Please do not try to save money the wrong way.  With international trade you need inspection and you need insurance.


I have read how some of you do not think it is necessary, but I respectfully disagree.


  About seven years ago when I was working for a different company I sold a very good customer 1k of a particular electronics  item.  I suggested that he should have the freight forwarder inspect.   He said that it wasn't necessary that he trusted me.  I thanked him but said things can happen during transportation.  He said he didn't want to inspect.  I said that it was up to him. 


When the goods got to him he said that there were some missing.  I asked if he had insurance and he said no.  I explained how we couldn't go to our insurance because no shortage was noted while the goods were in our hands. There was no telling where along the long trail from Europe to Hong Kong the items went missing.  Everyone would just blame someone else. 


I was fortunate that he accepted the full blame.  He continued to buy from me but from then on he inspected and insured.


A few years later the company I then worked for ordered a fair number of reasonably small items.  They decided that it wasn't worth it to inspect.  When the goods arrived there was a shortage.  They wanted the supplier to make up the difference.  The supplier said that they had counted carefully and there could be no mistake.  Nothing was ever resolved and mistrust was born where complete trust had previously existed.


All the loss and bad blood could have been avoided.    For those of you who say that they don't insure or inspect when they feel they can afford a loss, I would say that is alright as long as you don't blame someone else for your problems later.

Replying to [kivi]:Yes..We take Life Insurance..Medical Insurance..Car Insurance (This is a must)..etc..etc..
Should not Shipment Insurance be made compulsory ?

Quoting from [adseaco]:


Replying to [kivi]:Yes..We take Life Insurance..Medical Insurance..Car Insurance (This is a must)..etc..etc..

Should not Shipment Insurance be made compulsory ?

It is your choice but I think it makes sense to insure.

Quoting from [MioBoy]:


Replying to [kivi]: hi kivi, thx for sharing bout inspection and insurance. i agree with you being a buyer if goods are not inspected and insured we must be prepared to accept the loss upon arrival.


i'm wondering on a different context, if cargo is not insured, what the risk are if the container goes missing or if the container vessel sunk? is there anyway we can claim compensation from shipping line or customs department at port of discharge?


thanks in advance.

I think if you do not insure your shipment and the ship sinks or your stock are stolen you lose everything. 


When considering a deal just figure in the costs of insurance. Then you can decide if the deal is worth doing or not.

Thank you for sharing with us your experience.

Quoting from [kivi]:

Quoting from [MioBoy]:



Replying to [kivi]: hi kivi, thx for sharing bout inspection and insurance. i agree with you being a buyer if goods are not inspected and insured we must be prepared to accept the loss upon arrival.



i'm wondering on a different context, if cargo is not insured, what the risk are if the container goes missing or if the container vessel sunk? is there anyway we can claim compensation from shipping line or customs department at port of discharge?



thanks in advance.

I think if you do not insure your shipment and the ship sinks or your stock are stolen you lose everything. 



When considering a deal just figure in the costs of insurance. Then you can decide if the deal is worth doing or not.

Here is a question about adding insurance onto an order.

Does every company offer it? What happens if the customs keep it?

How do I know that I'm really purchasing insurance, and not that the company is just saying I did?

Quoting from [real_service]:

Quoting from [kivi]:

Quoting from [MioBoy]:




Replying to [kivi]: hi kivi, thx for sharing bout inspection and insurance. i agree with you being a buyer if goods are not inspected and insured we must be prepared to accept the loss upon arrival.




i'm wondering on a different context, if cargo is not insured, what the risk are if the container goes missing or if the container vessel sunk? is there anyway we can claim compensation from shipping line or customs department at port of discharge?




thanks in advance.

I think if you do not insure your shipment and the ship sinks or your stock are stolen you lose everything. 




When considering a deal just figure in the costs of insurance. Then you can decide if the deal is worth doing or not.

Here is a question about adding insurance onto an order.

Does every company offer it? What happens if the customs keep it?

How do I know that I'm really purchasing insurance, and not that the company is just saying I did?

Only deal with well known international companies.  Make sure the branch that you are dealing with is really part of the mother company.  You also need to read whatever contract that you are agreeing to.