Why shipping decides your margin
Two sellers can buy the same toy at the same factory price and end up with very different margins. The difference is usually freight: how the goods move, who books it, and whether the cartons are packed to use space efficiently.
We quote logistics as part of the product cost, so you see landed cost rather than a factory price with unknown extras.
EXW vs FOB vs DDP
| Term | You are responsible for | Best for | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXW (Ex Works) | Everything from our warehouse — export clearance, freight, duty | Buyers with their own forwarder in China | Highest — you own the goods at our door |
| FOB (Free On Board) | Ocean freight, insurance, import duty | Experienced importers with a freight account | Medium — we handle export and loading |
| CIF | Import duty and destination charges | Buyers who want us to book freight | Medium — insurance included, but destination fees can surprise |
| DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) | Nothing — we deliver to your address | Amazon sellers, small brands, first orders | Lowest — one price, one invoice |
For most first-time buyers and Amazon sellers, DDP is the simplest option: one price that includes freight, duty and delivery, with no surprises at the destination port.
DDP availability depends on destination country and product category. Some markets restrict DDP for certain goods, and duty rates vary by HS code. We confirm feasibility before quoting.
Transit times by destination
Sea freight from Ningbo / Shanghai, port to port, excluding customs clearance and inland delivery:
| Destination | Port | Transit time |
|---|---|---|
| USA West Coast | Los Angeles / Long Beach | 14 – 20 days |
| USA East Coast | New York / Savannah | 28 – 36 days |
| Canada | Vancouver | 16 – 22 days |
| UK | Felixstowe / Southampton | 30 – 38 days |
| Netherlands | Rotterdam | 30 – 36 days |
| Germany | Hamburg | 32 – 38 days |
| Spain | Valencia / Barcelona | 30 – 36 days |
| France | Le Havre / Marseille | 30 – 37 days |
| Japan | Tokyo / Osaka | 4 – 8 days |
| South Korea | Busan | 3 – 6 days |
| Mexico | Manzanillo | 20 – 26 days |
| Brazil | Santos | 35 – 45 days |
| Australia | Sydney / Melbourne | 16 – 24 days |
| UAE | Jebel Ali | 18 – 24 days |
Add 3–7 days for customs clearance at destination, plus inland transport. Actual transit varies with carrier, season and congestion — we confirm the sailing schedule when booking rather than quoting from a static table.
Other modes
| Mode | Transit | When it makes sense |
|---|---|---|
| Air freight | 3 – 8 days | Urgent restock, high value-to-weight ratio, sample shipments |
| Sea express / LCL | 18 – 30 days | 1–15 CBM, shared container space |
| Rail (China–Europe) | 18 – 25 days | EU destinations, faster than sea, cheaper than air |
| Courier (DHL / FedEx) | 2 – 5 days | Samples only — uneconomical for bulk |
LCL vs FCL
| LCL | FCL | |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 1 – 15 CBM | 20GP ≈ 28 CBM usable, 40HQ ≈ 68 CBM |
| Cost behaviour | Per CBM, higher per-unit | Fixed per container, lowest per-unit |
| Handling | Consolidated, more handling risk | Sealed at origin |
| Best for | Trial orders, mixed SKUs | Repeat orders, single large SKU |
Where you are between sizes, we calculate both and show the break-even point. A 40HQ is often cheaper per unit than a 20GP once you pass roughly 22 CBM.
Consolidation across suppliers
Buying from several factories is normal. Shipping from several is expensive.
We receive goods from multiple factories at our Yiwu warehouse, check quantity and condition on arrival, and consolidate into one shipment — one set of export documents, one container, one freight bill.
This is usually where a sourcing agent pays for itself: consolidating four suppliers into one LCL shipment commonly removes several hundred dollars of freight and handling.
Amazon FBA preparation
For FBA sellers we prepare cartons to Amazon’s requirements:
- FNSKU label application, or poly-bagging with the required suffocation warning
- Carton weight and size limits checked per marketplace
- “Sold as set” / “This is a set” labeling where applicable
- Shipping plan carton labels and pallet configuration
- Carton content and quantity reporting back to you before dispatch
Requirements differ by marketplace and change periodically. We confirm current specifications against your Seller Central shipping plan before packing, rather than working from last year’s rules.
Packaging for ocean transit
Toys ship badly when cartons are built for retail rather than for a container:
- Master carton burst strength matched to stacking height
- Inner boxes to protect retail packaging from compression
- Moisture protection for long sea routes and humid destinations
- Drop-test verification on the packed carton, not the bare product
We check carton configuration against the product’s fragility and the route before the order is packed.
Documents you receive
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice & packing list | Customs clearance |
| Bill of lading / airway bill | Title and transport record |
| Certificate of origin | Duty reduction under trade agreements where applicable |
| Test reports & CPC / CE DoC | Market access |
| Loading photos & container seal number | Proof of condition at dispatch |
Track your shipment
We send a loading report with photographs the day the container leaves, and share carrier tracking until delivery. You are not left guessing whether the goods were actually shipped.
Get a landed-cost quote
Send carton count, gross weight, destination and — for Amazon — the warehouse code.
Common questions
Can you ship less than a container?
Yes. LCL from 1 CBM, and courier for samples. There is no minimum container requirement.
Who handles customs clearance?
Under DDP we handle it end to end. Under FOB or EXW, your forwarder clears the goods and we supply the export documents.
Do you ship to Amazon FBA directly?
Yes, including appointment booking where the marketplace requires it. Send the warehouse code and shipping plan and we prepare cartons to spec.
What if the goods arrive damaged?
We photograph and record the container seal at loading, which establishes condition at dispatch. If damage occurs in transit, that record supports the insurance claim. Packaging-related damage caused by our carton spec is our responsibility.
Can I combine toys with non-toy products?
Usually yes, provided the combined shipment clears the same customs requirements. Tell us the mix and we will confirm before quoting.