Before you buy · the shipping process
Your shipment, from factory to delivery
See the steps behind the shipping price before you commit to furniture or building materials. Know which measurements, records and delivery details to confirm along the way.
Four phases. Fifteen checks before delivery.
A typical sea-freight shipment moves through four phases: preparation, receiving and measurement, transport and customs, then delivery and handover. These 15 steps show where costs, cargo care, timing and compliance need attention.
The complete map
See the whole journey.
Follow the numbered stages, not just the sailing time. On a phone, use the readable steps below or open the map to zoom.
Open full map Buildcargo illustration: the 5% service fee and ‘No surprise increases after confirmation’ statement apply only where expressly included in your individual written Buildcargo quote, subject to its confirmed cargo and service scope. They are not a universal Foshan Cargo rate or promise. The estimator shows DDP base freight only; surcharges require separate review.
Know what to ask
What happens. What to check.
Use the full map for an overview, then read each step below. Start with supplier packing details and your delivery address; replace early assumptions with measured cargo and an agreed written scope before shipment.
Prepare at the factory
Confirm the goods, export packing and transport to the receiving warehouse.
Goods leave the factory
Confirm the goods are ready and record their condition before departure. Match the goods and factory handover to the purchase and packing records.
Your checkAsk for departure photos and a packing list that identifies each package.
- Damage or loss
Export packing
Agree suitable protection, such as crates or timber frames, for the goods and handling plan. Extra packing changes the outer dimensions and may add cost.
Your checkConfirm the packing work, price and final outer dimensions before dispatch.
- Extra costs
- Damage or loss
Factory to warehouse
For shared-container shipping, arrange factory delivery to the agreed receiving warehouse. Confirm who books the transport, pays for it and records the handover.
Your checkConfirm the receiving address, arrival window and domestic transport charge.
- Extra costs
- Timing
Receive and measure
Reconcile package counts, measured dimensions, contents and warehouse records.
Quantity check
Check package counts and labels against the packing list at receipt. Record shortages or visible damage so later handovers can be compared.
Your checkRequest the receiving record with package IDs, counts and any exceptions.
- Damage or loss
Size and weight
Measure packed outer dimensions and gross weight. A difference from supplier estimates can change chargeable volume or weight and the resulting price.
Your checkAsk for verifiable measurements and the reason for any revised charge before confirming.
- Extra costs
Cargo inspection
Match the actual contents to the cargo list. Items that need special declarations or handling must be identified and checked for the proposed route.
Your checkDisclose all contents and ask whether any item needs separate handling or approval.
- Compliance
Warehouse registration
Link each received package to its storage and shipment record. Arrival at a warehouse does not by itself confirm that the cargo has departed.
Your checkAsk for the receipt status and any remaining consolidation wait before departure.
- Damage or loss
- Timing
Transport and clear customs
Align declarations, loading, routing and customs arrangements with the actual cargo.
Export documents
Keep descriptions, quantities, values and supporting documents consistent with the goods. Incomplete or inaccurate information can require correction and affect cost or timing.
Your checkReview the cargo descriptions, true values and supporting documents before submission.
- Extra costs
- Compliance
Container loading
Cargo readiness and consolidation affect loading dates. The handling plan should identify who loads the container and how packages are placed, protected and secured.
Your checkConfirm the loading plan and whether departure depends on other cargo becoming ready.
- Damage or loss
- Timing
Port and export checks
Port and customs checks may require documents or cargo inspection. Differences between the goods and declaration can lead to corrections, extra costs and delays.
Your checkConfirm who handles inspection requests and how any resulting cost is reviewed.
- Extra costs
- Compliance
International transport
A sea route may be direct or include transfers and multiple port calls. Schedule changes can affect arrival; the sailing time is only part of the journey.
Your checkAsk which waits, transfers and port calls are included in the estimated timeline.
- Timing
Arrival and customs
Destination release depends on the cargo and declaration. Inspections, storage and container delays may add costs; non-compliant cargo can also affect other shipments sharing the container.
Your checkConfirm the declaration basis, shared-container screening and responsibility for customs-related costs.
- Extra costs
- Compliance
- Timing
Deliver and hand over
Check each destination handover and agree access, unloading and the delivery endpoint.
Destination warehouse
Where the route uses a destination warehouse, record unloading and receipt. Compare package counts and visible condition with earlier handover records.
Your checkAsk who records this handover and how missing or damaged packages are reported.
- Damage or loss
Final delivery
Arrange protection during truck loading and review the delivery address. Residential access, road restrictions or vehicle limits can change the delivery plan and cost.
Your checkConfirm the full address, vehicle access and agreed delivery point before dispatch.
- Extra costs
- Damage or loss
Unloading and handover
Agree the unloading people, equipment and available time before arrival. Waiting or last-minute arrangements may cost extra; carrying indoors and installation require separate agreement.
Your checkConfirm the unloading plan and record package count and visible condition at handover.
- Extra costs
- Timing
This is a planning overview for suitable sea-freight cargo. The actual route, handling arrangements and responsibilities depend on your shipment's written agreement. DDP base freight only. Surcharges require separate review.
Before you compare quotes
Six things a starting price cannot tell you.
Measurements you can verify
Supplier estimates may differ from packed warehouse measurements. Agree how dimensions and gross weight will be recorded, and review the evidence and calculation behind any price change after receipt.
The whole journey time
Waiting for a discounted departure or a shared container to fill can extend the journey. Ask whether the estimate includes those waits, transfers, multiple port calls and final delivery.
A truthful declaration
A low tax figure alone does not establish a problem. If it relies on understated values or inaccurate declarations, inspection, additional tax and delay risks can increase. Confirm the basis using your actual goods and records.
A record at every handover
Multiple warehouses and handling teams can be part of a route. Missing counts, condition photos or assigned responsibility make damage and loss harder to trace. Ask who records and handles issues at each transfer.
Clear rules for shared cargo
Some goods need special declarations or handling. If they are mixed into a shared container without the required checks or disclosure, one shipment's compliance issue may delay others. Ask how shared cargo is screened.
A complete written cost scope
An opening price may omit packing, domestic transport, storage or delivery-related charges. Request an itemized scope and confirm additions before handing over the goods. The estimator remains DDP base freight only; surcharges require separate review.
Questions before you ship
What can I check before buying?
Ask suppliers for the full package count, outer dimensions, gross weights and proposed protection. Share your delivery address and access restrictions. If packing is still unknown, keep the estimate provisional and replace assumptions before confirming shipment.
Does the estimate include every step and charge shown here?
No. DDP base freight only. Surcharges require separate review. This overview explains the process; it does not add services to your estimate. Confirm the itemized written quote, delivery endpoint and responsibilities before booking.
Does every shipment follow all 15 steps?
These steps describe a typical sea-freight journey. Full-container routing, direct delivery and other shipment arrangements may combine or change some steps. Confirm the plan for your cargo; references to other transport modes in the illustration do not establish their availability.
What if cargo is damaged or missing?
Keep the package labels, receiving records, packing and photos of the concern, and contact the team promptly. Transport damage or loss follows your confirmed transport agreement. Additional commercial cargo insurance is not automatically included; any arranged cover follows the issued policy.
From planning to execution
Start with the goods you want to buy.
Foshan Cargo helps you prepare the estimate and open questions. Buildcargo Logistics reviews the actual goods, issues the written shipping quote and carries out the agreed shipment.