Amazon.com is the biggest ecommerce platform in the world, with over 2 billion unique visitors every month. That is nearly three times the monthly traffic of its next competitor, eBay. With 74% of consumers reporting that they believe the majority of consumer spending will be online in the future, Amazon’s numbers will only grow.
Why is this important? It turns out that selling on Amazon’s US platform from outside the US is fairly easy, and Freight Right is making it even easier.
As a member of Amazon’s Service Provider Network (SPN), Freight Right is uniquely prepared to handle all of your Amazon logistics needs, especially as a foreign importer. With ocean and air freight, warehousing services, and Amazon prep-work, Freight Right can help you expand your Amazon business.
Want to know how? Check out our guides below
5 steps to international Amazon selling success.
Step 1: Make sure you have the following materials
- A valid credit card
- An internationally chargeable credit card
- Bank account (note: if you do not open a US bank account, you may need to use Amazon’s Currency Converter for Sellers)
- Phone number
- Proof residence
- Tax information
Step 2: Create an Amazon seller account
This is the same for anyone creating a seller account, both in the US and overseas. Head to sellercentral.amazon.com, hit register now and create a new account.
As an international seller the only extra step you must complete is an online step-by-step interview to determine whether you will need to fill out a W9 (as a U.S. taxpayer) or a W-8BEN (non-U.S. taxpayer).
Once you have registered, Amazon’s review process may take up to 72 hours, as they will review your application and may need to request additional information. Be proactive in providing them the info that they have requested and you’ll be quickly approved.
Step 3: Set up your Seller Central account.
Once you are approved, the next step is to set up your seller central account and start creating listings. You won’t be able to receive your shipping destination and FBA warehouse until your listings are created.
Step 4: Create a shipment plan in Amazon Seller Central
For detailed instructions on how to complete a shipment plan, check our Amazon Guide. Once your shipment plan is complete you need to work on getting your goods to the FBA center you are assigned.
That’s where we come in.
Step 5: Request a quote from your freight forwarder
Your biggest ally in this process will be your freight forwarder/customs broker. They will assist you with not only the actual shipment of the goods, but also with the customs process, including paperwork, documentation, taxes, and other US customs hoops.
Freight Right, as a registered member of Amazon’s Service Provider Network (SPN), is experienced in dealing with Amazon shipments and offers many Amazon specific services, such as rework, palletization, and storage.
Amazon has high standards for how products arrive at their warehouses as well as certain storage limits and fees that can stack up, especially for large or slow-selling goods. Partnering with a knowledgeable freight forwarding company is the best way to avoid extra fees or surprises and streamline your supply chain.
When you are ready to request a quote, you will need to have the following information available:
- Incoterms
- Supplier’s Address
- Delivery Address (Amazon FBA: 4-digit Facility Code)
- Shipment Ready Date
- Mode (air or ocean, LCL or FCL)
- Delivery Date
- Description of Goods (including weight, volume, HS code)
- Value of Goods
We will also want to know:
- If you have imported to the US before.
- If you have a continuous customs bond.
- How often you import to the US.
- Have often you plan to import in the next year.
Case Study
Following their success in several South American markets, a Brazil based footwear company began to look for other opportunities to sell their products. After some research, their team decided to expand to the Amazon US platform. Their product was doing well, but after analysing the potential benefits of selling on Amazon’s US marketplace, they decided to scale up and tackle selling in the states.
However, they knew they could not do it alone.
So, they began searching for a freight forwarder.
Like many searches today, they began on google, with the goal of finding a freight forwarder who could move one full container load from Sao Paulo, Brazil to MIami, Florida and then to the final destination: the FBA facility.
They found a few forwarders and requested several quotes, including one from Freight Right.
Price Estimates
* These are budgetary rates only and are not considered quotes.
* The estimates include customs clearance and formalities at both origin and destination.
* The rates do not include duty, insurance, or customs bonds.
* LTL rates are per kilo, dimensional weight factor of 6000 cubic CM or 166 cubic inches will apply to calculate the chargeable weight.
