Worry-Free Overseas Shopping: A Complete Guide to the International Forwarding Process for Easy Delivery Abroad

Living abroad but missing the vast array of products available back home? Whether it's trendy clothes from Taobao, digital appliances from JD.com, or great deals from Pinduoduo, you can now easily have them delivered to your doorstep. The key service that makes this possible is International Forwarding. For many overseas users, the forwarding process might seem mysterious and complex. Don't worry, this article will break it down for you, detailing the complete forwarding process from placing an order to receiving your package, and show you how to choose a reliable partner to make the entire process worry-free, cost-effective, and efficient.

What is International Forwarding and Why Do You Need It?

Simply put, international forwarding is when you place an order on a Chinese e-commerce platform (like Taobao, Tmall, 1688, JD.com, Pinduoduo), and the goods are first shipped to a forwarding warehouse address in China. Then, the forwarding service provider (like Welisen International Logistics) takes over, receiving and consolidating your packages, performing professional inspection and packing, and finally shipping the consolidated package to your overseas delivery address via international couriers (like DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.).

The main reasons for choosing a forwarding service are:

Overcoming Shipping Restrictions: Many Chinese sellers do not offer direct shipping overseas, or direct shipping costs are extremely high.
Consolidating Packages to Save on Shipping: You can shop from different stores multiple times. All items first gather at the forwarding warehouse and are then merged into a single package for shipment, significantly reducing international shipping costs.
Professional Handling: Forwarding companies offer services like inspection, photo-taking, reinforced packing, and removal of excess packaging to ensure safe transportation of goods.
Expanding Shopping Options: You can purchase any goods that support domestic shipping without restrictions, including some sensitive categories (such as items containing batteries, liquids, powders, food, branded goods, etc.). Professional forwarding companies usually have corresponding sensitive goods shipping channels.

Step-by-Step Breakdown of the International Forwarding Process

A standard, efficient forwarding process typically involves the following seven core steps. Understanding each step allows you to confidently manage your entire shopping journey.

Step 1: Choose and Register with a Forwarding Service Provider

This is the starting point for the entire process. You need to choose a professional and reliable company like Welisen International Logistics (WELISEN). The registration process is usually very simple:

Visit the company's official website and complete registration by filling in your email or phone number.
Upon successful registration, the system will generate a unique Chinese Forwarding Warehouse Address for you (including your unique member ID).
This address is the "delivery address" you will use when shopping on all Chinese e-commerce platforms in the future.

Key Points for Choosing a Service Provider: Evaluate their qualifications, channel stability, customer service response speed, transparency of fee structure, and special services (such as whether they offer free storage, free package consolidation and packing, etc.).

Step 2: Shop Freely on Domestic Platforms

Once you have your dedicated warehouse address, you can shop freely on platforms like Taobao, Tmall, 1688, JD.com, Pinduoduo, just like a domestic user.

When placing an order, fill in the delivery address as the forwarding warehouse address you received.
Important Note: In the "Recipient" field, be sure to correctly fill in your unique member ID or identification code as required by the forwarding company. This is crucial for the warehouse to identify that the package belongs to you.
Pay for the goods on the e-commerce platform and wait for the seller to ship.

Step 3: Package Receipt and Warehouse Management

Once the seller ships your order, the tracking information will show the package is on its way to the forwarding warehouse.

Package Receipt: When the forwarding warehouse receives your package, they will scan and sign for it, then enter it into their system. You can usually see a "Package Received" notification in your personal account.
Free Storage: Quality service providers like Welisen offer a free storage period of up to 180 days. This means you have ample time to wait for all items purchased at different times to arrive at the warehouse, without worrying about storage fees.
Inspection Service (Optional): If you are unsure about the goods, you can pay for warehouse staff to open the package, inspect, and take photos to confirm the quantity, style, and check for any damage before deciding whether to ship it out.

Step 4: Submit Shipping Order and Choose Services

When all the items you want to ship together have arrived at the warehouse, you can proceed to the core operational step—submitting the international shipping order.

Consolidate Packages (Parcel Consolidation): In your account backend, select all the packages you want to ship together and apply for "Parcel Consolidation and Packing." This is one of the most effective ways to save on international shipping costs. Professional companies will free of charge remove redundant domestic shipping packaging from your items, intelligently consolidate them based on item characteristics, and repack them using sturdy materials to minimize weight and volume while ensuring safety.
Choose Shipping Channel: Based on the package contents (general goods/sensitive goods), weight/volume, delivery time requirements, and budget, select the appropriate international shipping channel (e.g., DHL Express, FedEx Economy, Postal Parcel, etc.). Companies like Welisen will clearly list the carriers, estimated delivery times, prices, and restrictions for each channel.
Declaration and Insurance: Accurately declare the item names, quantities, and values inside the package for customs clearance. It is recommended to purchase shipping insurance for high-value items to mitigate risks.

Step 5: Pay International Shipping Fees

After submitting the shipping order, the system will calculate the final international shipping cost based on your chosen channel and the package's weight/volume.

Confirm the fees are correct, then complete the payment using the payment methods supported by the service provider's website (such as Alipay, WeChat Pay, PayPal, international credit cards, etc.).
Once payment is successful, the warehouse will begin processing your package and arrange for its dispatch.

Step 6: Package Dispatch and International Shipping

This step is fully handled by the forwarding service provider; you just need to wait for good news.

Professional Packing: Warehouse personnel will perform final reinforced packing to ensure the goods' safety during long-distance transport.
Handover to Carrier: The package is handed over to international courier companies like DHL, FedEx, UPS, beginning its cross-border journey.
Receive Tracking Number: You will receive an international courier tracking number, which you can use to check the real-time logistics status on the carrier's official website.
International Customs Clearance: Professional forwarding companies provide commercial invoices and shipping documents that meet the destination country's requirements to assist with smooth customs clearance. The clearance process for personal items is usually relatively simple.

Step 7: Overseas Delivery and After-Sales Service

When the courier delivers the package to the overseas address you provided, the entire forwarding process is successfully completed.

Inspect the Package: It is recommended to inspect the external packaging and internal items for any damage upon delivery or as soon as possible after.
Contact After-Sales: In case of package damage, severe delays, or lost items, promptly contact the forwarding company's customer service. Reliable service providers will have a comprehensive after-sales and claims mechanism.

How to Optimize Your Forwarding Experience? Practical Tips

Plan Your Shopping Wisely: Try to concentrate your shopping within a certain period so that packages arrive at the warehouse around the same time or close together. This allows for quicker consolidation and shipment, shortening the overall delivery time.
Understand Prohibited Items: Familiarize yourself in advance with the list of prohibited items from both the forwarding company and your destination country (e.g., flammable/explosive items, illegal drugs, live plants, etc.) to avoid purchasing them.
Utilize Consolidation Rules Effectively: While consolidation saves on shipping, be aware of the customs duty-free allowance for the value of a single package in your destination country. Exceeding this allowance may incur import duties. If necessary, consider splitting shipments into multiple packages.
Declare Value Accurately: Declaring a value that is too low may raise customs suspicion, while declaring too high may lead to higher duties. Honest declaration is the best policy.
Choose a Reliable Partner: This is the most important point. A partner like Welisen International Logistics, which offers 180 days of free storage, free package consolidation and packing, stable sensitive goods shipping channels, and attentive Chinese-speaking customer service, can elevate your forwarding experience by several levels.

Conclusion: Let Professionals Handle Professional Tasks

The international forwarding process may seem to involve many steps, but once you understand the sequence and choose a trustworthy service provider, it becomes a smooth bridge connecting you to quality products from China. You no longer need to worry about how to ship, how to pack, or which courier to choose, allowing you to focus entirely on selecting the items you love.

Welisen International Logistics (WELISEN) always adheres to its brand promise of "Making International Logistics Simpler, Making Overseas Shopping Worry-Free." We not only provide standardized forwarding services but also clear obstacles and simplify complexity through a series of value-added services (free storage, free packing, professional consultation). From the moment you register, dedicated customer service, intelligent systems, and professional warehouse teams will work for you, ensuring every package reaches you safely and efficiently.

Start Your Worry-Free Forwarding Journey Now!

If you have any questions about forwarding or are already eager to experience the convenience of overseas shopping, Welisen International Logistics is here to serve you.

Visit our official website https://www.welisen.com to register now and get your dedicated warehouse address!

Or contact our customer service team directly via WhatsApp/Phone: +86 132 2639 0888 for one-on-one professional consultation. Let us handle the complex logistics, so you can just enjoy the joy of unboxing!