Urgent courier shipping from China to the UK
Confirm the courier accepts the goods, then agree the importer, clearance instructions, delivery address and who pays each charge before collection. Send the paperwork to the clearance team and obtain written acknowledgement. Coordinate the factory handover with Cambridge China Bridge.
Check suitability before booking
Courier can suit urgent samples, replacement parts and a small stock rescue. Ask the factory for packed dimensions, gross weight, contents and photographs before requesting a quote. Compare the cost of sending only the urgent portion with sending the whole order. Use sea versus air freight for the wider transport decision.
Flag batteries, liquids, powders, magnets and aerosols to the courier and obtain acceptance for the actual goods and packaging before collection. Ask which supporting documents it wants. Give the date the goods must reach your premises and ask whether the quoted timing includes clearance and final delivery.
Separate the importer from the delivery contact
Put the agreed importer's legal business name, registered address, customs registration number and VAT number where applicable in the booking instructions. Record the delivery address and receiving contact separately. Ask the clearance team to confirm which details it will use rather than assuming the parcel label settles the importer.
If the seller is importing and selling to you in the UK, record that arrangement explicitly. If you are importing directly, agree ownership at import and the tax evidence you expect. See who is the importer of record rather than treating the courier account holder as the importer.
Send clearance instructions before collection
Send the commercial invoice, packing list and proposed goods classification to the courier's clearance team. Include an accurate product description, materials, intended use, value, currency and country of origin. Ask it to flag missing information before the factory hands over the cartons. Use customs clearance documents for the supporting paperwork.
If you are eligible and want postponed VAT accounting, give the person importing on your behalf written confirmation before the import declaration is made. HMRC requires that confirmation before they proceed. Obtain acknowledgement from the clearance team; a note to the factory alone leaves the handover uncertain.
Agree delivery terms and approve charges
Write down the delivery term and named destination, then spell out who arranges collection, clearance and final delivery, and who pays freight, duty, import VAT and courier fees. Door-to-door wording alone leaves too much unanswered. Read the delivered-duty-paid VAT guide when the supplier offers to handle everything.
Request an itemised quote showing what is included, excluded or provisional. Ask about fuel, remote-area, clearance, tax-advance, storage and redelivery charges, without assuming they all apply. Name the person authorised to approve extras, set a spending limit and ask for approval before additional work. Keep an available payment contact so a charge query does not sit unanswered.
Control the handover and close the shipment
Before release, match the carton labels and paperwork to the approved booking. Obtain the tracking reference, collection confirmation and copies of the documents actually supplied. Assign someone to monitor clearance messages and answer queries. Treat the courier's estimated arrival as a planning estimate until delivery is confirmed.
After delivery, check the cartons and contents and reconcile the final invoice against approved charges. Request the customs entry details and check the relevant import VAT evidence against the agreed importer arrangement. Cambridge China Bridge's staff in China can coordinate the factory paperwork and handover against the instructions agreed with the buyer.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send batteries by courier from China?
Ask the courier to accept the exact battery type, product and packaging before booking. Send the information and documents it requests; do not rely on acceptance of a previous shipment.
Does door-to-door courier include UK import charges?
Ask for written confirmation of who pays duty, import VAT, clearance and any tax-advance fees. The delivery description alone is not enough to approve the cost.
How do I request postponed VAT accounting?
If eligible, give the person importing on your behalf written confirmation before the declaration is made. Obtain acknowledgement from the clearance team and keep the instructions.
What should I approve before courier collection?
Approve the goods and packaging, importer details, clearance instructions, delivery destination and itemised charges. Name an available contact who can approve extras and resolve payment queries.