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6 Signs that it’s Time for you to Find a New Freight Forwarder and Customs Broker (Infographic)

excelsior on September 28, 2018

Many businesses resist changes because they overestimate the value of what they have and underestimate the value of what they might gain by giving that up, including finding a new freight forwarder and customs broker. Yes, finding a new and better one may cost a lot of time and effort, but it’s still not enough reason to settle for a partnership that doesn’t work anymore. Here are six signs that it’s time for you to find a new freight forwarder and customs broker:

6 Signs that it’s Time for you to Find a New Freight Forwarder and Customs Broker (Infographic)

Your business is growing

As your business grows, your service needs also increase that’s why you need a freight forwarder that can provide you with a complete range of services.

Your freight forwarder must also be stable and established so that you won’t have to jump from one freight forwarder to another all over again, considering that your business is on the verge of developing and expanding.

If your current freight forwarder is not stable and established, you can’t guarantee whether they will last in the business or not. One day, it might even get dissolved while you’re caught unprepared and have adverse effects on your business. It’s best to look for a freight forwarder that you can grow and succeed with.

Poor customer service

In every business transaction, effective communication skills are highly essential because it fosters efficient service provision and a healthy business relationship between two (or more) parties.

If you are having a hard time communicating with your current freight forwarder and customs broker, if it’s not because of poor communication skills perhaps you’re dealing with another contact person every time.

If you don’t make a move as early as now, it won’t only make you uncomfortable with the business relationship; it might also affect the productivity and profitability of your business.

Outdated technology

Using modern technology doesn’t only help a business save time and avoid hassles, it also helps in keeping ahead of the competition.

Most freight forwarders now use online tracking, electronic proof of delivery, and electronic billing among others to make sure that the products will reach its destination intact and on time.

However, there are still some freight forwarders who refuse to keep up with the trends, thinking that it works just the same or it’s too expensive. What about your freight forwarder? Are they helping you keep ahead or are you falling behind your competitors?

Recurring service failures

Although occasional problems are unavoidable in the freight forwarding business due to factors like weather, calamities, strikes, and transportation problems, it shouldn’t be used as an excuse for recurring service failures because it’s probably caused by lack of knowledge and experience, poor customer service, or outdated technologies as mentioned above.

Uncompetitive rates

Is your current freight forwarder charging you a reasonable rate? Do the quality of service that they provide match its price? If you think that you’re paying more than how much you should, why not canvass on other freight forwarders and compare the amounts? Who knows, you might even find a freight forwarder with cheaper yet better services or one that you can bid with for a lower rate.

Is it a partnership?

Last but not the least, you should assess whether your freight forwarder and customs broker treats you like a partner. Are they committed to providing you with the best services? Do they care about your success?

In the end, it’s not just the skills and knowledge that counts. It’s the business ethics that make transactions smooth and business partnerships last.

Here at Excelsior Worldwide Freight Logistics, we treat our clients as partners. We also conduct free orientation for those who are willing to learn about importation & exportation. It is our advocacy to share our knowledge & experience for 17 years in the business. 

Contact us today at (063) 525-9775 or visit our website www.excelsior.ph

 

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Is Your Customs Broker Helping You Save Money from Import Cost?

excelsior on May 14, 2018

Is Your Customs Broker Helping You Save Money from Import Cost?

When getting your goods into a country as an importer, passing through customs is an inevitable hurdle. As with any situation, you can either decide to whether or not you should do all the legwork alone or use a local customs broker to help you steer through often-rough seas of customs compliance.

Another question to be answered when looking at using customs broker is whether the price of doing so affects total import cost.

An Honest Customs Broker Can Impact Your Total Import Cost

If you to clear their goods at customs alone, you’re going to have to be at points of entry to receive goods, handle the tariffs, taxes and documentation and get the goods warehoused and/or moving into the supply chain themselves. Working with an honest customs broker that are experienced with all of the above is the best way to stay compliant and up to date with the importing process.

As a business owner, it is very important to work with someone who understands your unique requirements and delivers the level of service you need to succeed in your marketplace. And most importantly, you only want to work with a broker that will help your business save money in a legal and ethical manner in all your import dealings.

To know if your customs brokers are helping you save money from import cost, you must ask yourself if they are providing you with the following benefits:

  • Saving time on paperwork

The customs clearing process can be an extremely laborious task. If your customs broker is still giving you tons of paperwork to fill out, you may be missing precious time from other aspects of your business. Your customs broker should take care of all the necessary documentation for you, which will help you save time, which in the business world, equates to money.

  • Reduce errors on customs documentation

In relation to previous point, all the documentation that your customs broker has done on you behalf must be free from any mistakes or issues. If your current broker filled out the forms and made a mistake, your goods may be held up at the customs yard.

Ultimately, that can slow order processing down significantly. It can also make clients unhappy, which can tarnish your business reputation. Finally, it may result in product returns. All of that can cost your business but turning to a trusted and reliable customs broker can help you avoid costly documentation mistakes.

  • Handling duty payments

Lastly, an honest customs broker should help you create a reasonable appraisal of your items. If necessary, they should also be able to negotiate with the customs officials to keep the valuation relatively low, and subsequently, keep the duties low as well. These negotiations are another way that a customs broker helps to save your business money.

Excelsior Worldwide conduct free orientation for those who are willing to learn about importation & exportation. It is our advocacy to share our knowledge & experienced for 17 years in the business. Visit our website today at www.excelsior.ph to learn more about our service.

Customs Broker vs. Attorney in Fact

excelsior on February 16, 2018

During the process of importing-exporting, many companies will decide to hire a licensed Customs Broker to clear goods through customs and ensure all documentation is filled correctly. Customs Brokers are regulated by the Philippine Bureau of Customs (BoC) and are therefore authorized to assist importer-exporters in meeting the rules and regulations governing imports and exports.

 

However, with the passing of Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) in 2016, the BoC has declared that engaging the services of licensed customs broker by an importer or exporter is now optional. According to BoC, the Act provides the importers and exporters with the option to

  • 1) engage the service of a licensed customs broker,
  • 2) assign an attorney in fact that will deal with the customs authorities on their behalf,
  • 3) clear their import/export goods by themselves.

 

Since the customs clearing process involves a series of tedious tasks, the latter may not be a viable option for most importer-exporters. This leaves us the question of who is more apt to do the customs clearing process: a customs broker or an attorney in fact?

 

What is a Customs Broker?

The Section 102(n) of the CMTA states that term Customs Broker refers to any person who is a bona fide holder of a valid Certificate of Registration/Professional Identification Card issued by the Professional Regulatory Board and Professional Regulation Commission pursuant to Republic Act No. 9280, as amended, otherwise known as the “Customs Brokers Act of 2004”.

 

Advantages of Hiring Customs Broker

 

  • Expertise in customs laws, rules and regulations for the clearance of imported or exported goods.
  • Has basic knowledge of how to prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export goods.
  • Can sign documents under power of attorney.

 

What is an Attorney in Fact?

According to Investopedia, an Attorney in Fact is a is a person who is authorized to perform business-related transactions on behalf of someone else (the principal, or in this context, the importer/exporter). To become someone’s attorney in fact, a person must have the principal sign a power of attorney document. This document designates the person as an agent, allowing him to perform actions in the principal’s stead.

 

Two Forms of Attorney in Fact

  • General Power of Attorney – Allows the attorney in fact to conduct all business and sign any document on behalf of the principal.
  • Special Power of Attorney – Allows the persons to sign documents and conduct business on the principal’s behalf only in specific situations.

 

Advantage of Hiring Attorney in Fact

  • Has knowledge on legal matters.

Overall, a licensed customs broker can provide more specific expertise about customs regulations and laws compared to an attorney in fact. This specialized knowledge very handy especially if you are new in the import-export business.

 

At Excelsior, we value your business and your time. This is why we want to offer you a customs brokerage service that is efficient, professional, and ethical.

 

Allow Excelsior Worldwide Freight Logistics Corp. to help you navigate the world of import and export. For any queries that you may have about our customs brokerage service, you may call us at (063) 525-9775, or you can send us an e-mail through wecare@excelsior.ph

Advantages of Having an Honest Customs Broker

excelsior on September 26, 2016

Advantages of Having an Honest Customs Broker

Professionalism and Integrity have always been an imperative aspect in every industry. In trading business, it is an utmost priority to choose an honest and capable customs brokerage firm to ensure that the import and export operations are done diligently and legitimately. Likewise, getting your shipments abroad or on the local shores without worrying about legal and ethical dilemmas is the core purpose of why customs brokerage are here to be present.

Check our thoughts below and see why a truthful and straight to the point customs brokerage company is going to be your greatest ally in your import and/or export business.

  1. They Will Take Proper Care of Shipping All Your Products
Steel Container on Container Dock

Image from Pexels

A genuine customs broker makes sure that all of your freights will arrive at your local warehouse on-time and with no legal requirements bypassed. A legitimate customs brokerage firm ensures that you are complying with various Customs Regulations. If these regulations are neglected or avoided, it may cause time delay on delivering the shipments, or worst, get the shipments confiscated by customs authorities.

If you leave your customs responsibilities to a non-seasoned and incapable customs broker, you might just be surprised to see your products all piled up in the port- seized by authorities, and you ending up paying a large sum of penalties or even face criminal liabilities, which can taint the reputation of your company.

An honest customs broker, aside from assisting you with all legal requirements, will give you advice on additional up-to-date Customs compliance on constantly changing trade rules and security requirements- thus protecting your business against costly penalties and customs audits.

  1. They Allow Your Company to Retain More Money Than Losing It.
Free stock photo of money, finance, bills, bank notes

Image from Pexels

Basically, doing the customs responsibilities in-house requires having various hardware and software to carry out the task. In addition, these installations will also incur periodical maintenance cost and other associated overhead related to having an in-house Customs expert. A customs broker firm who is dedicated to serving its clients truthfully and to the full extent is equipped with various programs and technology to help you perform your import and export task or communicate with Customs officials.

Also, although it is the basic duty of a customs broker to steer your company clear of shipments problems, they will also seek out and take advantage of applicable trade agreements opportunities. Trade agreements like ASEAN, JPEPA, and EFTA free trade agreement can reduce shipping duties and taxes, allowing your company to retain more money.

 

  1. An Honest Customs Broker Will Tell You Which Goods They Specializes In
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Image from Pexels

Truth to be told, some customs brokerage companies today doesn’t mind the type of product that your company is shipping. Having said that, it is important to get an honest customs broker that will tell what kind of products they specialize in or is at least familiar with the goods you’re shipping. For instance, if you’re shipping electronic components for export, you don’t want a broker a broker that mostly handles household commodities.

If your customs broker is honest with you, they will tell you right ahead that they are not yet capable handling the product you want to ship, but given that a professional relationship has been established, they will give you the best options on how you can ship your products with without worrying too much about its safety. Of course, this includes trust, formal agreements, and other arrangements that will ensure that your goods are handled properly.

  1. They Understand Your Goals and Reason for Shipping.
3 Women in Suit Sitting

Image from Pexels

Another thing that makes an honest customs broker investment worthy is that they analyze your goals and reason for merchandising such product. This not only enables them to form a much stronger partnership with you but also giving them the foundation for the proper distribution strategy that they have to employ.

A professional broker will take an interest in learning the mechanics of your business and asks questions about your business model- giving an outside yet fresh perspective and insights subsequently. To achieve this, a two-way communication must exist first, and a thorough understanding of your company’s key strengths and weaknesses must be established during the negotiation stage.

 

  1.  They Are Willing to Correct Mistakes and Prompt for What’s Missing.

 

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Image from Forbes

If you want to seek the help of a customs broker, you must first provide all the necessary paperwork to them. And because you are ultimately responsible for the filing and paying taxes and duties, you should look for a reliable and a sincere customs broker who are willing to correct mistakes and is quick in notifying you for missing important details. If it is your first time to ship products, an honest customs broker should recognize that you are right after you talk to them. They will assist on every aspect of customs along the way, and wouldn’t wait for you to give them what they need.
They are proactive, and will provide it because it is part of the relationship. Given that you have checked their credibility- some unique situations wherein they were able to help other companies on certain issues or their level of emphasis on details, accuracy, and compliance- it is guaranteed that a synergetic type of relationship will ensue between your chosen broker and your company.

In conclusion, a reliable and ethical customs broker should give you the peace of mind and confidence in every importing and/or export endeavors. At Excelsior Worldwide Freight Logistic and Excelsior Customs Brokerage, we ensure that your shipments will be able to cross international borders in a safe and efficient way. And because we strongly believe that your time is a critical element in your business strategy, we want to offer you a customs brokerage service that is  well-grounded on professionalism, integrity, and efficiency.

To know more about Excelsior, visit http://www.excelsior.ph.

How To Choose The Best Customs Broker

excelsior on September 2, 2016

How To Choose The Best Customs Broker

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Customs brokers provide professional and expert service on customs clearance
of goods during importing and exporting. Customs brokers are in charge of
making sure that the rules and regulations of international trade are consistently
met, and they are responsible for the interaction and communication with the
customs of a shipment’s country destination.

There are several factors that must be taken into consideration when it comes to
choosing the best customs broker.

1. Eligibility

The very first thing that you need to check with your customs broker is their
eligibility. Your customs broker must be a license holder, which means that he or
she is an accredited customs broker, and he or she has been able to pass the
licensure examination specific for customs brokers. Moreover, if you are looking
for a customs brokerage company, this company must empower its employees to
become licensed customs brokers.

In order to become a licensed customs broker, one must go through a four-year
course and take a licensure exam, which in the Philippines is administered and
regulated by the Philippine Regulatory Committee (PRC). The intensive
education process that licensed customs brokers goes through enables them to
have the confidence and efficiency that they need to carry out their
responsibilities.

Every country usually has an official list of active brokers from the government. It
will be wise to first check with this list for any customs broker that you will be able
to get in touch with.

For the official list released by the Bureau of Customs of the Philippines, the list
can be found here.

2. Technical Knowledge and Skills

Interfacing with the local and international customs is no mean feat.

The laws, rules, and regulatory requirements pertaining to transport of goods can
be very complex. This is why it is critical for your customs broker to have a high
level of technical knowledge, as well as access to up-to-date information when it
comes to shipments, importation, and exportation. Your customs broker must
have high understanding of entry protocols and requirements, valuation, fines and penalties, taxes, and the like.

3. Track record

It is also wise to ask industry peers for recommended customs brokers, as well
as existing clients of customs brokers for feedback regarding their performance.
This way, you can gauge their integrity, professionalism, and level expertise.

You might also want to consider making sure that your customs broker of choice
has no pending case with the customs of any country.

4. Specialty and experience

The ease of any work always depends on the experience of the one doing the
work. Customs brokerage is no different. You need to consider working with a
customs broker who has had experience, or better yet, has a specialization in the
handling of the goods that you will be shipping.

This way, you will not be caught off guard when it comes to duties, taxes, and regulations, or even obscure agreements and provisions, special cases, or some
exceptions to the rule, if there are any. After all, each country has a unique set of
shipping rules and regulations, and all goods are handled and shipped in a
specific way.

5. Professionalism and Integrity

The customs broker is the one who interfaces with customs in behalf of the
importer or exporter. This means that the customs broker is the one who
represents you and your business. In this regard, it is important to have a
customs broker who is able to satisfy all legal requirements in an efficient,
effective, and ethical way.

Moreover, the goods that you are shipping are valuable, and oftentimes irreplaceable. It is therefore important to make sure that these goods are being
handled by people only with utmost professionalism and unbreakable integrity.

Choosing to work with a customs broker is one thing, and choosing the best
customs broker for your business and your goods is another thing. It is important
to make sure that the customs broker you are working with actually has what it
takes to get the job done for you, and provide you with a service that is
exceptional and efficient.

Excelsior is a freight logistics corporation who not only moves your shipment, but
also takes care of customs clearance on your behalf. Excelsior has been
providing exceptional, excellent, and experienced service for 15 years,
throughout all the phases of shipment – from freight forwarding to customs
brokerage.

You can also be assured that at Excelsior, we value or partners (we treat our
people as partners, not employees). We support and encourage all partners to
become licensed customs brokers. This is to make sure that our clients are
provided only with excellent customs expertise and superior customer service. To
date, 80% of Excelsior Partners are customs administration graduates. Six of the
Excelsior Partners are licensed customs brokers; we are proud to note that this
number exceeds industry average today.

Allow Excelsior Worldwide to help you navigate through the world of import and
export. For more information on our customs brokerage services and to know
more about Excelsior, visit our website today at /. For any
queries that you may have, you may call us at (063) 5259775, or send us an
e-mail through wecare@excelsior.ph.

What Is a Customs Broker and Why Do You Need One?

excelsior on September 2, 2016

What Is a Customs Broker and Why Do You Need One?

Importing and exporting are two strategies currently being used in business expansion. In exporting, a business grows by tapping into international markets
and establishing international contacts. In importing, a business is able to provide
solutions to existing problems, as well as supply existing needs, through granting
access to products needed locally but only available elsewhere.

In the process of importing and exporting, the shipment will have to come in
contact with the customs, a government agency that manages and regulates the
flow of goods in and out of any country.

This is where a customs broker plays an important role.

A customs broker is a licensed individual or firm that ushers all shipment,
whether imported or exported, through customs. It is the broker who represents
the shipper when it comes to any dealings with the customs authorities, and
prepares the necessary documents for the shipment. A customs broker also
ensures that every phase of the shipment is consistent with the set rules and
regulations of goods transfers, which are unique, and not to mention constantly
changing, in every country.

Customs brokers also provide assistance when it comes to the classification, valuation, and entry protocols of goods, while making sure that all details and
necessary procedures associated are ironed out. Customs brokers also ensure
correct information with regard to taxes and tariffs, all in an effort to usher goods
towards its destination in an efficient and timely manner. The timely and efficient
ushering of shipment is critical because any form of delay in customs clearance
will cost a significant amount of time and money.

It is also important to note that communicating with different countries is no mean
feat, especially if there is a language barrier. In this sense, the customs broker
also serves as a translator, thereby ensuring that communication lines are not
broken or unduly diverted.

All in all, a customs broker performs all technical coordination functions relating
to importation, exportation, and overall goods transfers.

Because of the laborious nature of the processes involved in international trade,
as well as the technical requirements associated with importation, exportation,
and customs transactions, it is highly advisable for any business to avail of the
professional service offered by customs brokers. This way, businesses will have
the confidence and peace of mind that their shipments will be able to cross
international borders in a safe and efficient way. Furthermore, the services that
customs brokers provide enables business owners and staff to focus exactly on
what they need to focus on: managing their business.

As a business owner, getting a customs broker to help you with your shipment is
a wise business decision that will help you and your business remarkably. It is
not only practical, but also time and cost-efficient.

At Excelsior, we value your business and your time. This is why we want to offer
you a customs brokerage service that is efficient, professional, and ethical.

Allow Excelsior to assist you in the movement of your shipment, meet all of the
importation and exportation requirements on your behalf, and fulfill all
international trade and customs rules and regulations, all for a successful and
hassle-free shipment for you and your business.

To know more about Excelsior, visit http://www.excelsior.ph/.

Excelsior Worldwide Logistics Corp.