Most small jewellery shipments from Rajkot go with the international express carriers: DHL, FedEx, UPS and, for the Gulf and Middle East, Aramex. They collect from the workshop, clear export customs, fly the goods and usually deliver to your door within days. India Post's international services are slower but can suit light samples.
Which carrier is best depends on your destination, the size of the shipment and the rates your account or your supplier's account gets.
How express courier works from Rajkot
The carriers have offices or agents in Rajkot. Parcels are collected locally and moved to a larger gateway in India for export clearance and the international flight. The courier files the export declaration on the shipper's behalf, so the maker needs its Importer Exporter Code and GST details ready, along with the invoice and packing list.
At destination the carrier usually clears customs for you and adds any duty and taxes to its bill, either charged to you or to the receiver.
Choosing a carrier
- Coverage and speed to your country and city.
- Whether duties are billed to the sender or the receiver, and the carrier's fee for handling them.
- Rules for declaring jewellery and the maximum declared value per parcel.
- Liability limits and whether extra cover can be bought.
- Tracking quality and the ability to book collection from Rajkot easily.
Who books the shipment
If the maker books the courier, the cost is usually added to the invoice and you have less control over rates and service. If you have your own account with a carrier, you can send the maker a prepaid label or import booking and pay your negotiated rate. For regular orders, your own account is usually cheaper and clearer.
Above a certain size, express courier becomes more expensive than air cargo. The break-even depends on route and rates, so compare both for larger orders.
Protecting the parcel
Courier parcels pass through sorting machines, so pack firmly and seal each carton well. Declare goods accurately as imitation jewellery with an honest value. See common quality problems in imitation jewellery for the defects that can look like transit damage.
Ask the maker to share the tracking number and a copy of the invoice and packing list as soon as the parcel is collected. You can then check the documents before the parcel reaches your customs, and fix any error with the courier while it is still in transit.
What this means for a buyer
For small and repeat orders, courier is simple and fast if paperwork is right. Creston & Co works for buyers only, for a fixed fee agreed in writing. We coordinate collection from Rajkot workshops, check the invoice and packing list and supervise packing. Ask for a free sourcing review.