---
title: Common Mistakes to Avoid When Shipping from China
description: "### **Article Summary:** Avoid the common traps many first-time (and even experienced) importers fall into when shipping from China. This guide will help you make smarter choices, avoid delays, and save money. ### 1. **Not Knowing If Your Item is…"
url: "https://fastforth.co/help/common-mistakes-to-avoid-when-shipping-from-china/"
updated: "2025-04-22"
category: "SHIPPING & LOGISTICS"
tags:
  - Import Guide
---

# Common Mistakes to Avoid When Shipping from China

### **Article Summary:**

Avoid the common traps many first-time (and even experienced) importers fall into when shipping from China. This guide will help you make smarter choices, avoid delays, and save money.

### 1. **Not Knowing If Your Item is Sensitive or Normal**

- **Mistake:** Choosing normal air shipping for a sensitive item like batteries, liquids, or powders
- **Result:** Delay in transit, repacking costs, or shipment rejection
  *Always confirm the category before choosing an air shipping method.*

---

### 2. **Assuming Cheap Products Mean Cheap Shipping**

- **Mistake:** Buying low-priced items ($2–$5) and expecting low shipping fees
- **Reality:** A $5 item could cost $40–$60 to ship based on its size, weight, and category
  *Understand the full landed cost — not just the product price.*

### 3. **Ignoring Product Quality**

- **Mistake:** Buying cheap products without verifying quality
- **Reality:** Many Chinese sellers list low-grade or knock-off products at super-low prices
  *[Use a procurement agent in China](https://fastforth.co/help/procurement-agent-to-buy-from-1688-taobao/) or request supplier videos before purchasing.*

### 4. **Not Consolidating Goods**

- **Mistake:** Shipping multiple small packages separately
- **Result:** Higher total cost and inefficient customs clearance
  *Use our free consolidation service to reduce CBM and total shipping costs.*

### 5. **Forgetting to Label Packages Correctly**

- **Mistake:** Sellers send items without your name or phone number. We encourage our customers to register their tracking numbers on our platform to help sort items that didn't arrive with the customer's information.
- **Result:** Delays or misidentification in the warehouse
  *Always share your unique warehouse code with your supplier.*

### 6. **Overlooking CBM in Sea Shipping**

- **Mistake:** Focusing only on weight when using sea freight
- **Reality:** Sea freight charges are based on volume (CBM), not kg
  *You’ll get an accurate CBM rate after consolidation.*

### 7. **Choosing the Wrong Shipping Method**

- **Mistake:** Using air shipping for items that could go by sea
- **Result:** Higher costs unnecessarily
  *Plan. Use sea freight for non-urgent or bulk orders.*