An average importer wl readily jump at d option of free shipping when ordering frm overseas: dis is simply cos it reduces d costs to be incurred & thereby increases d profit margin on such gds/products/items (if 2 be re-sold).

However, reading thru some threads lately on importation, I hv discovered there are things (do I say facts) prospective importer needs 2 know before settling 4 dis option.

Free shipping, on its own, is simply a marketing strategy being used by seller 2 help reduce cost-burden on any prospective buyer thereby attracting more sales/patronage 2 d organisation & dis should hv no other strings attached. But in our end of d world, Naija in paticular, d 'fouls' & other irrational factors must be well understood & put into consideration b4 embrassing 'free shipping'.

Let's use buying frm most popular China online market, Aliexpress as our case study.
1. A seller may giv free shipping covering only within China environment. Dis means d seller can help u ship out ur order free-of-charge frm their warehouse 2 any specified-by-u third party shipper like dhl, etc who wil then finally ship it down 2 Naija. D fact here is u save d cost of shipping frm seller 2 third party shipper bt incur d cost of shipping it 2 Nigeria.

2. A seller may giv complete free shipping straight down 2 Naija. Dis is often indicated clearly on d ads page. D fact here is u are totally relieved of d shipping cost on your order: u only pay 4 d item & d seller ships it down 2 u in Nigeria. Sounds good, right?

Under dis option, d issue is dat it takes quite a long time 4 d shipment 2 reach destination & sometimes may never even arrive. Also, in most cases d item lands in Naija post office within ur locality, then Naija factors take its course: package tampered with, item swap, shipment missing outrightly, compulsory 'matchng ground' fee, some units missing, needing 2 do clearing by self, etc.

It is also important here 2 know dat some sellers even do free air-freight or 'dhl free shipping'. If u chat well 2 establish a relationship & convinve them u wil soon make bigger order afta a convincing sample shipment. I think as a buyer, if u hv dis option it is far better 4 u: bt nt 4 contraband goods o!

3. Though d seller may offer free shipping 2 Naija, a buyer hs d choice 2 decline dis & rather engage a third party shipper (like dhl & lot of others here on NL: chrisvicmall, kizito, bokomart, etc.) who charges additional cost shipping it down 2 ur door-step.
Based on d seller's free shipping policy, u can still instruct ur order be shipped 2 ur choice third party shipper which already operates in China environment. In dis case, u only incur cost of shipping 2 Naija using a third party shipper bt relived of most of d stress in no.2 above. However, u can also lay better claim on d third party shipper should there be any mess-up wt ur shipment. There is also flexibility of delivery time ranging frm express 2 normal delivery. D no. of days it takes 2 deliver is always indicated in d shipper's policy.

Under no.3 above, u must hv contacted & alert ur choice third party shipper dat d seller is sending ur order 2 them. Dis is very important & it's d point buyer protection policy comes 2 play. In other words, a situation where u pay 2 seller online & d seller default 2 ship what u paid 4. Who then do u hold responsible? Worst still, since u dont reside in China, there's little or nothing u can do. Dis is where d issue of ESCROW comes in: a seller is paid via aliexpress portal after u confirm ur item is well delivered 2 u. U, here refers 2 ur choice third party shipper. D rest now lies btw u & ur choice third party shipper.

PLS NOTE. These are purely my views, thus, I stand 2 be corrected on it. Meanwhile, gurus in d house can do more justice 2 d topic.

Prospective importers, feel free 2 ask further questions as gurus are on hand 2 attend 2 u.

NAIJA YOUTHS MUST BE WELL-INFORMED & EMPOWERED.

What shipping method can i use to ship my goods from china to nigeria that is cheap....i need their adress and phone number.

dagok: What shipping method can i use to ship my goods from china to nigeria that is cheap.....

Broda, d issue shld nt neccessarily be of 'cheap' bt of reliability & affordability. Looking 4 too cheap may land u in scam.

All d same, I think NONIKINGS hs much votes frm regular importers. They hv both China & Naija contacts. Search thru threads 4 their contacts: cant readily get it now cos recent mix-up on NL.

And if u r outside Lagos, I think KBM too hs good votes doing dat.

Gurus in d house can still help.

Can you please give us the details of KBM because i stayed outside lagos

bejay1: Can you please give us the details of KBM because i stayed outside lagos

Try use NL search, KBM hs its own thread.

bejay1: Can you please give us the details of KBM because i stayed outside lagos

Try use NL search, KBM hs its own thread.

karferguso: Gurus in the house...I want to inquire on how free shipping works on foreign websites like aliexpress and others...because I want to get something from there and these questions have bin lingering on my mind
1. How do I get my goods.
2. Do I need to havepost office box?
3. And lastly,someone told me I can use the p.o box of my university... Is that possible?

U dont need 2 hv personal p.o.box b4 u can hv your shipment frm aliexpress.

From d post above, it depends on d type of free shipping d seller is offering u:
. If dhl/fedex, etc. u can collect ur shipment in their office. U wud hv indicated d nearest office 2 u at d point of chatting or ordering.
. If singapore/hong kong/china post, etc. I think they ship 2 d most central post office in your location. U wud hv indicated your location code in your ordering form. When your shipment arrives, d post office contact wil call 2 notify u thru d phone no. u hv indicated on d shipment.

Hope dis helps. Happy ordering!

mrhello:

U dont need 2 hv personal p.o.box b4 u can hv your shipment frm aliexpress.

From d post above, it depends on d type of free shipping d seller is offering u:
. If dhl/fedex, etc. u can collect ur shipment in their office. U wud hv indicated d nearest office 2 u at d point of chatting or ordering.
. If singapore/hong kong/china post, etc. I think they ship 2 d most central post office in your location. U wud hv indicated your location code in your ordering form. When your shipment arrives, d post office contact wil call 2 notify u thru d phone no. u hv indicated on d shipment.

Hope dis helps. Happy ordering!

Will I pay to the post office on getting my goods cus I only want to buy little personal things on aliexpress?

mrhello:

U dont need 2 hv personal p.o.box b4 u can hv your shipment frm aliexpress.

From d post above, it depends on d type of free shipping d seller is offering u:
. If dhl/fedex, etc. u can collect ur shipment in their office. U wud hv indicated d nearest office 2 u at d point of chatting or ordering.
. If singapore/hong kong/china post, etc. I think they ship 2 d most central post office in your location. U wud hv indicated your location code in your ordering form. When your shipment arrives, d post office contact wil call 2 notify u thru d phone no. u hv indicated on d shipment.

Hope dis helps. Happy ordering!

Will I pay to the post office on getting my goods cus I only want to buy little personal things on aliexpress

karferguso:
Will I pay to the post office on getting my goods cus I only want to buy little personal things on aliexpress

U are nt paying d cost of item neither are u paying 4 free-shipping. I think it's just a Naija factor thing, say 'matching-ground' of btw #200 - #500: depending on your charisma 'swaga', bargaining skill, etc

I think delivery of FREE shipment 2 Naija is becoming faster these days as against conventional 25days plus! Up China!

Hope u r having gd time!

hw long does free shipping

Can I ask aliexpress to pay the seller after confirming it has been delivered to my agent ''3rd party'' even when I havnt seen it or I must wait to see it before I do that?

Kennyfancy: hw long does free shipping

It varies on d courier being used. Sometimes, it's faster than imagine. Most sellers usually indicate d estimated nos. of days down below their web page.

Some will say 25dys, 30dys, etc bt ironically u may even get it within 2 wks. And if DHL free shipping, then 'fastest'.

lugiano1: Can I ask aliexpress to pay the seller after confirming it has been delivered to my agent ''3rd party'' even when I havnt seen it or I must wait to see it before I do that?

Whichever is ok by u. There's no crime in any of d options.

Do i need to pay duties on all importations

CaptainBomb: Do i need to pay duties on all importations

U either pay directly or indirectly. E.g. if u import a car, u must pay 2 clear it naw. And if a mini importer, for example, on any little item u bring in, d third-party shipping coy will stil charge u custom clearance naw.