"Should I use my own forwarder or yours?"
Buyer email
Subject: shipping question
quick question on shipping. We have a freight forwarder we use for other suppliers. Should we use them, or use yours? Also you mentioned "DDP to our warehouse" — what does that actually mean? Is it more expensive?
PlushToys.Fun reply
Subject: Re: shipping question
Honest answer: depends on three things — order size, customs experience on the destination side, and how much you want to think about freight. Three options on the table for any order: (1) your forwarder picks up FOB or EXW from us; (2) we book sea freight to your destination port and you handle import customs; (3) we go end-to-end DDP and goods arrive at your warehouse with all duties pre-paid. DDP is the most expensive line item but often the cheapest total cost when you factor in time and customs hassle on your side. We can quote all three side-by-side so the comparison is on totals, not line items.
The three shipping modes, side-by-side
Same 1,000-pcs order. Same Final QC date. Three different routes from factory floor to warehouse.
Mode 1 · You arrange freight
Your forwarder picks up · FOB or EXW
We pack, palletise (if requested), and either truck the goods to a Chinese port and hand them to your forwarder (FOB), or your forwarder collects from our factory directly (EXW). From there, your forwarder handles ocean freight, destination port, customs, last-mile.
Best for: buyers who already have a freight relationship and a customs broker on the destination side.
You handle: ocean freight booking, destination port fees, import customs, last-mile delivery, any duty.
We handle: packing, export documents, port handover (FOB) or factory pickup (EXW).
Transit time: ocean depends on lane — about 18 days to US east coast, 14 to US west coast, 30+ to inland EU.
Mode 2 · We arrange freight to port
Sea or air to your destination port
We book the ocean freight (or air freight if the timeline demands it), get the goods to the destination port, and hand off the bill of lading. Your customs broker handles import clearance and last-mile from there.
Best for: buyers without a forwarder relationship who still want to manage their own customs side.
You handle: import customs clearance, duties, last-mile delivery to the warehouse.
We handle: packing, export documents, freight booking, the bill of lading.
Transit time: sea ~18 days to US east coast; air much faster but at multiple times the cost per kg.
Mode 3 · End-to-end DDP
Door-to-door, all duties pre-paid
We coordinate the entire journey: factory → port → ocean → destination port → import customs → last-mile to your warehouse or 3PL. Duties and import taxes are pre-paid by us and built into the quote. Goods are received at the dock with no separate paperwork.
Best for: first-time importers, smaller brands, anyone shipping to a high-friction destination, anyone who wants one invoice and zero customs paperwork.
You handle: receiving the goods at your warehouse, signing the delivery note.
We handle: everything from factory to your dock, including customs.
Transit time: ocean lanes ~18 days to US east coast plus a few days for customs and last-mile. Air-DDP is faster, mainly used on tight launch dates.
All three modes are quoted as separate lines from the goods invoice, so they can be compared like-for-like. We are happy to run the math both ways — including a fully loaded "DDP versus your forwarder" comparison once the destination is known.
Decision tree — which mode is right
Read top-down. Stop at the first question where the answer is "no" — the mode it lands on is usually the right one.
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Q1 — Is there already a trusted freight forwarder, plus a customs broker on the destination side?
Yes → Mode 1 (FOB or EXW). Your forwarder will give a competitive ocean rate; you keep control of the customs side. Mode 1 (FOB or EXW). Your forwarder will give a competitive ocean rate; you keep control of the customs side.
No → next question. next question.
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Q2 — Has the destination country been imported into before, with comfortable handling of import customs paperwork?
Yes → Mode 2 (we book ocean to the port, you handle customs). Often the right balance for mid-size brands. Mode 2 (we book ocean to the port, you handle customs). Often the right balance for mid-size brands.
No → Mode 3 (DDP). The slightly higher line item is usually cheaper than learning customs the hard way on a 1,000-pcs first order. Mode 3 (DDP). The slightly higher line item is usually cheaper than learning customs the hard way on a 1,000-pcs first order.
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Q3 — Edge case: is the launch date within ~25 days of Final QC?
Yes → ask for an air-freight quote (under any of the three modes). 18 days of sea is a non-starter against a 25-day deadline. Air costs more but is the only way the goods land in time. ask for an air-freight quote (under any of the three modes). 18 days of sea is a non-starter against a 25-day deadline. Air costs more but is the only way the goods land in time.
No → stay with sea. The cost difference is large. stay with sea. The cost difference is large.
Incoterms in plain language
If a quote uses one of these abbreviations, here is the pragmatic translation. The quote will spell out which one applies to your specific order.
| Term | Meaning | Hand-over point | Who handles import customs |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXW | Ex-Works. You collect from our factory door. | Our factory loading bay. | You. |
| FOB | Free On Board. We deliver to a Chinese port and load onto the vessel. | On the ship's deck at origin port. | You. |
| CIF | Cost, Insurance, Freight. We pay ocean freight + insurance to the destination port. | Destination port (cargo on board, paperwork in your hands). | You. |
| DDP | Delivered Duty Paid. We deliver to the specified address with all duties pre-paid. | Your warehouse / 3PL dock. | We do. |
Other terms (DAP, FCA, CFR) are also available depending on the lane and the buyer's preference — these are simply the four that come up most often.
A note on "DDP looks expensive"
The DDP line item on a quote always looks higher than the FOB one — because it includes ocean freight, port fees, customs duty, import broker fees, and last-mile delivery, all of which are otherwise paid separately. Buyers who do their own customs sometimes save money on small, predictable lanes. Buyers who do not save money far more often by choosing DDP and not paying the cost of customs surprises (held shipments, demurrage, broker upcharges, mis-classified HS codes). DDP is not a recommendation if the situation does not need it. If unsure, ask for both quotes — Mode 1 and Mode 3 — and compare the totals, not the line items.
Get a shipping recommendation
Email the destination, the launch date, and whether a forwarder is already in place. The reply is the recommended mode plus the alternatives — quoted as separate lines so totals can be compared honestly.
- Email the destination port or final warehouse address.
- Mention whether you have a freight forwarder you want to use.
- Confirm the launch date so air-vs-sea can be flagged if relevant.
