How to setup your products for international shipping

When you ship products internationally, there are a few things you’ll need to make sure of to enable the process:  

Make sure every product has an HS Code

HS Codes refer to the global, standardized ‘Harmonized System’ of product classification and are required for exporting traded goods. FlavorCloud automatically takes the product and HS code information at checkout to identify the best carrier and calculate/apply appropriate customs fees, duties, and taxes. Each product you sell should be assigned the correct HS code, typically when you add a product or SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) to your online store. FlavorCloud uses the first six digits of the HS code.

Include an accurate Product Description

A good product description enables a smooth shipping process through customs and should be on all shipping documents (e.g., Commercial invoice). It’s used to check that your goods are allowed by law to leave the country (export) and enter the destination country (import). FlavorCloud takes the product description directly from your online store and automatically adds it to the required customs documents ready to print and add to the shipment. The description should be as specific as possible and include the following:

• • Product name
  • What the item is and what it’s used for (e.g., type, function)
  • What it’s made of (materials, component parts)
  • Brand and model number for branded items (i.e., information company product/HS code), E.g., ‘Jewelry’ would be too vague, but “Earrings, 30% gold & 70% metal” would be much better.
    

Country of Origin (manufacture)

Note: this is the product’s origin, not the warehouse location/address you are shipping from. Typically, you indicate your product’s country of origin/manufacture in your online store settings (selecting the country/region of origin for each product). It’s not uncommon for a product’s country of origin to differ from your shipping origin.

Package weight and size

Again, you typically enter the weight/dimensions at your online store. The information must be accurate, and FlavorCloud uses the greater of the actual weight or dimensional (DIM) weight at fulfillment. E.g., If the actual weight is 1lb, but the dimensional weight is 3lb, you must enter 3lb.

When a customer reaches checkout for an international order, FlavorCloud automatically calculates the total based on the weights of individual products and quantities in the shopping cart. This is built into the quote for the shipping costs, as well as customs, duties, and taxes—all in real time. Once an order has been submitted to FlavorCloud, you cannot update the package weights or dimensions in the FlavorCloud app.

Important Note: FlavorCloud charges the merchant the weight at fulfillment, not at checkout. This accounts for potential errors with SKU weights in the ecommerce system, different packaging used at the time of fulfillment, etc.