More and more businesses from all over the world are going online and more and more customers are shopping in stores located outside their country. As an online store owner, you need to be prepared for these changes. One of which is the way goods are delivered.
The ePacket delivery method has made it much easier to buy goods from China. But to maintain a competitive advantage over Chinese merchants, it is important to understand what ePacket delivery is and why it has become popular among buyers of products from China and Hong Kong.
If you use DSers or AliExpress as a source of goods and their shipment to customers, this article will be even more useful for you. In it, we will try to explain how ePacket delivery works, and also answer common questions.
What is ePacket?
ePacket is a delivery method offered by logistics companies in China and Hong Kong (3PL). It is fast and affordable, but only allows you to send small packages.
Before ePacket, China's EMS was the only affordable and reasonable option for shipping consumer goods overseas. However, delivery times were often a month or longer. Faster shipping options were more expensive, especially for inexpensive and small items.
In 2011, the United States Postal Service officially announced a new shipping service and agreement with Hongkong Post and eBay China, allowing packages from China and Hong Kong to receive USPS First Class Mail Service status and delivery confirmation service. Before ePacket, goods were shipped from China to the United States by sea. It was a long journey, so delivery took a long time.
As the name suggests (the “e” Packet), the delivery service was designed for e-commerce to make it more accessible and faster for consumers shopping in markets and stores in China and Hong Kong.
How does ePacket delivery work?
The ePacket shipping method was originally conceived as a fast and affordable solution for Chinese and Hong Kong merchants to ship goods to the United States. Over the years, the shipping method has expanded to more than 40 other countries around the world, such as Canada and Australia.
With ePacket delivery, the parcel is delivered to its final destination by a local carrier. "Local" is the carrier that operates in the parcel's destination country. This could be USPS, Canada Post, Royal Mail, Russian Post, UkrPoshta, etc. Each carrier has its own requirements for parcels, rates, and the delivery process itself.
Requirements for ePacket parcels
You'll often see ePacket as a shipping option for sellers from China on sites like eBay or AliExpress. Any seller from China or Hong Kong can offer ePacket shipping if the package meets the requirements.
USPS has its own requirements for a package or parcel sent via ePacket. The maximum length of the package must be 24 inches (60 centimeters), and the total length, height, and thickness of the package cannot exceed 36 inches (90 centimeters). In addition, the weight of the package must not exceed 4.4 pounds (2 kilograms), and the value of the item being shipped must not exceed $400.
The package must also be shipped from China or Hong Kong to one of the ePacket-eligible countries.
Who delivers ePacket parcels?
There are several players involved in delivering an ePacket parcel. First, a carrier from China or Hong Kong delivers the package to the border. From there, an international carrier forwards the parcel to the destination country.
After crossing the border, the package is picked up by the carrier of the destination country. He also takes responsibility for delivering the parcel to the destination address specified in the order.
Which countries are eligible for ePacket delivery?
As of August 2021, ePacket delivery was available to residents of the following 45 countries:
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil
- United Kingdom
- Hungary
- Vietnam
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Hong Kong
- Denmark
- Israel
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Spain
- Italy
- Kazakhstan
- Canada
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- USA
- Thailand
- Türkiye
- Ukraine
- Finland
- France
- Croatia
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Estonia
- South Korea
- Japan
Does ePacket provide door to door delivery (courier delivery)?
The ePacket service delivers the parcel by itself only to the customs of the destination country . Since domestic delivery is carried out by a local carrier, it is he who ensures further delivery of the parcel to the recipient.
Many local carriers offer door-to-door delivery (courier delivery), but not every address is eligible for this service.
How long does it take for ePacket to reach its destination?
Depending on the destination of the parcel, customs, holidays and other delays, the delivery time may vary. However, in terms of average delivery time, ePacket delivery is a more attractive option compared to other cheap shipping methods from China and Hong Kong.
On average, it can take 10-20 days for a package to arrive in the United States from the time it is shipped. In other countries, the delivery time is about the same or slightly longer. About half of the delivery time is spent reaching the destination, and the other half is spent routing to the appropriate post office where the customer can pick up the package.
It is important to understand that this is quite fast, considering the number of packages that the ePacket service processes each day at all the points along the package's route from sender to recipient, as well as the number of stops the package makes along the way.
Fortunately, the entire shipping process can be easily monitored using the tracking service, which is available free of charge to all ePacket users. The tracking service gives customers confidence that the package will eventually reach them and not get lost somewhere.
How can I know if my package is being delivered by ePacket?
If you order the product via AliExpress Dropshipping, go to the Orders section and click on the View Order Details link. On the page that opens, in the Shipping Information section, the ePacket service will be listed as the shipping method, as well as the tracking number of the parcel.
If you buy an item from somewhere other than AliExpress, you can determine whether it is delivered by ePacket in another way - by examining the tracking number. ePacket tracking numbers usually begin with the letter "L". If the item is sent without a tracking number, it means that it was sent not by ePacket, but by another delivery service.
Will the recipient have to pay customs duties and taxes when sending goods via ePacket?
ePacket shipments go through traditional customs procedures, which may require payment of applicable duties and taxes upon arrival in the country of shipment. To find out whether you will have to pay these, it is best to check the local tax and duty laws for the type of goods you are importing.
You can also request this information from the seller, as he, based on his extensive experience in sending goods all over the world, has information about whether his goods are subject to any duties and taxes in your country.
How ePacket tracking works
ePacket delivery allows customers to track their packages for free using official websites of delivery services such as EMS or USPS. Any undelivered mail is sent back for free . This way, sellers do not have problems reimbursing customers who do not receive their packages.
There are several ways to track your ePacket delivery:
- Use one of the official websites. Depending on where the parcel is currently located, you need to use the appropriate website. If the parcel is in China, you can track it using the EMS service. If, for example, the parcel is in the USA, you can use tracking on the USPS website.
- If you have difficulties tracking your parcel on official websites, you can use third-party tracking services:
Important! China EMS is a carrier, and ePacket is an independent delivery method.
Does it matter to me if I use AliExpress for a dropshipping store?
The ePacket shipping option should be one of the main factors when deciding which products to drop from AliExpress product listings if you are going to set up your dropshipping business through an Aliexpress reseller. Because the ePacket shipping method will allow your customers to receive their products cheaply and in a reasonable time, and track their arrival.
This is the most acceptable option for both the seller and the buyer. Other delivery methods may not be as reliable when comparing ePacket with other similar delivery methods.
The shipping cost of ePacket is usually cheap. Therefore, as an online store owner, you can offer free shipping to your customers.
How to Use ePacket Dropshipping in Shopify?
ePacket is ideal for Shopify merchants who sell low to medium value items and want to save on shipping costs. When using ePacket on Shopify, packages typically take 15 to 30 days to arrive. To be able to use this shipping method on your store, you’ll need to make sure you’ve selected ePacket shipping with your supplier.
If you want to learn more about dropshipping with DSers or AliExpress, check out our complete dropshipping guide, which goes into much more detail on the topic.
Ultimately, what is the advantage of ePacket delivery?
If you ship locally, your advantage will be the speed of delivery. There are customers who are not ready to wait several weeks for the ordered goods to become available to them.
Compared with other delivery services from China, ePacket has the following advantages:
- Customs clearance. ePacket has the same customs clearance standards as China Post , so border clearance is fast.
- Short delivery time. ePacket is faster and cheaper than China Post Air Mail . Plus, you have the option of tracking your parcel and free returns.
- Transparent Pricing: There are no extra or hidden fees, which is rare when dealing with cross-border e-commerce companies.
Remember that competition has many facets. It is important to consider the reasons why your customers choose your products and understand what your customers really want. Once you know this, you will be able to serve your customers better than your competitors.