The Complete Guide to Overseas Parcel Forwarding: How to Easily Deliver Taobao and Pinduoduo Goods to Your Overseas Doorstep?

Living overseas but your heart is set on the vast selection of domestic e-commerce platforms? Whether you miss Taobao's trendy fashion, Pinduoduo's great-value finds, or JD.com's digital appliances, high international direct shipping costs, complex customs procedures, or the dreaded "does not ship to your country" message from sellers can quickly dampen your shopping enthusiasm.

Don't worry, overseas parcel forwarding services are the tailor-made solution for you. They act as your "logistics butler" in China, receiving, storing, and repackaging your goods before shipping them safely to your overseas address via professional international logistics channels. This article will provide a comprehensive analysis of overseas forwarding, making your cross-border shopping simple, worry-free, and cost-effective.

What is Overseas Parcel Forwarding? Why Do You Need It?

Overseas parcel forwarding, simply put, means that when you place an order on a domestic e-commerce platform (like Taobao, Tmall, 1688, JD.com, Pinduoduo), you fill in the shipping address as the warehouse address of the forwarding company located in China. The goods are first sent to the forwarding warehouse. The forwarding company then provides services like storage, inspection, package consolidation, and repackaging for you. Finally, the package is shipped to your overseas home via international couriers (like DHL, FedEx, UPS) or air/sea freight lines.

Choosing overseas forwarding is typically based on the following core reasons:

Overcome Shipping Restrictions: Many domestic sellers and platforms do not offer direct overseas shipping or have strict restrictions on the types of goods that can be shipped (e.g., items containing batteries, liquids, powders, food). Forwarding companies usually have richer channel resources and can handle these "sensitive goods," significantly broadening your shopping options.
Significantly Save on Shipping Costs: International direct shipping is usually charged based on initial weight and subsequent weight, with high unit prices. Forwarding companies, leveraging their large volume of business, can secure more favorable contract rates from international logistics giants. More importantly, their package consolidation service allows you to combine multiple small packages purchased from different stores into one larger international package, calculating the initial weight only once, saving you 30%-50% or even more on shipping.
Provide Value-Added Services: Professional forwarding companies are more than just "middlemen." They also offer services such as free storage (e.g., Welisen International Logistics offers a free storage period of up to 180 days), free unpacking and repackaging (removing excess packaging to reduce weight and volume), product photo verification, reinforced packaging, and other considerate services, comprehensively safeguarding your shopping experience and goods safety.
Simplify Customs Clearance: Reputable forwarding companies are familiar with the customs policies and clearance requirements of destination countries. They can assist with compliant declarations, greatly improving package clearance efficiency and reducing the risk of taxes and customs holds.

Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Overseas Parcel Forwarding Process

Now that you understand why you need forwarding, let's look at how it works specifically. The entire process can be summarized in six steps: "Register - Shop - Warehouse In - Ship Out - Track - Receive."

Step 1: Choose and Register with a Reliable Forwarding Company

This is the most critical step. You need to choose a professional and reliable partner like Welisen International Logistics (WELISEN) based on reputation, price, service, and channels. The registration process is usually simple: fill in your email or phone number on their official website to receive your exclusive China warehouse address and customer identification code.

Step 2: Shop on Domestic Platforms and Fill in the Forwarding Address

Shop on platforms like Taobao and Pinduoduo as usual. When filling in the shipping address, accurately enter the China warehouse address and your exclusive customer identification code provided by the forwarding company. Be sure to add the identification code in the order notes or after the recipient's name. This is key for warehouse staff to correctly assign the package to your account.

Step 3: Package Warehousing, Await Consolidation

After the seller ships, you can pre-declare the package information (product name, quantity, value, etc.) on the forwarding company's website or app using the domestic tracking number. Once the package arrives at the forwarding warehouse, staff will scan it into inventory, and the system will notify you. At this point, you can see the weight and photos of each package.

If you have multiple packages arriving simultaneously, you can use the core money-saving feature—package consolidation. In your account backend, select the packages you want to merge and submit the consolidation request. Warehouse staff will remove all original packaging from your items, rearrange them reasonably based on product characteristics (e.g., fragile, pressure-resistant), and carefully repack them into the most suitable outer box to minimize volume and weight as much as possible.

Step 4: Pay Shipping Fees, Submit Shipment Request

After consolidation is complete, the system will calculate the final international shipping cost. Once you confirm it's correct, pay the fee online. After payment is completed, you can submit the shipment request. The forwarding company will arrange for the package to be dispatched via your chosen channel (e.g., DHL Express, Economy Air, Sea Freight, etc.).

Step 5: Track Logistics in Real-Time

After the package is dispatched, you will receive an international tracking number. You can track the package's transportation journey in real-time, just like a regular international shipment, through the forwarding company's website or the international courier's website. Monitor its progress from departure from China, transit, customs clearance, to final delivery—all under your control.

Step 6: Receive with Ease, Enjoy Your Shopping Haul

The final step is waiting for the courier to deliver the package to your doorstep, and happily unboxing!

How to Choose a Reliable Overseas Parcel Forwarding Company?

The quality of forwarding service providers in the market varies. Choosing poorly can lead to lost goods, inflated shipping costs, and no after-sales support. Be sure to evaluate based on the following dimensions:

Credentials & Reputation: Check the company's establishment time and whether it possesses formal business licenses. Search for user reviews, especially genuine feedback on overseas Chinese forums and social media.
Price Transparency: Are shipping costs transparent? Are there any hidden fees (e.g., customs declaration fees, handling fees)? Is the billing method based on actual weight or volumetric weight? Charging based on the greater of the two is industry standard, but the fee breakdown must be clear.
Channels & Delivery Times: Do they offer various logistics channels (courier, air freight, sea freight) to meet different needs and budgets? Are the reference delivery times for each channel stable? Particularly, do they have dedicated channels for handling sensitive goods (e.g., cosmetics, battery-powered products, branded goods)? This reflects professional capability.
Core Service Quality: How long is the free storage period? (The longer, the more convenient for you to stock up and consolidate); Are consolidation and repackaging free? How is the packing technique (professional, effective at reducing weight/volume)? Do they offer free arrival inspection and photo services?
Customer Service & After-Sales: Is customer service easy to contact (e.g., offering multi-channel support like WhatsApp/WeChat/phone)? Is their response timely? Is the compensation policy reasonable in case of lost or damaged items?

A company like Welisen (WELISEN), with a mission to "Make International Logistics Simpler, Make Overseas Shopping Worry-Free," typically excels in these areas, providing users with a professional, reliable, efficient, and considerate service experience.

Overseas Parcel Forwarding FAQs and Pitfall Avoidance Guide

Q1: Which items cannot be forwarded?

Absolutely prohibited items include: firearms and ammunition, flammable and explosive materials, live animals and plants, drugs, cash, etc. Additionally, definitions of "sensitive goods" vary by country and forwarding channel, often including: battery-containing electronics, liquids (cosmetics), powders, food, medicine, branded/counterfeit goods, etc. Always consult customer service before shipping to confirm if your chosen channel can transport the items.

Q2: How are shipping fees calculated? How to save on shipping?

International shipping fees are usually calculated based on the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight. The volumetric weight formula is generally: Length(cm) × Width(cm) × Height(cm) / 5000 (or 6000, depending on the channel).

Money-Saving Tips:

Make Full Use of Consolidation: This is the most effective way to save money, significantly spreading out the initial weight cost.
Choose Channels Wisely: Use sea freight for non-urgent heavy/bulky items; use air freight or courier for light/small, urgent items.
Streamline Packaging: Request the forwarding company to perform "removal of excess packaging" during repackaging, which can effectively reduce volume and weight.
Watch for Promotions: Forwarding companies often have shipping discounts, top-up bonuses, and other promotions.

Q3: What if my package is taxed by customs?

This is a risk that cannot be completely avoided in cross-border shopping. Reputable forwarding companies provide compliant customs declaration services, declaring based on the value and type of goods you report. You should declare truthfully; excessively high values may lead to taxes. Some forwarding companies offer "duty-paid" or "tax-inclusive" channels where the shipping cost already includes pre-paid duties, resulting in a "tax-free" delivery, but the shipping cost is slightly higher. You can choose based on your goods' value.

Q4: What if goods are damaged or lost?

Choose a forwarding company that offers free basic insurance or allows you to purchase additional insurance. If a problem occurs, contact customer service immediately, provide evidence (e.g., photos of damage), and apply for compensation according to the company's claims policy. Therefore, choosing a company with clear and guaranteed after-sales policies is crucial.

Conclusion: Start Your Worry-Free Cross-Border Shopping Journey

Overseas parcel forwarding is no longer just a simple logistics service. It is a bridge connecting overseas compatriots with their homeland's culture and a key enabler for global consumers to enjoy the benefits of Chinese manufacturing. It uses professionalism to simplify complexity, integration to bring savings, and service to deliver peace of mind.

Whether you want to add a Chinese-style lamp to your overseas home, purchase professional books for your studies, or run a small cross-border e-commerce business, a reliable forwarding partner can make it all within reach.

Take Action Now, Experience the Convenience of Professional Forwarding!

If you are looking for a trustworthy overseas parcel forwarding partner, we sincerely invite you to learn about the services of Welisen International Logistics (WELISEN). We offer:

Free 180-day storage, giving you ample time to consolidate packages.
Professional consolidation and packing, optimizing shipping costs to the extreme.
Diverse logistics channels, covering general goods and sensitive goods.
Full-process visual tracking and considerate customer service support.

Make International Logistics Simpler, Make Overseas Shopping Worry-Free is not just our slogan; it is our promise to every customer.

Start your first forwarding order now!

Visit our official website for more service details: https://www.welisen.com
If you have any questions, feel free to contact our customer service team anytime: WhatsApp/Phone: +86 132 2639 0888

Welisen, your professional international logistics butler.