How do I Ship to Amazon FBA?

Why Use Amazon FBA? What does FBA mean?

Shipping to Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) is increasingly popular as more global traders seek to sell their goods across the globe on the worlds largest market place.

There are a few minor hurdles that you have to overcome and with Mannson freight Services Ltd being experts in delivering to Amazon FBA we are happy to assist you.

Amazon and EORI/Duties and VAT

With Amazon being a market place for your to sell your goods in the UK as opposed to an end use themselves they will not allow you to use their EORI number to enter goods through UK Customs, nor will they beat the duty and tax (VAT) charges.

However do not fear as it is very simple now for an overseas trader to apply for their own UK EORI number online and the process usually takes only 3-4 working days. Watch this short clip to tell you How to Get An EORI Number

Paying for Duties and VAT

As for paying the duties and taxes we are able to assist with this process by paying HMRC on your behalf. We can calculate the duties and taxes shortly before the vessel / flight arrives in UK and give you the figures to make payment to us so that we can in turn pay to HMRC using our deferment account with Customs.

What Is A Deferment Account?

A deferment account is simply an account with HMRC where they can deduct duties and taxes directly from this account at tie of clearance of goods.

Packing for Amazon FBA

Another consideration is packing. Amazon FBA depots in UK are very strict with pallet types and dimensions and will reject any deliveries that don't meet the criteria. Amazon will of course advise you of the full packing specifications at time of you placing your order.  We are aware that palletising shipments at origin can be expensive as you must use treated pallets (to ISPM 15 standard) for shipping to UK, also pallets take up additional room in FCL or for LCL shipping and that means higher freight costs.

How Can I Make Sure My Packing Meets The Amazon Criteria?

We can assist you by palletizing and wrapping goods to Amazon FBA specifications on arrival at UK port as well as labelling pallets.

Full Containers Amazon FBA - Guidelines

Remember that if you do load a full container with palletised goods for delivery directly to an Amazon FBA depot you must leave specific room between the last pallet loaded and the container doors to allow for Amazon FBA depot to get container onto loading bays and attach dock leveller safely. Again all of this information can be found in the information that Amazon will send to you.

We have a system for booking pallets and full container deliveries with Amazon depots adhering to their strict time slots and full booking procedures.

If you wish to obtain a quotation for our services relating to Amazon FBA deliveries, palletising/labelling, Customs clearance, shipping or any other services please contact sales@mannson.com .

How Do I Get An EORI Number?

How do I apply for an EORI number? 


We hear this question ALOT.


Quite simply if you do not have an EORI number, and are importing goods on a commercial basis, you cant get them into the country. You can read more about this on our previous blog.

Where Do I Start Getting An EORI Number?

The good news is that applying for an EORI number with HMRC is actually very simple. Once you have completed the online form and submitted to HMRC EORI team an EORI number is usually issued within 3-4 working day's.

What Is On The EORI Form? How do I fill out an EORI form?

As some of the questions on the form relate to vessel name / container number for your first shipment it is wise to wait until goods have departed from origin port, especially with the transit times from most origins to UK being well in excess of the time it takes for HMRC to issue you with an EORI number.

There may be occasions such as air freight shipments where you must apply for the EORI number prior to goods departing from origin and usually if you can not fill in a couple of fields relating to vessel / flight / container number etc. the EORI number will still be processed.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR LAST MIN SEA FREIGHT/AIR FREIGHT SHIPMENTS

It is important to realise if applying last minute for a sea freight shipment or if your first shipment is coming by air that once issued it can take a couple of days for the number to go live on the Customs CHIEF system meaning the freight agent who is handling your Customs clearance may not be able to clear your goods until this has happened.

Can I Apply for an EORI Number Online?

The link to apply for an EORI number is shown below:

https://www.gov.uk/eori

How Do I Get My Goods Custom Cleared?

We are able to assist you with Customs clearance for your goods arriving by sea or air, simply send an enquiry to sales@mannson.com for a quick and competitive price.

What is an EORI Number?

What is an EORI Number?

To import goods into the UK on a commercial basis every company or sole trader must first apply for an EORI number. Without an EORI number issued by HMRC it is not possible for goods being imported on a commercial basis to be Customs Cleared on arrival at UK port / airport.

No EORI = No Custom Clearance.


A Bit of EORI History


In day's gone by HMRC used to track movements of goods by using importers / exporters VAT numbers, which the shipping agent would put into the Customs system. However those who were not VAT registered were simply shown as unregistered which means that HMRC could not see ANY data for many individuals and small businesses.

What does EORI stand for?

EORI stands for Economic Operator Registration and Identification. Once you have been issued with an EORI number by HMRC it will be used every time you import or export goods so that HMRC can keep a record of all of your economic cross border movements.


How Do I Get And EORI Number?

Guidelines from the HMRC can be found here. Finding An EORI Number

The application process is very simple and quick and will be explained on a further blog from Mannson Freight www.mannson.com .

If you wish to obtain a free quotation for shipping from China to the UK , Shipping from India to the UK or Shipping from / to any other region please simply click the following link and complete the online quote. 

Bills of Lading, Telex Releases, Sea Waybill - What are the differences?

Bills of lading, we have been using these documents for sea freight shipping for over 100 years and they are a legal document and title documents to ownership of goods in transit. However there are other options available and this can cause some confusion. Hopefully this brief explanation of the difference between original bills of lading, telex release bills of lading and sea waybills will give you more of an insight into the advantages and disadvantages of each document and allow you to make a more informed choice in the future.

What Are Original Negotiable Bills Of Lading?

With original bills of lading there will be a stipulated number of original bills of lading issued which should be stamped and signed by the carrier and show the laden on board date for your shipment.

The holder of the original bills of lading has legal title to the goods and therefore controls the release of said goods. 

Without at least one original bill of lading correctly endorsed by parties shown on the bill of lading and handed to the carrier at destination the goods will not be released to the consignee.

This serves as protection for the shipper at port of loading who can proceed with shipment knowing that he will be able to hold onto the original bills of lading and therefore the goods until he has received payment from the consignee at port of destination.

What To Do If The Shipper Sends You ALL The Original Bills of Lading?

If the shipper sends you all original bills of lading then make sure that you only send one to the carrier at port of destination (duly endorsed).

One original bill of lading and payment of any outstanding local charges to the carrier should be enough to gain release of your cargo, however if you send all originals and they are lost in the post / courier you and your supplier may need to complete indemnities and have them counter signed by your banks so that the carrier can discharge responsibility if they release the goods without any original bills of lading.

Telex Release Bills Of Lading

The term "Telex Release" may be slightly antiquated these day's, but for some reason it stuck.

This machine was the prequal to faxes and emails and I guess was the first automated delivery method for advising of a surrendered bill of lading so the phrase "Telex Release" was coined back in the day and has never changed.

All that "Telex Release" means is that your supplier has received original bills of lading form the carrier and as opposed to sending originals to you he has returned them to the carrier (endorsed) and asked them to make bill of lading "telex release".

You now do not need to present any original bills of lading at destination to get release of your goods. 

Payment of any outstanding local charges to the carrier should suffice. Important to note that if supplier is asking for a telex release to be issued he must return all the original bilsl of lading that carrier issued and not only one, this is so that there are no original bills of lading in circulation which may create issues if there is also a telex release.

Also worth noting that nowadays many carriers charge a fee for issuing a "Telex Release". These fees vary from carrier to carrier but in China for example is usually between US$ 50.00 - 75.00 at the time of publishing this blog.

What is a Sea Waybill?

For two parties who are conducting regular Intl business together and have credit line in place etc. the Sea Waybill would be obvious choice, A Sew Waybill is a non-negotiable document and is issued by the carrier without any originals. This means that the supplier does not have to arrange or pay for a telex release or send original bills of lading forward by courier and the consignee does not need to worry about presenting endorsed original bills of lading to the carrier at destination.

For a sea waybill to be issued the carrier may impose certain conditions such as the shipper . consignee having a valid credit line with the carrier and the completion of an indemnity.

If you need any further advice or assistance please contact us via our website www.mannson.com .