What do you need to take care of yourself before shipping internationally?

The warehouse can ship internationally today. Read more about how that works here. Shipping to Belgium and Germany. Whether your new market takes off depends on what comes before it: your website, your terms and conditions, and your product information. That part is up to you and requires more preparation than the logistics themselves.

Language Is More Than Just Translation

A translated product page helps, but your customer also wants to be able to ask questions and request a return in their own language. Decide in advance who will handle these requests and within what timeframe, because an unanswered email in a new market will cost you both the customer and the review.

Payment methods vary by country

What’s normal in the Netherlands may not be normal in another country. Without the payment method people are used to there, some of your visitors will drop off at the final step. This is often the least expensive improvement you can make.

Your prices and your shipping costs

Decide in advance whether you’ll charge different prices by country and what your shipping rates will be. International shipping costs more than domestic shipping; whether you pass those costs on to customers, include them in your price, or use them as a threshold for free shipping is a decision you’re better off making now rather than after the first month.

Your product information must be accurate

Weight, dimensions, and barcodes determine how an order is processed and how much shipping costs. If they’re incorrect, you won’t notice until packages get held up or your invoice is higher than expected. Check them before you add a country, not after.

Your Return Policy by Country

Clearly state, for each country, how long a customer has to return an item, where the package goes, and who covers the costs. These terms must align with what was agreed upon at the warehouse; otherwise, you’re promising something the supply chain can’t deliver.

Start small and measure

Adding a country doesn't have to be a major undertaking. Start with one, monitor your orders, returns, and customer inquiries for a few months, and make adjustments before adding the next country. That way, you'll know where the problems lie before the volume gets high enough to cause trouble.

Where you get your information from

When it comes to the rules governing international sales, there are reliable sources that go beyond what a logistics provider can tell you. For the business side of things, check out the information on international business from the RVO. This will help you figure out what you need to arrange on your own before shipping abroad much more quickly.