What You Can and Cannot Ship Internationally: A Quick Guide
With global e-commerce, personal cross-border shipping, and international trade on the rise, it is more crucial to choose the right international courier service.
When sending essential documents, eCommerce products, or personal packages, selecting the right international courier service can save you time, and money, and ease your headache. But how do you choose a delivery company that meets your needs?
This guide takes an in-depth look at the things to consider when selecting a delivery company, the key criteria to evaluate, and a handy checklist you won’t find in most online guides. Let’s get started.
Your Guide to Picking the Right International Courier Service
1. Know Your Shipping Requirements
Before comparing services, define what you’re shipping and how often.
- Documents or packages
- Fragile or high-value items
- Heavy, oversized, or temperature-sensitive items
You also have to factor in how often you will be shipping occasional, daily, or bulk. Each courier company specializes in a certain type of delivery, so having clarity at this stage will help you narrow down your options.
2. Speed of Delivery and Service Area
Timely delivery is an important consideration when you are choosing an international courier service. You should choose an international courier service provider that offers transit choices regarding express, same-day service, or standard.
Ensure to check if they have good global coverage and that they process customs documentation and duty payments efficiently.
Couriers with networks that span across the globe and that work with streamlined processes typically provide the best reliability and reach for businesses and individuals.
3. Reliability and Reputation
When considering how to choose a delivery company, dependability and reputation are the two biggest considerations you should factor into your decision. Always consult customer testimonials as well as their overall rating to get an idea of how they perform for larger time-sensitive or bulk / B2B shipments, and ask for references to confirm their credibility.
Looking for success stories and case studies can provide insight into how reliable the company is in given situations.
A well-operated trusted international courier service will have successful operations over a period of time with no significant delays or issues and a customer service department that is responsive, these are your overall indicators of dependability over time.
4. Pricing and Transparency
While cost is important, pricing transparency is more important for international courier services. Make sure to check the entire pricing breakdown for any hidden costs, such as fees, fuel surcharges, charges for delivering to remote locations or heavy packages, and whether value-added services such as pickup or packaging are covered.
Many reputable courier providers allow you to instantly check with a quick quote or shipping calculator to help you compare.
If you are wondering how to select a delivery company or what should look for when choosing a delivery company, clear and upfront pricing is a good indication of integrity and professionalism.
5. Tracking and Visibility
Real-time tracking is important when using an international courier service. Opt for one that provides end-to-end tracking, an easy-to-use app or dashboard, and round-the-clock proactive alerts via SMS or email. For time-sensitive or high-value shipments, visibility ensures peace of mind.
6. Customer Support
When choosing a delivery company, the first aspect to consider is reliable customer support. Look for 24/7 support via phone, chat, or email; multilingual support, etc.; access to managers for bulk senders. Fast response reduces delays and frustration.
7. Customs Knowledge and Documentation
One of the main things to consider when choosing a delivery company is their customs knowledge. The right international courier service will assist you with advice for completing document and customs requirements, and taxes and duties, effectively eliminating customs-related surprises.
8. Safety and Insurance
Security is non-negotiable in any international courier service. Ensure to consider the option of insurance. Also, confirm the liability coverage and if it is clear and easy to understand. For valuable or sensitive parcels, reliable protection adds confidence to every shipment.
9. Integration and Tech Support (For Businesses)
For businesses, especially e-commerce businesses, tech compatibility is very important, when selecting an international courier service.
Specifically, what we generally consider tech compatibility ultimately encompasses the availability of API integrations with e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, available shipping support and automation products, and possible bulk shipping tools.
You may also consider custom dashboards, as well as detailed analytics. To answer the question about how to choose a delivery company, available technology support and integration more broadly will save time, reduce errors, and improve overall shipping operational efficacy all together.
The Ultimate Checklist for Choosing a Courier Service:
✅ Identify your shipment type (document, package, fragile)
✅ Make sure they cover where you want to ship internationally and delivery speed differences
✅ Compare rates including potential hidden fees
✅ Confirm real-time tracking is offered
✅ Check customer reviews and ratings from trade organizations
✅ Ask if there are different insurance levels and how claims work
✅ Look for sustainability or carbon-neutral options
Why Choose Maxser for International Courier Services?
At Maxser, we provide everything you look for when making your decision on how to choose a delivery company: speed, reliability, and network areas of operation. As a trusted international courier service, we work with the biggest names in shipping like DHL, FedEx, and Aramex to deliver to more than 200 countries.
We also provide real-time tracking, secure packaging, customs clearance, and transparent pricing. We focus on what matters to you and we ensure your shipment arrives safely, on time, and without hassle.