7 Common Mistakes Australian Importers Tend to Make

It is far too easy to make a mistake when trying to understand all the various terms and conditions so that fully comply with Australian import regulations.

That is one very good reason why you might end up searching customs broker, for example, so that you can get the professional guidance you need to stay on the right side of the law and avoid any delays or issues.

Another good tactic would be to learn about some of the most common mistakes that Australian importers tend to make.

1. Failure to understand the shipping terms

There are laws that are used to regulate the whole of the shipping industry and it would be wise to remember that they are always applied when it comes to international trade.

These laws are known as Incoterms. It is essential that you familiarize yourself with these standard terms as they are often one of the main reasons why a newbie importer fails to meet compliance requirements when shipping.

2. You need to be diligent when booking your sea freight shipment

Another classic mistake is when you don’t take account of peak shipping season and don’t secure your sea freight shipment in a timely manner.

3. Not paying attention to free trade agreements

If you are importing into Australia, it is important to understand that it is a country that benefits from a multitude of free trade agreements.

As well as delivering benefits it is also a scenario that requires you to follow rules and it is a lack of attention to this that can prove costly.

4. Make paperwork a top priority

It goes without saying that paperwork has to accompany every import transaction, but it is a lack of preparation in this respect that often proves costly to those that don’t comply.

Newcomers to importing often come unstuck as a result of not paying enough attention to getting the paperwork right.

5. A lack of appreciation about how long the process takes

There are two clear steps in the shipping process when goods arrive in the country. Firstly, there is the handling by your carrier, followed by a review of the transaction by costumes officials.

A failure to allow enough time for this process to happen can cause your timings to go wrong and that means getting the estimated time of arrival wrong.

6. Not collecting goods in a timely manner

It is essential to know that when you import goods into Australia you are given a specific amount of time to collect the consignment.

You need to communicate clearly with your shipping agent so that they can do their job properly and ensure the goods are properly cleared within the right timeframe.

A failure to stay engaged with the shipping process is a common mistake that is easily avoided with due diligence.

7. A lack of insurance can prove very costly

Last but not least, it happens far too often that inexperienced importers either underinsure their goods or fail to insure them at all.

This is definitely not something you should consider doing as anything can happen and you could be out of pocket without the right insurance protection.

If you can manage to avoid these common mistakes when importing into Australia it should help ensure that the transaction is completed and the goods are received in the most efficient timescale possible.