Choosing a Door-to-Door Logistics Partner: Questions to Ask First

Picking a door-to-door logistics partner on price alone is one of the most common mistakes new importers make. A slightly cheaper quote isn’t worth much if the provider can’t clear your specific product type or doesn’t communicate during delays.

Ask About Their Customs Experience With Your Product

Not every provider handles every product category equally well. Machinery, food products, and electronics can each have different documentation or approval requirements. Ask specifically whether they’ve cleared your product category before, not just whether they “do customs.”

Ask How They Communicate During Delays

Delays happen even with the best providers — the difference is whether you find out proactively or have to chase for updates. Ask what their process is for notifying you when a shipment is held up in clearance or at port.

Ask for an Itemized Quote, Not a Flat Number

• What exactly is covered in the quoted price?
• Are duty, VAT, and potential storage charges included or separate?
• What happens if the shipment is delayed at customs — who absorbs any resulting storage cost?
• Can they provide references from businesses importing similar products?

We’re happy to answer all of these directly — contact DE International with your product details and we’ll walk you through exactly how we’d handle your shipment.