Two parcels of the same weight can be quoted very differently. Understanding the handful of factors that set the price makes it possible to plan a budget, and to spot a quote that is not competitive.
Chargeable weight decides everything
Carriers charge on the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight. Volumetric weight is calculated from the dimensions of the parcel, so a large light box can cost as much as a small heavy one.
That is why reducing the size of a package matters as much as reducing its mass. Compressing textiles, dismantling furniture and choosing a tighter box can cut a shipping bill by a surprising amount.
Distance and service level
- Destination — a shipment to a neighbouring country costs a fraction of one to the other side of the world.
- Speed — express services cost several times more than economy sea freight for the same cargo.
- Service type — door to door, door to port, or port to port.
- Tracking and insurance — full tracking and cover are not free, but they are rarely worth skipping.
Extras that appear on real invoices
- Fuel and peak-season surcharges.
- Remote-area delivery charges.
- Customs brokerage, duties and import taxes.
- Storage or demurrage if a container is not collected.
- Oversize, overweight or dangerous goods handling.
A serious quote states these up front. An unbeatable price followed by an invoice that does not match is the most common complaint in international shipping.
Where the real savings are
- Consolidate several purchases into one shipment.
- Move from air to sea when there is no deadline.
- Pack tightly to reduce volumetric weight.
- Send full pallets or containers rather than many small parcels.
- Store goods in Japan and ship when a load is complete.
How to get a comparable quote
Give the same information to every provider: item description, weight and dimensions per box, number of boxes, destination postcode or port, and the date it has to arrive. Quotes built on the same inputs can be compared directly; quotes built on guesses cannot.
Want a quote you can plan around?
Send the weight, dimensions and destination and we will return a full landed price, including the surcharges other providers leave for the invoice.
Request a shipping quote from Japan