Making Santa's Life Easier

There are obvious differences if you are shipping your rock collection as opposed to a box of chocolates. One is durable, the other one is not. The following is a list of the finer details when shipping supplies domestically or internationally.

1. Think about where and who you are shipping to. If shipping something non-durable to an address where the recipient won't pick it up for a while, then think again. This is when you will need an alternate address. Which brings us to the importance of having a correct address. Make sure to dot the “I's” and cross the “T's”, because the last thing you want is for the box to go to the wrong person. The hassle of finding the goods again can be slim in some cases. And this goes for the return address as well. In some countries, return addresses are a legal requirement.

2. Shipping illegal goods is a real no, no. This does not just mean the obvious things like drugs but can include alcohol, firearms, and other inflammable goods. Punishment for sending these types of things can be fairly harsh, depending on the situation.

3. For important holidays such as Christmas and Thanks Giving, double check for cut off dates for delivery. This is important if you want the recipient to get the gifts on time. This is especially true of Christmas when things can get pretty chaotic.

4. Keep a close eye on the weight and size of things. With international shipping, even small amounts of additional weight can increase shipping fees dramatically. Each country has restrictions as to what you can send over there. So, be sure to do your homework before sending off something to another country.

5. International shipping comes with one extra hassle, compared to domestic shipping and that would be customs. You will be required to fill out customs forms which you should not lose. The number on the form can even be used for tracking. When filling a form, be honest. Because there is always the possibility of your gift getting opened before it reaches the recipient if the form you filled seems suspicious.

6. If you are sending a gift, then make it clear on the forms. The likelihood of it getting slapped with customs fees will lessen. This also applies to shipping supplies sent through private couriers. Parcels and packages sent through them are more likely to get charged by customs.

7. There is an option called drop shipping for those of you who do not want to put up with all the above-mentioned hassles. Drop shipping is basically a fancy term for buying online and sending it straight to the recipient. Some online retailers even give the option of sending a gift message, which will give it that extra personal touch. If the option is not there then sending the recipient a card in advance may be the best way to go. Of course, there is always the option of finding an online store in the recipient's country, if planning on getting a gift for someone who lives abroad.