Shipping Information

Via Trading ships wholesale liquidation orders by courier (FedEx), LTL carriers, full trailers, and ocean containers, with own pick-up also available from our facility. This page explains how each shipping method works, what costs to expect, delivery timeframes, and what you need to know for domestic, international, and Canadian shipments.

Via Trading has developed and fostered relationships with a wide network of carriers to bring you the most competitive shipping rates available. Shipping wholesale liquidation merchandise is often not as straightforward as shipping regular goods. At Via Trading we use a variety of materials to package and ship our merchandise, the most common being cases, bins, gaylords, or shrink-wrapped pallets.

The cost of shipping by courier or LTL is typically determined by the distance between the origin and destination of the goods, the type of destination, the type of merchandise, and the weight or quantity of the merchandise being shipped. The cost of shipping by full truckload or ocean container is typically determined by the distance between the origin and the destination of the goods.

We typically ship out orders within 24 hours of payment, though we also offer same day shipping whenever possible. Domestic US shipments typically take 1 to 7 business days to reach their destination. Overseas air shipments can take 5-15 business days to reach their destination. Container shipments can take anywhere from 15 to 60 days to reach their destination.

The following sections illustrate how shipping works in the wholesale industry, what options are available to you, and what you can do to minimize your overall shipping costs. You may get real-time shipping quotes online, or by calling or emailing us with what you would like to order.

Courier Case Shipments (FedEx/USPS)

• Certain items that are packed in small boxes usually ship by courier such as FedEx instead of a trucking carrier.
• Shipping more than 1 box at a time is typically cheaper, as each additional box costs less to ship than the first one.
• Occasionally, when it is cheaper to ship via courier, certain pallet listings can be re-packed for you into boxes in order to minimize the shipping costs. This is especially true when shipping to a residence that requires a lift-gate.
• Depending on how many case-packed items are ordered, it can sometimes be cheaper to put them all on one pallet and ship them with an LTL carrier.
• Your Account Manager and Logistics Department will always work with you to provide you the best possible shipping rate and method.
• Unless otherwise requested, shipping quotes and shipments are conducted with the minimal default insurance.

LTL Shipments

LTL stands for “Less-Than-Load”, or a shipment of several pallets. LTLs can vary from 1 to 6 pallets. Orders over 6 pallets may need to be consolidated into 6 pallets, shipped with 2 LTL shipments, or shipped as a full load. We always provide you with the best shipping option for your review prior to finalizing your order. LTL rates depend on:

• Weight of the goods being shipped
• Type of goods being shipped
• Whether you will need a lift-gate or not
• Number of pallets being shipped
• Destination address (distance from shipping location)
• Whether delivery is to a residential or commercial address

Things to keep in mind

• Generally, pallet deliveries to a residence will require a lift-gate to lower the pallets to the ground.
• Carriers charge more for home delivery and lift-gate use. If you have the option to receive your order at a friend’s place of business or pick up from the local terminal, it could save you some money.
• For insurance and safety reasons, trucking carriers do not allow customers to climb onto the truck to manually unload their pallets. Commercial locations, if not equipped with a loading dock or forklift, will also require a lift-gate. LTL carriers charge extra for residential deliveries, typically a flat fee of between $25-$75. Carriers also charge extra for trucks with lift-gates, typically a flat fee of around $25-$75.
• Deliveries are to curbside or to the loading dock. Drivers will not deliver your pallet(s) into your garage or inside your storage space, so be prepared to bring the items inside yourself or with the help of a friend.
• You will need to verify the pallets and shrink-wrap before signing the Bill of Lading upon delivery (or make annotations on it before signing it). If your pallet shows signs of having been opened, rummaged through, stolen from, or otherwise tampered with during shipping, it is your responsibility to make a note of this on the Bill of Lading BEFORE you accept the merchandise. Should there have been any theft or loss during transit, failure to make annotations will significantly lower the chances of receiving any kind of compensation from the shipping company.
• Shipments are sent with minimal insurance ($0.50/lb to $1/lb). If you are shipping very expensive merchandise, please ask for additional insurance.

Truckloads

Truckloads generally refer to a 48’ or 53’ truck filled with merchandise on pallets or hand-loaded. Truckloads usually cost a flat rate to ship based on the destination and mileage, irrespective of whether the truck is full or half empty. Larger orders that cannot be shipped economically as LTLs can often be cheaper to ship as a full load. Truckloads can be ordered with or without a lift-gate. Trucks with lift-gates can often be costly, and it may be cheaper to rent a forklift for a day to assist you in unloading the truck. The latter is especially true when the merchandise is traveling long distances.

Typically, 26 pallets can fit comfortably onto the floor of a 53’ truck bed with no double-stacking. However, many types of pallets can be double-stacked (assuming height is not greater than 4’) to allow between 26-52 pallets to be put on the truck, minimizing your overall landed cost per pallet. Some goods can be consolidated further or even hand-loaded (for example, a 70-pallet load may be able to be consolidated into 52 pallets, or 2 full loads may be able to be hand-loaded into a single truck).

Some things to note if you are receiving a full truckload of merchandise:

• Make sure you can receive a 53-footer in your area (in terms of street size and parking and reversing availability).
• Make sure you have the means and ability to unload the truck.
• You will most likely need to provide the vendor with the day(s) and time that you can receive the load and whether you need to be notified in advance of the truck’s arrival.
• You typically have TWO (2) hours to unload the truck, and will be charged detention fees if the unloading takes longer. This is standard practice in the freight industry. Make sure you have the manpower available to help you unload in a timely manner.
• Be aware that the shipping charges do not include any labor, and that the driver will not assist in the unloading of the truck (unless the truck is ordered with a lift-gate, in which case the driver will move the pallets to the rear and operate the lift-gate to lower the pallets to the curb).
• Be aware that there is a SEAL with a UNIQUE number on each truck. Make sure the seal number matches the number on the packing slip you will receive with the load.
• Most shipments can usually be moved OTR (over the road) on a regular truck, but occasionally, especially to distant locations, shipping by rail can be cheaper. Rail shipment procedures are the same as truckload procedures, but the shipping time is usually a bit longer. While truckloads can reach their destination within 1-6 business days, rail shipments can typically take around 10-15 days to arrive.
• Unless otherwise requested, shipping quotes and shipments are conducted with the minimal default insurance.

Standard Trailer Sizes and Capacity

SoCal Shipping Special

Pay as little as $12.50 per pallet!*

Via Trading offers subsidized shipping specials to customers within 150 miles of our facility in Lynwood. Ship up to 12 pallets for a low price within most of Southern California! Prices include residential delivery with lift-gate. Cheaper than LTL deliveries! Cheaper than renting a U-Haul and gas!

Pick Up

Self-pick up is available from our cash & carry facility. Some things to note:

• We aim to make our last deliveries for self-pick up by 5:45pm so customers have enough time to load their goods prior to closing.
• Goods need to be picked up within 48 hours of being ordered.
• When picking up goods in person, please make sure what you request to be delivered to you for pick-up can fit entirely in your vehicle. Return of partial pallets which have already been opened is not possible.
• Please ensure you bring sufficient tie-downs and/or straps with you to secure your shipment when appropriate.
• Please discard any unwanted goods or materials in the trash containers which are provided. Please DO NOT leave discarded goods or trash in the parking lot.
• If you are leaving the wooden pallets behind, please return them to the designated area or ask a team member for assistance.
• Assistance to help you load the goods is limited. Should you sign a potential damage disclaimer, team members will assist you to load whole pallets by way of forklift into your pick-up or van, but team members cannot assist you to hand load any goods. If you are unable to load your order yourself, we would be happy to arrange competitive shipping to your destination.
• Please note heavy machinery operates in our parking/loading yard. Please demonstrate extreme caution at all times. Keep pets and children close to you or inside your vehicle.

International Shipping

International Shipping Costs

• Our system cannot provide real-time quotes for container or LCL (pallet) shipments. Please email or call to get up-to-date shipping rates.
• Our system does quote international orders of case-packed goods, which typically ship by courier such as FedEx or USPS.
• Ocean freight charges can run from $300-$700 per pallet, depending on the destination, and it is typically uneconomical in our industry to ship low value pallets this way.
• Container loads are typically the most cost-effective way to ship larger amounts of merchandise overseas.
• Ocean freight can cost between $2,500-$6,500 for a full container, depending on the size (20’, 40’, 45’) and the destination.

Customs & VAT Info

• International shipping quotes DO NOT include any customs, import fees, or sales tax (GST or VAT).
• It is the consignee’s responsibility to pay customs and taxes upon receipt or customs clearance of the merchandise.
• Many countries may have restrictions on what types of goods can be imported, and some goods may be completely restricted from importation.
• Many countries also have brand protection and agency rights in place that prohibit the importation of certain brands into the country, other than from the authorized importer.

It is the buyer’s responsibility to be informed of particular restrictions in the country to which products are being shipped. Via Trading cannot be held responsible for merchandise seized or refused at customs as a result of regulations or laws pertaining to that country. Please make sure you familiarize yourself with those costs and are able to successfully customs clear your goods given the information provided prior to placing orders. Please contact your local customs office prior to ordering to make sure the products purchased can be imported without restriction.

U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) has very broad authority to inspect export cargo and can select any shipment to examine. The cost of such inspections, if and when so ordered by CBP, is the responsibility of the consignee. Customs clearance, duties, and other related import fees and taxes are the responsibility of the consignee. When appropriate, please make sure to check that the seal number matches the paperwork and is not tampered with.

Please note: we export dozens of orders on a weekly basis. In the very large majority of cases (over 98%), orders are shipped and clear customs with no problems. Any shipping quotes or product quotes provided are only for shipping costs and for the merchandise sold; they DO NOT include any additional customs charges, tariffs, or sales taxes which you may or may not incur. Due to the nature of our business, in most cases we are unable to provide detailed manifests and countries of origin for the items we offer. In the majority of cases that does not cause any problems at customs; however, we need to inform our customers that on very rare occasions clearing customs with such goods can be problematic, and Via Trading does not and cannot control that aspect of the sale. All shipping quotes are provided with minimal insurance. If you would like to purchase additional insurance, please let your Account Manager know before the order is finalized.

LCL Shipments

Less than Container Load shipments are smaller than a full ocean freight container. LCL shipments are shipped by sea and typically take 45-60 days to reach their destination. It is typically cheaper to ship individual pallets by LCL than it is by air freight. LCL shipments can be very efficient and cost-effective when shipping expensive and high value pallets overseas. Due to the relatively high cost of shipping single pallets by LCL, LCL shipments are not suitable for low value pallets, and very often shipping a full dedicated container can be much more economical than shipping 6 single pallets.

OCL Shipments

• Ocean container shipments are primarily used to ship large loads of merchandise outside of the United States and neighboring countries. OCL shipment costs are typically flat and based on the origin and destination of the goods.
• Ocean shipments can take 14-60 days to reach their destination.
• Containers are usually available in 3 lengths: 20’, 40’, and 45’.
• Hand-loading goods for container shipments is a good way to maximize the space used in the container and lower your relative shipping costs. Hand-loading the merchandise can sometimes increase the capacity of the container by 2 or 3 times, as opposed to loading the merchandise on pallets.
• When appropriate, Via Trading can also offer the service to bail soft goods (clothing, domestics, etc.) in order to be able to fit more goods in your container and reduce your relative shipping cost.
• Not all goods can be hand-loaded, but be aware of the benefits of this option and request it when possible.
• Be aware of any unusual restrictions when importing goods. For example: wooden pallets are not allowed to be imported into Australia, and some countries require fumigation certificates prior to shipment.
• Be sure to communicate these restrictions to your Account Manager.

Standard Ocean Container Sizes and Capacity

Canadian Shipments

Importing unmanifested or even manifested customer return or liquidation loads into Canada can be problematic. Few brokers have experience working with such loads and limited product information.

The solution: Via Trading can refer and recommend a Canada-based import, transportation, and customs clearance specialist who can assist you with your purchases from the USA. ACA takes care of the whole process for you, including logistics, document preparation, customs clearance, and more.

How it works:

• Contact your Account Manager to find appropriate merchandise.
• Once you know what you’d like to buy, we will put you in touch with ACA.
• ACA will arrange all aspects of the importation and transportation of your order.*

This service is available for truckload purchases only. Please note we are still able to offer regular shipping of case-packed items to Canada with FedEx.

*All payments for logistics, customs clearance, and paperwork preparation are to be paid directly to ACA, and should be discussed with ACA in advance of completing the order process with Via Trading. ACA offers this service as a courtesy. Risks can still exist when importing goods into Canada. Neither Via Trading nor ACA can offer any guarantees as to the successful importation of any order. All shipments are subject to customs inspection, and all costs associated with the importation of your order will be the purchaser’s responsibility.

Minimizing Shipping Costs

Due to the nature of liquidation goods and their relatively low cost, at times shipping can become prohibitive. There are various methods you can use to reduce the relative cost of shipping. Please review our guide on minimizing shipping costs to learn more.