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Compare door-to-door, not just the main leg
Sea freight can suit bulky or planned inventory replenishment; air may suit urgent or lightweight goods. Rail or multimodal options can be relevant on certain routes. Ask about actual routing, consolidation, transit variability, origin and destination handling and the final delivery appointment.
For sea freight, less-than-container-load (LCL) shares container space; full-container-load (FCL) uses a dedicated container. LCL adds consolidation and deconsolidation steps, while FCL may be preferable for larger volumes or goods that benefit from fewer handling events. Compare the complete journey and risk, not a generic transit promise.
Use the named place in your Incoterm
Incoterms define specific delivery, risk and cost responsibilities between buyer and seller; they do not settle every contractual issue or replace the purchase contract. Include the exact named place and the agreed Incoterms edition. FCA can be appropriate when goods are handed to a carrier, including containerised cargo. FOB and CIF are maritime terms; risk transfer under CIF is not the same as final arrival.
DAP and DDP differ in import clearance and duty responsibilities. With DDP, establish whether the seller can lawfully fulfil the import obligations and how your business will obtain the records it needs. Never assume Amazon will act as importer of record.
Give your forwarder complete shipment information
Provide origin pickup address, destination, carton count, gross weight, dimensions, commodity description, stackability, battery or dangerous-goods status and the requested delivery date. Ask whether the quote includes pickup, export clearance, main carriage, terminal handling, customs brokerage and final delivery.
Confirm insurance scope, exclusions and claims evidence. Obtain the transport document appropriate to the mode and reconcile it with the invoice and packing list. Keep a named contact at every handover.
Plan the Amazon delivery separately
The freight journey and the Amazon inbound workflow must match. Do not book delivery to a fulfilment centre before the shipment plan and assigned destination are confirmed. A prep centre can provide a buffer for inspection, relabelling or sorting, but add handling and lead time.
For direct delivery, check the carrier’s ability to meet Amazon’s appointment and labelling requirements. Record the expected arrival, actual customs clearance, proof of delivery and units received.
Example: planning a replenishment shipment
A seller has inventory in Spain and a new production run in China. Compare a full air shipment with an ocean shipment and a split shipment where a smaller urgent batch travels by air. For each, record production release, pickup, customs clearance, final delivery and stock receiving. Assess stockout risk and additional handling rather than comparing flight time with sailing time alone.
Ask the forwarder to identify the named Incoterm place, what is excluded, who will be contacted for customs queries and how the final delivery appointment will be booked. Record these answers before confirming collection.
Questions to ask before booking
Use the answers to compare comparable proposals and avoid unexpected handling responsibilities.
- Who handles export and import clearance?
- Who is the importer and who receives the declaration?
- Which origin, destination and final-mile charges are included?
- What happens if goods miss a delivery appointment?
- What documents and cargo insurance are provided?
Official resources for further checks
- EU Access2Markets — product-specific trade and import requirements.
- European Commission: EORI and TARIC.
- European Commission: product safety.
- Amazon European compliance hub and Amazon FBA overview.
Requirements change by product and marketplace. Confirm current instructions with the relevant authorities and Seller Central before acting.
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