How to Send Parcels to Foreign Countries by China Post

Whether you are studying, working, or living in China, there may be a need for you to send parcels from the country to foreign countries. There are various platforms you can consider for shipping from China to USA and other countries. However, China Post is one of the most reliable and efficient ways to send your parcels to any foreign country you want.

But what is China Post? How can you send parcels to foreign countries? What should you know about sending parcels via China Post? These are some of the questions that will be answered in this post.

China Post and its various services

Simply put, China Post is China’s official postal service that helps businesses and individuals with mail and parcel delivery internationally and domestically. Based on its structure, China Post is capable of handling all sorts of parcel delivery from China to all almost countries around the globe.

It is important to note that China Post can assist you to send parcels to foreign countries through three postal methods – Air, SAL, and Surface. If you want your parcels to be delivered within 7 to 15 working days, you can use the Air delivery method. While this method is faster than the other methods, it is the costliest option.

Another option is called SAL (Surface Air Lifted). In most cases, SAL combines various transportation modes such as airplanes, ships, trains, and buses. China Post will decide the best transportation modes to use based on their availability in the sending and receiving countries. This usually takes about 15 to 20 working days to be completed.

Otherwise, you can go for the Surface postal method which involves the standard shipping from China to US and other countries, and this requires about 40 to 70 working days. The same duration applies to sending parcels to foreign via land transport.

Step-by-step guide for sending parcels to foreign countries by China Post

If you are ready to use China Post to send parcels to foreign countries, here are the things you need to do:

• Prepare the items

The first step is to prepare the items you would like to send to a foreign country. However, you should note that the customs will charge you differently for items that are to be resold. Therefore, you need to make it obvious that you are not reselling the items. If you want to send new shoes, dresses, and other related items to foreign countries, you should get rid of their packaging and also cut off their tags. This will show that you don’t want to resell them in the receiving country.

• Visit a China Post branch

Although there are numerous China Post branches all over the country, some of them can’t handle the international service that you need. So, visit a branch that deals with the international transfer of parcels.

China Post branches usually operate between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Monday to Saturday. This means that you cannot send parcels to foreign countries on Sunday. Nevertheless, business hours may be different in a few China Post branches.

At the branch, explain to the mail officer what you want. The officer will use a suitable carton for packing your items. You should understand that most officers only understand Chinese, so you may want to visit the China Post branch with someone that can assist you.

• Wait for inspection of the items

The China Post officer will inquire about the items you want to send. Afterward, he/she will also inspect them to ascertain that they are not prohibited items. Generally, explosive and inflammable items, perishable meat, wooden products, dishes, some chemical reagents, and lots more cannot be sent from China to foreign countries through this method.

• Complete the Dispatch Note correctly

Once it is confirmed that you can send the items to foreign countries, you will be offered the Dispatch Note to fill. The information of the sender is on the left side whereas the consignee information is found on the right. Make sure you fill in the information correctly in the English language. Don’t forget to write the telephone numbers of the sender and consignee as the numbers will be used in contacting both parties.

Also, you have to select your preferred delivery methods. As stated earlier, the Air postal method is the fastest but most expensive option. Alternatively, you can save money by using SAL or Surface delivery method. Notably, air transportation cannot be used for sending unguent, Vaseline, and related items to foreign countries. So, if you want to send such items to the USA, you may want to choose China to USA shipping via water transport.

• Know your freight charge and pay for the service

The China Mail officer in charge of your parcel will calculate how much you will pay for the service. This calculation is based on the size and weight of your parcel as well as your preferred shipping method. You will also be charged for the packing carton.

Now, you need to pay for the services. You are advised to keep your receipt safe as you may need it later. Also, you may want to capture the photos of the parcel and receipt and send them to the consignee as this will make it easy for the person to receive your parcel.

After sending your parcels to foreign countries via China Post, you can call 11183 to track your items. The number is also available if you have any complaints or want to know more about the services of China Post. Additionally, if you don’t want to go through the stress of visiting any China Post branches, you can call the number for an officer to attend to your needs in the comfort of your home or office. However, you should be ready to pay more for the convenience provided.

In conclusion, UPS, TNT, Federal Express, DHL, and various other postal services can be used for sending items to foreign countries from China. However, they are more expensive than China Post.