Tracked post or courier for a small China order?
Choose tracked post if the named service accepts your goods and its delivery evidence, claims terms and timing fit your business. Choose express courier when its confirmed service gives you delivery control worth the extra total cost. Compare complete quotes before booking. Ask Cambridge China Bridge to check the options with its staff in China.
Confirm acceptance before comparing prices
Ask the supplier to name the operator and exact service, rather than quote only “tracked shipping”. Send the product description, contents, value, packed dimensions, weight and destination postcode. Flag batteries, liquids, powders, food and fragile contents. Ask for written acceptance of the actual shipment, including its packaging, before paying for dispatch.
Treat tracked post and express courier as options to verify, rather than fixed levels of service. For either route, ask who collects in China, who delivers in the UK and who handles a rejected parcel. If the supplier books through a shipping reseller, establish who holds the booking and can resolve problems.
Check what tracking and claims actually provide
Request an example of tracking for the proposed route. Check whether it shows carrier acceptance, onward handover, UK arrival and final delivery, and whether a delivery record can be downloaded. A created shipping label is not your evidence that the carrier has collected the goods. Ask who investigates a tracking gap or disputed delivery.
Before dispatch, save the order, invoice, booking terms, packing list, parcel photographs and acceptance receipt. Ask who can claim, what loss or damage cover applies, which exclusions matter and what evidence and deadlines the service specifies. Keep damaged packaging and photograph the contents on arrival. Use the cargo insurance guide when checking whether the proposed cover matches your exposure.
Agree customs handling before dispatch
The parcel or courier company is responsible for taking goods through UK customs. Ask who will contact you for information, who handles declaration queries and which clearance records you will receive. Review the invoice description, value and commodity code before dispatch. The postal import paperwork guide covers the documents separately.
You must keep commercial invoices and customs paperwork, including your Import VAT Certificate where applicable. Ask the booking party how these records will reach your business and confirm your VAT instructions with whoever handles clearance. A tracking screen should not be your only shipment record.
Compare the complete quoted charges
Give each operator the same packed shipment details and delivery address. Request a written breakdown of collection, transport, fuel and other surcharges, clearance, any fee for advancing tax, final delivery and optional cover. Ask how chargeable weight is calculated and what could trigger reweighing, storage, redelivery or return charges. Mark each item as included, excluded or conditional.
An express operator may charge a service fee. Ask who pays each charge and whether duty and import VAT are included, estimated or payable separately. Compare the cash needed to receive the stock, with recoverable VAT considered separately in your cost planning. Use understanding your landed price for the wider order budget.
Choose around the delivery you need
Ask whether the proposed delivery date is an estimate or a guarantee, what starts the delivery clock and how customs delays affect the commitment. Check delivery to your actual premises, including receiving hours, signature arrangements, missed delivery and collection options. Request recent experience on the proposed route rather than relying on the word “express”.
Choose tracked post when its confirmed acceptance, evidence, cover and delivery arrangements suit stock you can afford to wait for or replace. Choose express courier when its confirmed support and delivery arrangements justify the complete cost. If neither can meet your receiving requirements, change the service or your launch plan before dispatch.
Frequently asked questions
Is tracked post cheaper than express courier?
Compare written totals for the same packed shipment and address. Include clearance, surcharges, final delivery and cover, then identify duty and VAT separately. The lowest postage quote may leave charges unquoted.
Does tracked shipping include insurance?
Check the exact service terms. Ask for the loss and damage cover, exclusions, claim deadline and eligible claimant. Do not assume a tracking number means the stock's full value is covered.
Who handles customs for a parcel from China?
The parcel or courier company takes goods through UK customs. Before dispatch, agree who handles queries, receives your VAT instructions and supplies the clearance records.
Is express courier delivery guaranteed?
Ask whether the quoted date is guaranteed or estimated and what exclusions apply. Check customs delays, delivery postcode, receiving hours and missed-delivery arrangements before relying on it for a launch.