International couriers are great if you need something sent quickly or if it is too large to be sent through regular mail. However, sending items from one country to another requires more than a regular trip to the postal office, so you will need an international courier service. Because it can get costly to send goods through these services, you want something that is cheap, effective and as good as the expensive companies.
There are many cheap options available and it may be difficult to find one that works for you, but there are some tips that can help.
Discount Courier Service
Many cheap couriers do their business by buying postage slots from other delivery agencies, as many large companies buy their postage in bulk and then sell them to the public for a small fee. This does mean that you work with a “middleman” instead of the direct shipping company, but this can save a lot of money. In essence, you pay a courier service to pick up your items, get them ready for shipping, and send them to the large shipping companies, such as FedEx or DHL.
Service
Though you are using a cheap international courier, you still receive prompt service and may have extra benefits than using a direct company. These couriers are interested in your business and will work hard to get and maintain it. This means that you could receive discounts, free packing and more.
Many times, these couriers provide discounts for various reasons to keep their customers coming back. If you own a business, you may be able to set up a contract to use them for a time and receive a discount on all shipping for that time. In some cases, new customers can receive large discounts, as well. If you have used the company previously, but not currently, they may send you information on discounts to return to them.
Flat Rates
Large shipping firms charge you for postage based on the weight and size of the box. This means that you should always use the smallest box to fit your item, but also consider the weight. If you want a cheap option, discount international couriers sometimes offer flat-rate prices for your parcels. While there will be stipulations, including the maximum weight allowed for these special prices, you can save a lot of money by using a cheap service rather than a big-name shipping company.
