International expansion is key to growing your e-commerce business. As you begin to market your products abroad, you may see orders coming from Germany.
With one of the world’s leading economies, German customers are a great customer base to sell to. Participation in the European Union benefits your eCommerce business as you can build a large customer base in Germany and then expand to other EU countries
In this guide, we’ll go over the rules, fees, shipping options, and services to help you get started selling internationally and shipping your products to Germany, whether you want to do it yourself or partner with a third party. . logistics company (3pl) to pack and ship your orders.
shipping to germany: usps vs. oops. against fedex against dhl
Below we break down the differences in service levels for shipping to Germany, including price and carrier transit times.
Only USPS offers flat rates for shipments from the United States to Germany. All other prices were calculated using the respective carrier’s price calculators for a 2kg package as of November 2019. Exact prices are subject to change.
Note: These are general options for consumer shipping orders. to find out what shipbob offers when fulfilling and shipping to other countries like germany, request a quote here.
Exact shipbob rates for customers will vary, as we charge a “full cost of fulfillment” which includes picking, packing, and shipping, among other factors.
the four major us carriers. uu. They offer shipping services to Germany. But how do you know which one is really the best to ship to Germany for your order(s)? the answer is, it depends. each carrier has advantages and disadvantages, and you should consider which carrier to use based on the type of package.
1. USPS
usps is not just for shipping in the united states. Like other carriers, their rates depend on the weight of the package and the expected delivery time. USPS may be cheaper than the other carriers, but it takes longer to ship to Germany.
professional usps:
- generally cheaper than other carriers
- ability to transport larger packages cost-effectively
- no pickup fees
usps cons:
- packages are transferred to deutsche post once they arrive, which may add a few extra days for delivery (unlike other carriers who own the journey of the package from pickup to delivery)
- order tracking options are limited compared to other carriers
read more: usps conditions of the german country.
2. ups and downs
With a worldwide presence, UPS is an excellent choice for shipping to Germany. They can pick up packages in the United States and ship them to addresses in Germany in as little as three days. UPS can also be a more expensive carrier if you ship heavier items that weigh more than 10 pounds.
best professionals:
- significant presence in the us. uu. to facilitate package pickup or delivery
- work with many shipping partners to reduce shipping costs
- easy-to-use online interface to generate shipping labels
- ability to transport packages of all sizes
cons improvement:
- Limited German presence
- Generally expensive prices or high fees
3. fedex
Like UPS, FedEx has a worldwide presence and is an excellent option for shipping to Germany. They can pick up packages in the United States and ship them to addresses in Germany in as little as three days. FedEx is generally more expensive than USPS but offers competitive prices with UPS and DHL.
fedex professionals:
- significant presence in the us. uu. for easy package pickup or delivery
- many shipping partners to reduce shipping costs
- easy-to-use online interface for generating shipping labels
- ability to carry packages of all sizes
- prices can be good if shipped in bulk
disadvantages of fedex:
- Limited German presence
- Generally expensive prices or high fees
4. dhl
dhl is one of the leading international shipping companies for us-based businesses. uu. who want to ship abroad. Furthermore, they are based in Germany. If you ship consistently to Germany, DHL is a safe bet.
advantages of dhl:
- strong international presence in around 220 nations and territories
- headquarters in germany
- express delivery to service points
- delivery efficient air and sea services
- ability to transport larger packages cost-effectively
- without collection fees
dhl disadvantages:
- limited us presence. USA
- generally higher shipping costs
- generally more surcharges compared to other carriers
tariff and tax limits when shipping to germany
The import duty and tax threshold is the amount at which a business begins to pay taxes based on the declared value of an item. Germany calculates using the cif method, which means that import duties and taxes are calculated based on the value of imported goods, as well as shipping costs.
import taxes over €22
If your package is worth €21.99 or less, you’re in luck! is below the threshold to pay import taxes.
tax rates above €150
Tax fees are for much more expensive items, if your item is less than €150, you don’t need to worry about paying a tax fee.
common slowdowns and lags
Due to technological advancements, shipping to Germany is a much easier process compared to 10 years ago. however, there are still some slowdowns and delays outside of your control that can affect how long it takes for packets to arrive.
bad weather
For most of the year, Germany has really nice weather with few to no natural disasters. however, it snows a lot in winter in germany. this can slow down the packet delivery rate.
German postal transfers
Due to local laws, USPS will transfer your package to Deutsche Post once it has arrived in Germany. Due to this transfer process, it may take a few days for the German post to post it.
national holidays
Germany has different federal holidays than the United States. some can even last a few days, so be sure to check beforehand for accurate arrival estimates.
expand your business to germany with shipbob
have you shipped products to germany before? If you haven’t already, consider working with a global 3PL to facilitate international shipping. An experienced 3pl like shipbob can offer substantial discounts on shipping as well as easier infrastructure for customs forms and taxes.
with shipbob handling fulfillment logistics for packages going to germany, you can rest easy knowing your products are delivered to your customers, whether you use our poland fulfillment center which is on the germany border or any other shipbob location.
save time and money
By investing in a partnership with a 3pl, you eliminate the need to buy or rent the warehouse space, logistics operations, labor, and technology required for in-house fulfillment. As your business grows, automated order fulfillment becomes increasingly expensive.
These costs include storage space, forklifts and other equipment, warehouse management software, hiring and labor costs, workers’ compensation, and liability insurance.
shipbob has thousands of customers and ships millions of packages worldwide, allowing merchants to access discounted bulk shipping rates. it also saves time by outsourcing fulfillment tasks to a 3pl.
Instead of wasting time packing boxes, queuing at the post office, or building a fulfillment infrastructure, working with a 3pl gives you back time to focus on more strategic initiatives like product development and marketing.
leverage industry expertise and resources
working with a 3pl like shipbob can help you get started in germany easily. With a vast network of fulfillment centers and shipping options that in-house fulfillment lacks, shipbob helps businesses of all sizes gain international fulfillment capabilities.
As an e-commerce professional, you probably don’t have time to familiarize yourself with all the details of shipping and logistics. shipbob is staffed by e-commerce logistics professionals who are knowledgeable about the complexities of the supply chain, and has the technical resources and partner network to help you optimize and drive e-commerce success.
conclusion
shipping to germany from usa. uu. It doesn’t have to be complicated, especially when associated with a 3pl shipbob. German clients will help you build a large base as you expand further into Europe. If you need help shipping to Germany, please fill out the form below to learn how Shipbob can make shipping even easier. are you ready to start shipping to germany from usa? u? start with shipbob.