International Shipping: Freight Forwarding

For buyers who are exporters or have businesses overseas, a freight forwarder can be a real asset when it comes to getting your B-Stock inventory shipped internationally. Whether it’s negotiating freight charges, getting insurance, preparing documentation, or one of the other items (in the long list of details) that go into international shipping, a freight forwarder can save you time, money, and potential headaches.

What is a Freight Forwarder?

Well, according to the official (and wordy) definition, a freight forwarder is a firm specializing in arranging storage and shipping of merchandise on behalf of its shippers. It usually provides a full range of services, including tracking inland transportation, preparation of shipping and export documents, warehousing, booking cargo space, negotiating freight charges, freight consolidation, cargo insurance, and filing of insurance claims. Freight forwarders usually ship under their own bills of lading or air waybills (called house bills of lading or house air waybills), and their agents or associates at the destination (overseas freight forwarders) provide document delivery, deconsolidation, and freight collection services. Also called a forwarder.

Since that’s quite the mouthful, let’s break it down like this instead:

A freight forwarder is a company that arranges the import and export of goods.

Understand that a freight forwarder does not actually move the freight itself. Instead, a freight forwarder uses their relationships with carriers (air freighters, trucking companies, rail freighters, and ocean liners) to negotiate the best possible price to move the client’s goods along the most economical route.

Buying Internationally on B-Stock

If cross-border shopping is something you’re interested in, there are a couple of things to know.

• Not all of our sellers allow international buyers. That means you must resell inventory from these storefronts in the United States. You can’t export it. It is important to read the individual listing details as well as each seller’s Terms of Purchase.

• Some sellers will allow you to ship to a freight forwarder within the United States. International buyers will need to submit valid freight forwarder information that authorizes them to use that address. Once inventory ships to the freight forwarder, you must then arrange your own shipping outside the United States.

The required proof usually comes in the form of a freight forwarding document like this:

• Depending on eligibility, some sellers allow direct export. This means internationally registered buyers can have inventory shipped directly to them outside the United States.

We recommend exploring sellers available to international buyers by region. That way, you can see which US storefronts allow reselling outside of the US. Additionally, buyers from Canada can also purchase inventory located in Canada. EU & UK buyers – inventory located in the EU & UK.

As always, be sure to do your homework and double-check individual listing details along with the Terms of Purchase for international shipping restrictions. To learn more about B-Stock’s trusted freight forwarding partner, visit MyUS.com.

How to Bid on US Inventory From Outside the US: Step by Step

Costco, Walmart, Sam Club, and 20+ other sellers allow international buyers to purchase their inventory – you just need a US shipping address. Here’s how the full journey looks for international buyers:

1. Register as an international buyer

Create your buyer account and complete registration.

2. Get a US address from a freight forwarder

Required before you can bid. No US address? A freight forwarder gives you one – every seller on this list requires a US ship-to address.

3. Browse listings from eligible sellers

Not every seller on the platform allows international resale. Stick to the list of eligible sellers below.

4. Read the listing carefully

Some listings carry special restrictions, like excluded categories or brands, or limits on where you can resell. Always check the listing details page before you bid, not after you win.

5. Place your bid with your forwarder’s address

When you bid, enter your freight forwarder’s US address as the ship-to location. That’s what makes the whole thing work – the seller ships domestically, exactly as they normally would.

6. Win the auction and pay

You won! Complete the payment and the seller ships your inventory the same way they’d ship to any US buyer – straight to your forwarder’s warehouse.

7. The forwarder inspects and preps inventory for export

The forwarder receives, inspects, and repacks your inventory, and most importantly, prepares the export documentation the seller isn’t able to provide. This is the part that makes international shipping possible.

8. Inventory ships to you, and you can track it door-to-door

Your forwarder books international freight, and you track the shipment the whole way. From there, it’s the same as any other package you’ve had shipped internationally.

Be sure to check out our guide on how international shipping works on B-Stock, including export documents, compliance, and a full list of sellers that currently accept freight forwarders.

Start Your International Buying Journey

We walk you through international buyer registration and getting your US address set up before you bid on or buy US inventory in the guide below.