Products purchased online in the US are often shipped from China. The rise of eCommerce, connectivity and globalization has blurred the borders of shopping and trade. This led to the creation of ePacket – an agreement designed to make shipping between China and the US much faster. Learn more about ePacket and decide whether it’s right for your online business.
What you’ll learn:
ePacket shipping is a service agreed between the United States Postal Service (USPS), Hongkong Post and eBay China. Established in 2011, the agreement aimed to drastically reduce shipping times from China and Hong Kong to the US.
It arrived at a time when technology and globalization were revolutionizing how we shopped. Increasingly, products bought and sold in the US were manufactured in China – from artificial flowers to electric toasters, umbrellas and drinking flasks.
But traditional shipping was slow. ePacket shipping was devised to speed things up. Under the service, small packages sent from China to the US received:
At the time, it was hailed as a great advancement in global eCommerce. The name itself is a play on eCommerce.
“It shows the Postal Service has the flexibility to develop service options to meet market demand from businesses around the world.”
Paul Vogel, president and chief marketing/sales officer of USPS, speaking in 2011
Initially, ePacket shipping was focused on the US. But as of 2021, there are 44 eligible countries using ePacket to ship from China – including the UK and much of Europe.
With ePacket shipping, your parcels are delivered direct to the customer’s door. The process is as follows:
The ePacket shipping service brought many benefits to consumers and eCommerce sellers in the US and merchants in Hong Kong and China.
Key benefits include:
ePacket shipping can help you save time and boost brand sentiment with fast, tracked delivery. But before getting started you should consider whether it’s right for you. Ask yourself:
The ePacket shipping scheme was created for “lightweight goods and merchandise”. To qualify:
Parcels must:
If you’re sending rolls, they must:
Source: USPS
The maximum value for parcels sent via ePacket shipping is $400 USD (£288).
Once you know your parcels meet the requirements of ePacket, you’ll want to consider the actual shipping – from how long it takes to tracking via ePacket.
The time it takes for an ePacket parcel to be shipped from China depends on the destination. ePacket was originally established to serve links between the US and China and Hong Kong. Since then, it’s since been expanded to include shipping from China to 40+ countries.
It takes between 10 and 20 days for a parcel sent from China via ePacket to arrive at its destination in the US. This is a significant improvement on the month-long shipping times by sea before ePacket was established.
ePacket tracking gives you peace of mind – whether you’re a seller, merchant or shopper. Tracking rules agreed under the terms of the ePacket agreement in 2011 mean all parcels are tracked from the moment they’re dispatched. So, you can check the status of your parcel mid-delivery. This is ideal for handling late deliveries or customer queries.
ePacket tracking is simple. The best way to track a parcel between China and the US is to use the official postal service websites:
With both, you simply type in your 13-digit parcel tracking number. You’ll need to get that from the supplier in China who dispatched the parcels.
Though ePacket shipping offers many benefits, there are some challenges to also consider. These include:
Yes, ePacket shipping delivers door-to-door. The process sees items collected in China by the China Post EMS service, taken to the China border and sent to your country. Once in the US (for example) the parcel is collected by USPS, which directs the parcel to your door via your local post office.
As far as shipping methods go, ePacket is thought to be safe. There’s a set procedure with responsibilities to get your parcel to its various stages. And it can also be tracked at any stage in its journey. Created by China Post EMS and USPS, it is most reputable.
Is ePacket good for dropshipping?
Yes, ePacket is considered good for dropshipping. The main reason is it allows US or UK-based sellers to buy products direct from merchants based in China and have them sent directly to the buyer’s address. There’s no need for you as a seller to stock the products yourself.
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