Drop shipping allows web site owners to send single/low quantity unit orders gathered on their web sites to manufacturers, or major warehouses, who in turn “drop ship” the items directly to the customers.

What are the Advantages of Drop Shipping?

- Because a warehousing company can buy in huge volumes, they will also be able to offer you the best prices on products and shipping, which will return a greater profit to you.
- There’s no capital investment and no need to invest in inventory.
- Using drop shipping allows you great flexibility in terms of product range – promote a dozen items or promote a thousand!
- Instead of worrying about inventory and delivery, you get to focus on listening to the market and discovering the products your visitors you want.

What Do I Need to Know to Select a Drop Shipper?

Many companies will have an interest in teaming up with you in a drop shipping arrangement as it’s an easy way for them to generate extra revenue, but there’s a number of points to consider and things to look out for:

Pricing Points

Don’t accept that the first drop shipper you come across unless they are willing to provide you a “Best Price Guarantee.”

Drop Ship Fees and Charges

Some companies will have a handling fee over and above freight costs – it’s important to know all the costs involved so you can calculate your profit margins accurately.

Shipping

Are they using small private shipping companies or UPS? Will they ship internationally? You’ll want to be sure that their shipping methods will ensure your clients recieve their orders in one piece.

Also, keep in mind that you may need a specific type of shopping cart in order to handle drop shipping. Many shopping carts only allow for one “ship from” zip code in the configuration for freight calculations. If you are dealing with a number of drop-shippers you may have dozens of point-of-origin zip codes – and this can be a real headache if freight is based on distance.

Accounts

Will the drop shipping company automatically debit your credit card on each order you submit, or can you get monthly payment terms? When you are starting out with a company, they are unlikely to offer credit, but it’s good to check if this will be possible once you’ve established credibility.

Support, Returns, and Refunds

The last thing you’ll want is to be caught up in a nasty situation where you have a number of returns – and have to cover the bill. Ask the drop shipping company about their return policy, what kind of support they’ll offer you for their products and about any guarantees associated with their products – and get it in writing.

Credibility

How long has the company been around for? Do they respond to your requests for information rapidly and professionally? Young companies have the habit of going belly up quickly, or growing too rapidly and as a consequence basic good customer service suffers.

How Do I Get Started in Drop Shipping?

It’s fairly simple:

- Set up a web site that includes a Shopping Cart and credit card processing facilities, or setup an eBay or other auction account.
- Find suppliers of products you wish to sell that incorporate drop shipping as a business method.
- Open an account with them.
- Gather content and images relating to the products you’ve chosen, incorporate them on your site and shopping cart.
- Collect the order and payment from your site.
- Provide the supplier with the customer details.
- The supplier then bills you at the special price you have agreed upon; fulfills the order and sends it to your client – in most cases with labels referring to your business/web site instead of the company.

To Your Wholesale Drop Shipping Success!

Meticulous market research doubles your chances of making a tidy profit from the wholesale goods you buy. Start off with a list of 5-10 different ideas. Then check completed listings searches on eBay to see what the item generally sells for and the sell-through rate for each one. Use Yahoos free keyword tool http://inventory.overture.com to find out how many people are searching Yahoo for your product per month. You can double this figure for Google. Add the numbers together. If there are ten thousand or more searches per month for an item, this indicates a healthy market.

2.Calculate the REAL cost of your item

One big reason why people fail at the wholesale game is that they dont do the numbers. In other words, they dont treat wholesale like a real business. To accurately discover your true profit potential on an item, you need to add the shipping cost and insurance, eBay fees (or equivalent for other advertising), Paypal and/or credit card fees (these can be a real profit killer), packaging costs and labor involved packaging, and any storage costs to the cost of your item.

3.Verify ALL suppliers found on the Internet

Getting caught out by scammers is a common stumbling block for people new to wholesale. If you are searching for suppliers off your own bat (rather than using a wholesale directory like SaleHoo), it is CRITICAL to check authenticity before making a purchase.

Always take the time to:

Check that the website gives a full business name and a registration number.

Check for a legitimate contact telephone number this will involve ringing the number. Do not accept a mobile phone number alone. All real companies should have a land line number.

Go to http://www.whois.sc/ and search for the name of the website. A legitimate company will have a domain expiration date in several years time. Most legitimate companies reserve their domain names for 3-5 years or more at a time.

AVOID suppliers who wont agree to use secure payment methods such as http://Escrow.com, Credit Card and Paypal Verified.

Still uncertain? Ask other sellers what their experiences have been with the company you are interested in on eBay forums.

4.Chinese suppliers give the competitive edge

Chinese suppliers are an essential source for anyone wishing to make money selling online. Manufacturing costs are currently extremely low in China, thus it is the secret to gaining a competitive edge. Dealing with China does have risks, but these can be alleviated if you place a small order first, use secure payment methods, get shipping insurance for 110% of the cost of the items, and use suppliers with a good reputation.

5.A common stumbling block for liquidation and closeout

Always obtain the reasons for liquidation and closeout sales before you buy. Liquidation and Closeout sales can be a fantastic source for cheap products, but you usually have to buy by the pallet load and these can sometimes include broken or returned goods that arent in saleable condition. To be safe, ask specifically whether broken items and returns are included before you buy.

6.Negotiate on shipping and save

Shipping economically is critical to importing success. Profits can easily get swamped in shipping costs, so take time to get a good deal on shipping. If possible, negotiate CIF (Cost, Insurance & Freight) or DDP (Delivery, duty paid) shipping terms with your supplier as this takes much of the risk – not to mention organization – off your shoulders. FOB (Freight on Board) is the most common shipping term, but dont be afraid to negotiate for better.

7.Drop shipping can you really afford it?

Drop shipping sounds great in theory someone taking care of packaging, wrapping and postage – but it can be difficult to profit from this method. Think about it, drop shipping can add another $2-10 to your costs – sometimes even 10% of the cost of the item. By the time you add in eBay fees and any other costs, you may find it is not worth it.

8.Warehouse storage checklist

Asset management is the most important consideration when locating warehousing to store your items. Believe it or not, items can go missing while in storage, causing massive disruption for you. When comparing warehouses, ask questions specifically on how you will authorize the release of stock (by phone or fax?), what will happen if you need to cancel an order, frequency of damage claims, dust management, and whether there is an area you can use to photograph items.

9.Powerseller wealth

Its a fact eBay powersellers are able to command higher prices for their items than ordinary eBay sellers. To get the best profits on your wholesale items, you need to aim to get and maintain powerseller status.

10.Growth with a website and eBay store

The way to increase profits from wholesale is to build your own website and/or open an eBay store. This allows you to cross sell items plus it also makes it easier for people to find what they are looking for. For example, if you sell shoes, then customers can easily navigate to browse all black shoes in size 9 and so on. Always include a sentence at the bottom of your descriptions encouraging visitors to check out your other listings most people will.

The standard insurance is the watercraft liability insurance coverage which is required by many states. This insurance will cover you in the event that damage is caused to another person or another person’s property by actions taken with your boat whether it is during transport or on the water. Again, many states now require this liability coverage, and each state has its own requirements as to how much liability coverage you need to have. Check with your insurance agent to find out what you are required to have.

Watercraft medical payments coverage may also be required in your state. This coverage pays the medical expenses, up to a specific amount, for you and any occupant of your boat which results from a covered accident. Even if this insurance is not required, you should definitely consider it. Medical expenses are quite high. If you think that you cannot afford this coverage, think about whether or not you could afford the medical bills you will have in the event of an accident without the coverage.

Wreck removal and pollution coverage should also be strongly considered. By law, if your vessel is wrecked or sinks, you will be required to remove it. If oil or gas leaks into the lake, river, or ocean, you will be fined just like the big oil companies are fined when they have spills in the ocean! These fines, as well as the wreckage removal and spill cleanup can be quite expensive without this coverage. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that something like this won’t happen to you!

You should insure yourself against uninsured watercrafts as well. This works just like uninsured motorist insurance when you purchase coverage for your automobiles. If someone who does not have insurance or adequate coverage collides with your boat on the water, your insurance will pay for the replacement of your boat, or for the needed repairs.

Towing and assistance coverage should also be strongly considered. Getting towed back to shore often costs more than having a car towed to a garage! Especially if you are out in the middle of the ocean! You should also ask about coverage to recover your boat and protect it from further damage after a mechanical failure or an accident. These costs do indeed add up. Again, don’t make the mistake of thinking that nothing bad will happen, and don’t make the mistake of thinking that you cannot afford the coverage. If you can’t afford the coverage, you certainly won’t be able to afford these expenses!

Most insurance policies should cover your boat, the motor, and the trailer used to transport the boat. Liability coverage isn’t the only type of coverage that you need in most cases. You should make sure that you protect your boat, just as you protect your automobiles with coverage that includes theft and vandalism, as well as losses caused by storms, fire, sinking, capsizing, stranding, collision, and even explosions. Talk with your insurance agent to find out what type of insurance is required by your state and what type of coverage they offer. Also talk with your boat dealer and lender to find out what type of coverage you are required to have as well.

CopyRight Ian D. Major 2005.

Whenever I tell someone, that I had gone once around the globe in my younger days, they ask if I was a military brat or if my father was a diplomat.

Well, neither was the case. I simply decided that I wanted to see more than what I had already seen. I was born in little bitty Switzerland and I had already seen part of Western Europe. I had traveled around via hitchhiking, bicycle, motorcycle, bus, train and airplane.

At the age of 21 I decided that I wanted to go to Japan and further my training in the martial arts.

I was employed as a precision machinist and had already saved up enough money for a roundtrip ticket as a passenger on a ship of Messagerie Maritime, a French passenger/cargo shipping company. My Swiss Judo teacher had just returned from a trip to Japan and told me that if I’d postpone my trip for another year, during which I could save more money, I’d be able to live in Japan for 10 to 12 month without working. Back then in 1957, live was very cheap and I got 360 Yen for every Dollar.

I followed my teacher’s suggestion and at the beginning of 1958 I took a train from Zuerich, Switzerland to Marseille, France. I went to the harbor and boarded the ship for a 33 day cruise to Yokohama, Japan. The ship had layovers of from one to three days at ten different Cities. Alexandria, Suez, Aden, Bombay, Colombo, Singapore, Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), Manila, Hong Kong, Kobe and Finally Yokohama.

One early morning, in the middle of the Indian Ocean, a Swiss guy I had befriended and I were watching the flying fish. We both expressed how beautiful it was and how few young people actually experienced such travel. I then came to the conclusion, that I had made a terrible mistake by buying a round trip ticket. Why should I go back the same route I was traveling now? I decided that I would sell the return portion of my ticket as soon as I got to Tokyo and once I was ready to go back to Switzerland, I’d find a different route. Maybe the Trans Siberian railroad or whatever else.

Once I was settled in a cheap hostel in Tokyo, I went to enroll at the Kodokan Judo school and at the Nippon Karate Kyokai. Every morning, six days a week I spent at the Karate school and every afternoon at the Judo school.

As far as languages go, I spoke Schwiizer Duetsch, High German, French and Italian and I was able to say yes and no and hello and good bye in Japanese. I also had taught myself to count to a hundred. But day by day, I picked up more of that “strange” language.

Find out how I ended up earning a living and extending my supposed 10 month’s stay into a 3 year Japan visit and where I went from there, in my next installment of my “round the globe” adventure.

Piracy is also increasing , compounded by the economic and political problems in the nations of this region. The Straits Times of 28 January 2004 presented the annual report of the London-based International Maritime Bureau , which listed 445 cases of piracy worldwide in 2003 , up from 370 in 2002. Attacks in the Malacca Straits , despite heavy policing by Singapore. Malaysia and Indonesia, jumped from 16 to 28. In Indonesian waters alone there were 121 attacks.

And now there is the specter of transnational terrorism that compounds the piracy issue in two ways . Firstly , when pure pirates or bandits latch onto larger causes to give legitimacy for their activities as has happened with the Abu Sayaf groups in the Philippines and renegade Acheh groups in Indonesia. Secondly when purely terrorist groups resort to piracy or ally themselves with pirates for funding and to spread terror.

The Straits Times in its editorial on 28 January said: Piracy at sea used to be regarded as the parasite of maritime trade. Much like barnacle attaches itself to ship bottoms , it was even considered to be inevitable. That notion should have been rejected as dangerous permissiveness after terrorism fears grew with the coming of Al-Queda and organized rings transporting explosives and advanced-weapons parts by sea.

With aviation raising up defense walls , the maritime industry presents itself as an attractive target. The Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka perfected the art of using suicide boats to ram navy ships and probably inspired the Al-Queda attack on the US navy ship , the USS Cole, in Yemen. The discovery of an Al-Queda operative living in a container raised yet another concern : The shipping container that revolutionized shipping and world trade is now a carrier of terrorists , illegal migrants and contraband.

Michael Richardson , in an article in the Straits Times

With so many companies that can offer the relocation of your auto and all are well equipped to provide such services? How do you decide who to choose and who has the better rates? Here are a few tips and suggestions that might make that decision a bit easier to make.

If your not sure who to contact for reliable and trustworthy service, you can always ask your mover to connect you to vehicle shipping services the same way they connect you with estimates from residential moving companies. Just follow the steps below to save yourself money.

For a secure and safe loading on custom built covered trailers with full lift gates and unique tie-down systems provide security without damage to your vehicle. Because exotic and classic car transport is now becoming a specialized section of auto transporting you can expect a more secure way of auto transporting.

Custom equipment is designed to meet your specific needs is a standard in the exotic car transport business. Airtight sanitary environments and full air equipment for smooth and even travel are some special options now being offered from specific exotic transport carrier companies and to protect your interests, also make sure they carry the finest insurance coverage available.

Most exotic car companies will accept non-running vehicles. Many exotic car transport companies will design an itinerary according, solely, to your car transport requirements. Exotic, collectors, luxury and antique cars require different handling when in transport.

Be certain when you are investigating exotic car transport companies that exotic and custom-made cars are their specialty and they are experts. The last thing you need to worry about if the company you are considering is going to contract out shipping jobs to third parties.

Working with auto transporters can sometimes require additional car insurance. You’ll also need to pay more attention to things like shipping dates and vehicle inspections. Because of size and weight issues, shipping an SUV will cost more than shipping a compact. You need to take some steps to properly prepare your car, especially exotic or classic cars for transporting.

A good tip for you if your vehicle has a car alarm, disables it. If the alarm starts going off once the auto transporter has your car, they won’t be able to deactivate it. Make sure that your car is squeaky clean so that you can see any damages that may have occurred.

If there are any open seams or holes, seal them to prevent moisture getting into the interior. If you can’t secure the top, consider asking your auto shipper about closed container shipping. If your automobile has any customized accessories – like spoilers, fog lights or ground effects – make sure to secure them or remove them before shipping.

Also, if your can, fold back your vehicle’s mirrors and retract the antennae. Just remember that when it comes to exotic car transport companies, they use various methods and vehicles to move your car long distances.

Just knowing the some basic information about the nuances and services of moving exotic cars will make finding the best exotic car transport companies an assured success for you time and time again.

The business summary should give a brief description of the entire business and is an integral part of the overall business plan. After you have completed the business summary you should begin to list the objectives or the goals that you want to accomplish through the business. Next and perhaps most importantly, you should develop your marketing plan. The marketing plan will address all the specifics of the business. When developing the marketing strategy you should consider the following:

The target market. The target market is the customers that you expect to see visiting your site. For example will your product be more appealing to college students or those who are in retirement?

Consider the competition for your product when determining the marketing strategy. Choose a product that will be seen as unique and useful. Visit sites that are offering the same or similar products. Find out the cost, and how they are marketing their product. Finds out the pros and cons of their business and try to improve your product based on their flaws.

Research the various methods for advertising online. You should become educated about search engines and how they work since each one is different. Also be sure that you know how to submit your site to search engines. You should be prepared to spend a small amount of money on advertising, but the profits that you will gain from the advertisements will prove to be money well spent.

Think about pricing. Again, look at the competition and see what similar products are selling for. Pricing can play a big role in the success of your product since selling a product well below the average price may lead customer to think that there is a problem with the product or that it is not of the best quality. However, pricing items too high could also deter customers.

Determine the shipping method. Be sure that you know how products will be shipped so that you can have shipping details clearly posted on your site. If you are shipping things of great value, you should consider providing shipping insurance. Also think about shipping outside the country that you live in.

Think about the different methods of payment that you will accept. If your business does not accept credit cards, you should be ready to give up half if not more of your sales. If you decide to accept credit cards will you use a merchant account or will you use a third party credit card processing center? Both will help you get started and the third party processing center will handle all of the business so you dont have to. You should decide which you will use and also if you will accept checks or money orders. It is essential to have a secure server when taking credit cards.

These few things will help your online business to become a great success and also provide you with peace of mind knowing that you have thoroughly thought about and planned for the opening of your online business.

1. boat insurance – Just Like Car Insurance

It is wise to secure boat insurance for security reasons. You may never know what may happen to you and your boats occupants when it fares out into the vast sea. Cases of theft, salvage, and natural disasters are some of the problems you may be faced with and they can be truly irritating on ones part. It may be a real challenge to be looking for the best boat insurance that will cover all of your needs and demands. Remember to be smart. Be inquisitive. Make the right choice with your boat insurance.

2. One Size Does Not Fit All

Each of the types of the sea vessels requires different boat insurance policies. It is best for you to conduct a thorough research before contacting any insurer. Go for the advice of friends and colleagues. Ask them which boat insurance provider will best satisfy you.

3. Know Your Insurer Well

Boat insurance can be procured from either an independent insurance agent or from a direct marine insurance specialist. The purchase of boat insurance from either of the two proves to be a good and wise move. It is necessary to be buying the boat insurance policy from none other than a reputable agent or provider in order to save yourself from the annoying possibilities of scam.

4. Use the Laymens Terms in All Business Affairs

Always listen well to the boat insurance agent. Treat the conversation as you would to a daily discourse. And if you come across some unfamiliar terms, ask for an explanation in the language you will best understand. It is important to know what your boat insurance policy will cover as well as those that will not be covered. If you see some loopholes, then be inquisitive.

5. Look Over Coverage Closely

It is best to secure that your boat insurance policy will work out to be not just fine, but it will be perfect to cater to all your claims. Essential coverage includes salvage recovery, accidental damage, fire, flood, and storm damage, theft, vandalism or malicious acts, liability cover, and most importantly, an easy access to a 24-hour helpline in case of emergency.

6. The Agreed Value versus the Actual Cash Value

These two are the choices in terms of the mode of payment on the boat insurance policy that a boater will want to avail. However, it is the depreciation that sets the difference between the two. For the Agreed Value Policy, the boater will have to pay more for the boat insurance. In the event of total loss, the insurer will not only pay you but will also replace most items with new ones. On the other hand, the Actual Cash Value costs less yet in the event of loss, the insurer will only be paying the actual cash amount that is at hand during the time of the propertys loss. This mode is best for clients who dont really give a deal about total loss and for least expensive purchased boats.

7. The Salvage Truth

In case you have decided to stick with the Agreed Value boat insurance policy, then make sure that you do stay away from those that limit salvage coverage. Salvage coverage policy ensures the payment to the salvor for saving the boat from danger or by bringing it to a repair yard. You would want a handsome amount to fix the damages done to your property and surely enough you would not want some deductions from the agreed value just because some payments are to be made to the salvage costs. Definitely, this scheme of payment will leave your budget short for some of the repairs that you will need.

The tips, tricks and advice I am offering up have been gained from many expensive lessons learned about what to do, what to avoid and what not to do. Shipping costs and insurances are going up and up, so every little bit of advice helps. These suggestions are some easy but effective ways to avoid the pitfalls of what I like to call “Bad Shipping practices”.

Packing paintings – If you plan to ship a painting with or without frame, I highly recommend paper wrapping the entire work. This serves two purposes. One is the obvious; it protects the surface of the painting. It also serves to show your buyer/client that you care about the piece and that it wasn’t just another sale. Remember, “A happy client is a client for life”.

The most cost effective way to ship a painting is with an Art Shipping Strongbox. You can purchase these boxes with or without an ABS Liner. For paintings of higher value I strongly recommend going with the Lined Box. These boxes come in several different sizes and are the easiest, quickest, safest and most affordable way to ship. Since I started using these strongboxes, I have not experienced any problems whatsoever.

If you plan to bubble wrap your paintings, here is what I recommend. Take a piece of cardboard and cover the face of the painting and frame before bubble wrapping. You can tape this directly to the paper wrap. In order to insure a safe transit in a cardboard box, you need to give 3 – 4 inches of bubble thickness. Make sure the sides and corners of painting have extra padding as these are generally the problem areas in shipping. If you plan to build a crate, 2 – 3 inches of bubble wrap is sufficient.

Once you have wrapped the painting, make sure to line the inside of the cardboard box with extra sheets of cardboard and bubble wrap. This helps protect the wrapped piece from possible puncture or tears to the box. This extra step has saved me thousands of dollars alone.

One more thing, before sealing up the box, put a copy of the invoice inside the box. Many packages are getting damaged or lost these days, so the invoice helps prove the contents. Also, if the shipping label happens to fall off or gets removed accidentally (believe it, it happens!) the delivery person has a way to identify where it is going. “The only thing worse than a damaged piece of art is a LOST piece of art”. Though it is not necessary, writing the delivery address and contact number on the box can prevent many headaches also.

If you plan to ship with a wooden crate, I recommend cutting two 1×2 inch wood boards the width of the inside of the crate. Press them down on the bubble wrap, not to hard, but just firm enough to hold the painting from moving around. You can secure the wood bars with screws on either end of the crate. You should also take a marker and circle the screw heads and make a note, “Please Remove”. This helps the new owner know what to take apart and what not to. Finally, don’t forget to write the delivery address on the crate so you know it makes it to its destination.

Because most shipping services now limit their liability to $500.00, it would be wise to insure the shipment yourself. If this is not an option, then the next best thing to do is ship via Fed-Ex next day delivery. The reason this is a safe bet is because Fed-Ex will leave next day shipments on the trucks instead of he warehouse, or they will hand carry them through the shipping process. Since most of the damage comes from aggressive handling, the less time your shipment spends in transit, the safer it is.

If you can ship with UPS, and you need to carry insurance on your shipment, then UPS is definitely the way to go. The safe bet is to insure the artwork, especially if the art is expensive or fragile. No need taking chances. Note: The most cost effective way to send a high-value piece of art is to use a Strongbox, insure the package for $3,500 or more and send it Standard overnight or 2-day. UPS hand carries all next day and 2 day packages with high values over $3,500. It’s safe and cost friendly.

When it comes to shipping framed prints, the rules are the same with a few added precautions. Remember to place Glass Skin protective tape over the glass or Plexiglas on the artwork. Glass Skin protects the print from accidental breakage or shattering of the glass or Plexiglas. It is easy to apply and remove, and is a must when shipping print art under glass or Plexiglas.

Print Pads are the best method for shipping photographs, prints or any other flat media. These come in Lined and Unlined just like the Strongboxes. Each Print Pad can hold up to 8 individual prints. They are surely the fastest and safest way to ship flat art. Print pads come in various sizes, and best of all, they are reusable. Be sure to place a copy of the invoice in the box or in the packing slip pouch, and write the delivery address on the box as with the Strongbox.

If you choose to ship without a Print Pad then the next best way to pack the prints is to cut three pieces of cardboard approximately 4″ larger on each side, than the print you intend to ship. Take one of the pieces of cardboard and cut out the center about 1/4 inch larger than the dimensions as the largest print. Next you should once again wrap each print in either wax paper or very fine thickness paper. The paper wrap should be secured with tape, preferably a less tacky blue utility tape. You don’t want to use shipping tape or utility tape.

Place the cut out cardboard on top of one of the full sheets of cardboard. Next you place the prints in the center of the cutout, careful not to bend the edges. Finally you place the larger outer cardboard piece on top of the cut out with the prints, making a sandwich of the prints. Take some heavy duty shipping tape and go around the perimeter of the flat box to insure a tight seal. I suggest writing on the box “Caution when opening” Prints inside. You don’t want the recipient to ruin the prints cutting open the box.

I hope these few pointers help you with your Fine Art shipping.

Joseph Manqueros

There are two companies or persons you will deal with when importing, your shipper, and customs broker. Some shippers also have a customs brokerage service, so you may only do business with one company.

Your shipper will not only transport the items that you purchase from the merchant, they will pay the merchant from money you have placed in account with them, they will load the container packing each item carefully, work with the freight company that will transport the container from port to port, and also deal with the customs agents from the country of origin regarding the contents.

The customs broker takes care of the paperwork stateside. They are the ones that will declare the contents of the container to the US Customs officials and release the container to be shipped from the port to you. Ask your shipping company if the cost of shipping includes the cost of your customs broker.

For a full container, the procedure is greatly simplified than a partial container, or LTL (less than a full load). When a container is shipped, it is sealed in the country of origin, and will only be opened by the entity that is authorized to break the seal upon its arrival. It is possible that the US Customs official may want to open and inspect. But remember, that means unloading, which can be disastrous for antiques that have been carefully loaded. So it is to your best interest for that container to remain closed until you open the seal! Also, stands to reason that the more pieces or goods you have packed in a container, the less you will pay for shipping per piece.

The customs agent of the country of origin is present when the container is sealed, and things are done right, will be opened only by you, at the final destination. If you share a container with someone else, it greatly complicates the whole ordeal, both in cost, in logistics, insurance, and as far as US customs is concerned. If you are shipping LTL check with your shipper and customs broker to find out what additional hoops you may have to jump through. Be prepared to pay more for shipping. Insurance companies are very leery of LTL loads, because it requires more handling, and many things can happen to goods before they are delivered to you. When you negotiate the price of the shipping, be sure to specify what it includes: is it FOB or door to door?

The best way to make sure that you can recover the actual value of the goods damaged or lost whilst they are being transported is to arrange specialist goods in transit insurance. As with house and buildings insurance, you pay a premium and this will enable you to make a claim when you need to.

Its easy enough to find insurance for your house and contents we are constantly being bombarded with advertisements advising us to use comparison websites to get the best deal for all our personal insurance requirements. However, its not so easy with goods in transit insurance; in order to obtain the best kind of cover for your particular requirements, you need to find a broker who specialises in this type of insurance.

But this may not be a worthwhile option if you only have a small number of international shipments per year, or if you simply do not have time to do the research. That is when your freight forwarder can help you.

Many reputable shipping companies are able to offer goods in transit insurance on a per shipment basis using their own open cover policy. This usually means that you pay a small premium. The premium is based on the CIF (Cost Insurance and Freight) value of the goods and the risk profile of the geographical locations relevant to the movement. The CIF value is made up of the value of the goods, plus the freight plus ten per cent.

The shipping company can quote you for this when they give you a price for the freight movement. The Freight company will issue you with a Certificate of Insurance, which you will have to produce should you to need to make a claim. When marine insurance cover has been taken out, the cargo owner only needs to have evidence of loss to make a claim, whereas to make a liability claim against the carrier it must be proven that the carrier was at fault.

You will need to confirm your instruction to insure in writing prior to the import or export shipment commencing, but this can easily be done by email.

To summarise, its always advisable to ask shipping companies to quote for goods in transit insurance if you do not have your own annual goods in transit policy. In that way, you can claim for the full value of the goods and the value of the freight invoice if the goods have been lost, rather than settling for limited liability compensation.

You have just placed an order online for a costly antique Swiss knife set. The site says the product will be shipped in 15 to 20 days. However its been over a month now and there is still no sign of the product! Are you in a fix now wondering whatever happened to your order? If so, then an effective container shipping and tracking system can eliminate all the guesswork and anxiety you feel. Now you can know the what, where and how of shipment and never have to wonder when your product will reach you!

GPS infused

Today many shipping lines have begun to infuse GPS capabilities into their cargo shipping and tracking mechanisms. This enables them to effectively and accurately detect the route and deliveries of products across the globe. Although the price is on the steeper side, the results are definitely worth any investments made. For starters, fleet managers are in a better position to identify if a trailer is ready to return back for service or not. Secondly, both the container cargo company as well as the customer know exactly where the cargo has been kept. So there is absolutely no vagueness or worry about the shipment transaction. Overall, it saves time, effort and raises productivity dramatically. Right from providing critical information about door openings, tractor identification, load status and plenty of other information, all cargo shipping should ideally have GPS tracking systems installed.

How to track

The way it works is that as soon as a product gets dispatched, the shipping lines will carry a unique freight identification number on them. As a customer you can log into the site and key in the freight identification number to track where your cargo currently is. All modern container tracking methods contain information about virtually all aspects of the shipment. Right from where the cargo is at present, to what time it got picked up and where its subsequent destination is you can chalk out the entire route of your cargo! Most cargo shipping companies employ reputed logistic providers for all their transportation requirements. This way delivery is always on time, maybe even before the due date! Plus you always know exactly which day you will receive your cargo!

Their local boat insurance agent stated they needed guest passenger liability, property damage, bodily injury, theft, medical payment coverage along with coverage for physical loss. Now he is the boat insurance expert so no need to question, right? Well turns out they should not have been in such a hurry to enjoy their new boat and taken some extra time out to protect it.

Taking solace in the fact their life long dream was protected from damage or accidents, they proceeded to enjoy the dream that had turned into a reality. A rude awakening was about to happen. They lived near the ocean in Georgia. Severe storms are not common in the early summer months, but the ones that do occur are very severe and damaging. They found themselves hit by a powerful hurricane. Their dreamboat, the cover, trailer, and other equipment were all destroyed. They called their boat insurance agent and their world turned upside down. They found out after many unanswered phone calls and a visit that they did not have the coverage that they needed to replace their lost dream.

Now after experiencing the fury of a hurricane and the loss of a boat, they came face to face with the reality that a dream was lost and no hope of immediate recovery or for that matter recovery in the near future. Their boat insurance provider did not advise them about an option of ‘natural disaster coverage’. This coverage was not standard with the company they chose. Then to top it off, they found out that nothing else was covered. The trailer, cover, fishing equipment, and other articles in the boat were also lost for good. This was also an optional coverage, and again was not mentioned or suggested.

The reason that we bring this story to your attention is to point out the importance of researching boat insurance policies and brokers. Even after you chose a broker, you need to discuss all the details of a policy to assure that your dream does not become a nightmare. By taking the necessary steps and finding a top boat insurance agent, you could possibly save money. Some will offer discounts for taking safe boating courses, if it has, a diesel engine could be some savings as well.

A few things that are essential, to completely protect your prized boat. You want to have a boat insurance coverage that will provide wreck and emergency removal services. Be sure it covers your equipment, motor, trailer, and of course the boat. Also, be sure of natural disaster coverage no matter where you live. All areas of the country have natural disasters like floods, fire, hail, tornados, lightening and windstorms. You also want to be sure you are covered for acts of vandalism or explosions

Summary:

It can be an exciting time on the water with that boat of your dreams. You worked hard to make the dream come true. Do not let it turn into a nightmare by not having an adequate boat insurance.