I am in the process of arranging a less than container load (LCL) shipment from China. I spoke to a UK company today who told me that if I paid for the Chinese supplier to arrange the shipping in such a way that I could collect the goods from a UK port or depot, then it is likely that I will have to pay significant extra charges before I can collect. I am curious to know if this sounds like an effort to persuade me to use the UK company or whether what was said is likely to happen. Any relevant opinions or experiences would be of great interest.

I have, in the past, collected air freight from airport depots without coming across any unexpected charges. Is sea freight so different?

Is it better for me to arrange the shipping with a UK company or for the supplier to arrange the shipping?

Quoting from [maxsteam]:


I am in the process of arranging a less than container load (LCL) shipment from China. I spoke to a UK company today who told me that if I paid for the Chinese supplier to arrange the shipping in such a way that I could collect the goods from a UK port or depot, then it is likely that I will have to pay significant extra charges before I can collect. I am curious to know if this sounds like an effort to persuade me to use the UK company or whether what was said is likely to happen. Any relevant opinions or experiences would be of great interest.


I have, in the past, collected air freight from airport depots without coming across any unexpected charges. Is sea freight so different?


Is it better for me to arrange the shipping with a UK company or for the supplier to arrange the shipping?

The only piece of paper I can guess might be an extra charge for sea freight would be a certificate for the wood pallets (if used) in China. UK and US and a bunch of countries require all wood to be treated before shipping. Other than that not sure what he might be talkign about.

Unless he is talking about Customs Duty and VAT. When you picked up your Air freight was that already included in the costs? (which I doubt unless you used TNT r DHL etc who act as your customs agent also)..... Just ask him outright what "extras" he is talking about....... If he can't come up with a good answer then he might just trying tos care you into using a UK agent.

Replying to [maxsteam]: Hello,
An LCL shipment cost more costlier to the buyer but its actually not too much. It just includes the cost of Palletting, Handling and Storage which totals upto 300-400 USD in case of 10-15 CBM of shipment.

Replying to [maxsteam]:

If send by LCL, you need pay some handling charge in the destination .Also you need to pay customs duty and discharge fee.
But it's not too much .

Replying to [maxsteam]:
Usually for LCL both of the side should be paying the handling charges to shipping forwarder. I think that you should talking with your shipping forwarder at your side and also asking for your suppliers to give u all of the price .

Replying to [maxsteam]: it depends on what the supplier will handle in their offer to you. It may only include freight charges to destination. If so, you may have to pay for some other services like, deconsolidation fee, stripping fee, duties and taxes, etc.

Better ask this UK forwarder on what exactly "other charges" they are talking about. The more detailed the better.

Replying to [maxsteam]:if you organize shipping of lcl through china you will most likely to get a cheaper rate for the sea freight. But when the goods arrive you always have to pay more local charges. my forwarder explained me that the chinese agency always gets comission from the agent in the destination port who is in charge to handle your shipment. These commission have to be paid by the customer in form of higher local charges like, THC, Uncharging, Handling and so on. In some european ports you even have to pay CIF (China Import Fee), If you organize through your local shipping company you will pay a higher sea freight rate but lesser local charges because they dont have to pay the chinese agent. We tried both ways and from the cost side its almost the same. The good thing on using your local forwarder is that you haye a single point of contact in your area and more control over your shipment. Also you develop a business relation so that the price can be reduced. When we organize the shipping in china its always a different shipping company because the supplier choose one. So all in all its better to organize through local shipment agency, because its the same price with better service.