Expanding your WooCommerce store to serve international customers is a big growth opportunity, but high shipping costs can quickly eat into your profits. Many store owners struggle with balancing reliable global delivery and affordable rates, especially when dealing with customs, variable carrier fees, and long delivery timelines. That’s where UPS shipping comes in. Known for its robust international network and flexible shipping options.
In this article, we’ll explore how you can save on international shipping with UPS, and also how to offer these services directly from your WooCommerce store using the WooCommerce UPS Shipping Plugin.
Article Contains:
- Why International Shipping Costs Are High
- How UPS Supports Cost-Effective International Shipping
- Offer UPS International Shipping in WooCommerce
- Limitations and Considerations
- Real-World Use Case
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Why International Shipping Costs Are High in WooCommerce
When running a WooCommerce store, offering international shipping can unlock access to global markets, but it also comes with significant costs. These aren’t just tied to carrier rates; a variety of hidden and operational factors add up quickly. Understanding them is key to pricing your products right and maintaining profitability.
1. Long Distances and Fuel Surcharges
International orders often require packages to travel thousands of miles by air, sea, or land. Carriers apply fuel surcharges and distance-based handling fees, especially for expedited services, costs that WooCommerce store owners must absorb or pass on to customers.
2. Customs Duties, Taxes, and Clearance Fees
Each country has its import duties, VAT/GST rules, and customs procedures. Most carriers, including UPS, charge processing fees for handling international customs paperwork. Without automated duty calculations or the right plugin, WooCommerce stores may face delayed deliveries or unexpected fees.
3. Specialized Packaging and Compliance
International shipping requires sturdy and compliant packaging, especially when shipping regulated goods, perishables, or high-value items. Many WooCommerce sellers invest extra time and money into packaging to prevent damage or avoid customs rejections.
4. Zone-Based and Carrier-Specific Pricing
UPS international shipping rates depend heavily on origin-destination zones. For WooCommerce stores using real-time shipping calculators, this means costs can spike for remote or less-served international destinations, particularly with premium services.
By understanding these factors, WooCommerce merchants can make smarter shipping choices, set better pricing, and find ways to reduce costs.
How UPS Supports Cost-Effective International Shipping
UPS offers a range of tools and services that help WooCommerce merchants reduce the cost of shipping internationally.
1. UPS Worldwide Economy: Designed for small businesses, UPS Worldwide Economy offers affordable delivery to over 210 countries. It’s ideal for WooCommerce stores looking to ship lightweight international orders without high costs.
2. Global Checkout API: This tool enables WooCommerce stores to show guaranteed landed costs, including duties and taxes, at checkout. It improves transparency and avoids surprise charges.
3. Export Assure API: To avoid customs delays, the Export Assure API ensures accurate documentation and simplifies the clearance process. This helps WooCommerce merchants ship globally with fewer disruptions.
4. Paperless Invoice: With UPS Paperless® Invoice, WooCommerce sellers can submit customs documents digitally. This reduces paperwork, lowers the chance of errors, and speeds up international shipments.
With these powerful tools and services, UPS makes international shipping more affordable and manageable for WooCommerce businesses of all sizes.
Now, let’s see how you can easily offer UPS international shipping on your WooCommerce store.
Offer UPS International Shipping in WooCommerce
Offering international shipping through UPS in your WooCommerce store is simple and efficient with the WooCommerce UPS Shipping Plugin.
Once configured, simply enable the Print Label option and the Commercial Invoice, which is essential for international shipping.
Additionally, you can enable the following options if required for your business to ensure compliant international deliveries:
- EDI on Shipping Labels: Automates electronic data sharing with customs for faster clearance.
- NAFTA Certificate: Generates origin certificates for U.S.- Canada – Mexico shipments to reduce or eliminate duties.
- EEI DATA: Adds required export data for high-value U.S. shipments or those needing special licenses.
- Vendor Info: Allows the use of VCIDs (VAT Customer Identification Numbers), which help verify point-of-sale VAT for low-value goods. Useful, particularly when shipping to the EU or UK.
You can select your preferred international shipping services within the plugin settings, UPS shipping rates will automatically be displayed at checkout for the UPS chosen services.
With this plugin, you can generate and print labels, commercial invoices, and other documents within the store itself.
This setup gives WooCommerce merchants a reliable way to offer flexible international shipping options and streamline global order fulfillment. To learn more about tracking your UPS international orders, check out Tracking UPS International Orders in WooCommerce.
Limitations and Considerations
While UPS offers robust international shipping solutions for WooCommerce merchants, it’s essential to be aware of certain limitations and considerations to ensure smooth and compliant deliveries.
Prohibited and Restricted Items
UPS enforces strict regulations on items that are prohibited or restricted from international shipping. These can vary by destination country and may include:
- Prohibited Items: Firearms, ammunition, illegal substances, and certain perishable goods are among the items that cannot be shipped internationally.
- Restricted Items: Some items may be shipped only under specific conditions or with proper documentation, such as alcohol, lithium batteries, or medical devices.
To learn more about rules and restrictions, visit the UPS International Shipping for WooCommerce Users Guide .
Country-Specific Import and Export Regulations
Each country has its own set of import and export regulations, which can affect the shipping process. These regulations may include:
- Documentation Requirements: Some countries require specific documents such as certificates of origin, import licenses, or additional commercial invoices.
- Value Limits: There may be limits on the value of goods that can be imported without incurring duties or taxes.
- Product Restrictions: Certain products may be banned or require special permits.
Customs Duties, Taxes, and Clearance Fees
International shipments are subject to customs duties, taxes, and clearance fees, which can vary widely depending on the destination country and the nature of the goods. Failure to accurately declare shipments or provide necessary documentation can result in delays, additional charges, or confiscation of goods.
Packaging Requirements
Proper packaging is critical for international shipments to ensure the safety and integrity of goods during transit. UPS has specific packaging guidelines, including:
- Weight and Size Limits: Packages must meet UPS guidelines—maximum weight of 150 lbs (68 kg) and maximum length of 108 inches (274 cm). Packages exceeding these limits may incur additional charges or face service restrictions.
- Packaging Materials: Use of appropriate materials to protect goods from damage.
For a deeper understanding of how packaging impacts shipping charges, visit the PluginHive Guide on UPS Shipping Charges .
Real-World Example: WooCommerce Store Shipping Eco-Friendly Products Internationally with UPS
Let’s say you run a WooCommerce store that sells eco-friendly clothing and reusable accessories like bamboo toothbrushes, metal straws, and sustainable tote bags. As your brand gains popularity overseas, customers from Europe, Canada, and Australia begin placing orders regularly. However, without a streamlined international shipping solution, you start running into major fulfillment issues.
Key Challenges You Will Face:
- Customs Delays Due to Incomplete Documents: Many orders are held at customs because required forms like commercial invoices are missing or incorrect.
- Unexpected Duties and Charges: Customers complain about surprise duties and taxes they have to pay upon delivery, leading to a poor post-purchase experience.
- Manual Labeling and Errors: You find yourself filling out international forms and labels manually, which is time-consuming and prone to mistakes.
- Ineligible or Improper Shipping Services: You sometimes select UPS services that aren’t supported for international deliveries, leading to delays or rejected shipments.
How These Problems Can Be Solved:
By using the WooCommerce UPS Shipping Plugin, you can resolve these challenges and offer a professional international shipping experience:
- Automated Document Generation: The plugin automatically generates and attaches commercial invoices and other customs forms when required, reducing clearance issues.
- Transparent Duty and Tax Calculation: With UPS Global Checkout support, customers see the full landed cost/ live UPS shipping rates, including duties and taxes, before placing the order.
- Valid Shipping Options Only: The plugin filters and displays only the UPS services eligible for international shipping, preventing invalid selections and failed shipments.
- Enable EDI for Faster Clearance: By enabling EDI in the plugin settings, the shipping process is automated, transmitting required customs data to UPS electronically for quicker border clearance and smoother deliveries.
By solving these issues, your WooCommerce store can confidently scale to international markets while maintaining customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Conclusion
Expanding your WooCommerce store internationally is a great growth opportunity, but high shipping costs and customs complexities can be challenging. The WooCommerce UPS Shipping Plugin automates customs documentation, provides real-time duty and tax calculations, and ensures the correct shipping services are used. Feel free to connect with the support team for more help with UPS international shipping
FAQs
- Does the WooCommerce UPS Shipping Plugin support UPS Access Point® delivery?
Yes, the plugin supports UPS Access Point® delivery, allowing customers to select a nearby store or pickup point for convenient package pickup. To learn more about enabling this feature in your WooCommerce store, visit How to use UPS Access Point® with WooCommerce shipments.
- Does UPS deliver on Saturdays and Sundays?
Yes, UPS offers Saturday and Sunday delivery through services like UPS Ground, UPS SurePost, and UPS Express Critical. For more details, visit Does UPS deliver on Saturday?.
- Can I offer UPS international shipping for all countries?
Yes, you can offer international shipping to over 210 countries, depending on the UPS services you select within the plugin settings.
- Can I offer UPS international shipping at a discounted rate in WooCommerce?
Yes, if you have a UPS account with negotiated rates, the WooCommerce UPS Shipping Plugin can display those discounted rates to your customers at checkout, helping you offer more competitive pricing for international shipments.
- Does the WooCommerce UPS Shipping Plugin support UPS international returns?
Yes, the Plugin supports generating UPS return shipping labels for international shipments. Check out how to manage UPS return shipments for more details.
