is everything!

Documentation Needed for International Shipping

When you ship internationally, you’ll have to deal with some critical paperwork. Here’s what you might need:

Commercial Invoice: This document details the items being shipped & helps customs authorities assess duties & taxes. It includes the business & customer’s names & addresses, product prices, descriptions, and quantities.
Export Packing List: A well-prepared packing list includes details like weight, dimensions, & quantity, and helps in streamlining the customs process.

Making use of the appropriate documents ensures smoother customs clearance and quicker delivery.

Optimizing Your International Shipping Rates

Shopify offers several carriers you can work with that can ensure you access great rates to ship products internationally. This includes USPS, UPS, DHL Express, and others. Partnering with these carriers could save you a remarkable up to 88% on international shipping costs!

It’s also wise to regularly assess your shipping fees, and see if you can negotiate rates with carriers as your business grows.

Handling Returns & Customer Satisfaction

International returns can be tricky! Often, you may not be legally bound to accept every return. Be upfront with your policies in your shipping sections so customers are well informed.

Engaging a returns solution provider can ease this process, quickly refunding customers once their item is received back.
Consider also letting customers handle their own postage returns. Though this may create some unhappy feedback, it can also serve as a way to streamline returns.

Using Shopify Fulfillment Network can offer you some additional support with returns as well. Another helpful component is to ensure you have proper customer support in place to ease inquiries related to international shipping.

Utilize Arsturn for Conversational Assistance

Every jar of honey needs a dash of mustard! Similarly, why not add an AI chatbot to assist with your shipping inquiries? Introducing Arsturn—an AI chatbot builder that empowers you to create conversational chatbots for your Shopify store. With Arsturn, you can enhance your customer engagement before they even reach out to you!

From answering frequently asked shipping questions to providing updates on order status, Arsturn will ensure your customers have timely information which can improve their overall experience. Plus, it’s as easy as 1-2-3:

Design Your Chatbot to match your brand
Train Your Data to help it answer relevant queries
Engage Your Audience directly with their inquiries

Say goodbye to overwhelming customer inquiries by deploying an Arsturn chatbot that works 24/7!

Final Thoughts

Shipping internationally from your Shopify store certainly comes with its challenges, but the potential rewards are too significant to ignore. By understanding duties & customs regulations, communicating transparent fees, and utilizing tools like Arsturn, you can create a seamless international shipping experience that keeps customers happy & your business thriving.

Feel prepared? Great! Now let’s get shipping, shall we?