Blind Shipping

Shipments made without specifying the recipient or sender on the bill of lading are called Blind Shipping. The main purpose of companies that prefer blind shipments is to ensure that their customers do not know the exporter, that is, the supplier company. In this way, the suppliers ship directly to the final buyers, but the buyers are the interlocutors or distributors. Blind shipping is especially preferred by companies that do drop shipping.

Two different Bills of Lading are created for a blind shipment. The first is between the exporting company and the importing company. The second bill of lading includes the importer and his customer at the destination.

FAQ

Is Blind Shipping Good?

Blind shipping, also known as drop shipping or direct shipping, can offer several benefits to businesses engaged in shipping goods. Some of the main advantages of blind shipping include:

1. Cost Savings: Blind shipping can eliminate the need for businesses to maintain their own inventory and warehouse space, which can lead to significant cost savings.
2. Greater Flexibility: Blind shipping can allow businesses to offer a wider range of products without the need to invest in additional inventory.
3. Improved Customer Experience: Blind shipping can allow businesses to provide a more seamless and convenient customer experience by having products shipped directly from the manufacturer or supplier.
4. Reduced Shipping Time: Blind shipping can eliminate the need for products to be shipped to a business's warehouse before being shipped to customers, which can reduce shipping time and improve delivery speed.

Is Blind Shipping Legal?

Yes, blind shipping is legal and widely used in the shipping industry. However, there are some legal considerations that businesses engaged in blind shipping should be aware of, such as:

1. Product Safety: Businesses engaged in blind shipping should ensure that the products they are shipping meet all relevant safety standards and regulations.
2. Product Liability: Businesses engaged in blind shipping may still be liable for any product defects or issues that arise, even if they did not handle the product directly.
3. Customs Regulations: Blind shipping can sometimes lead to issues with customs regulations, particularly if the products being shipped are subject to import/export restrictions or require specific documentation.

Overall, businesses engaged in blind shipping should work closely with their shipping partners and legal advisors to ensure that they are complying with all relevant laws and regulations.

Is Dropship the same as Blind Ship?

Dropshipping and blind shipping are similar concepts but they are not exactly the same. Both methods involve the shipping of products directly to the end customer without the seller having to handle or store inventory. However, there are some key differences between the two:

Dropshipping typically involves a seller listing products on their website or online marketplace and then sourcing those products from a third-party supplier who ships them directly to the end customer. The seller acts as a middleman between the supplier and the customer, and may still handle tasks such as customer service, marketing, and order fulfillment.

Blind shipping, on the other hand, refers to the process of shipping products directly from the manufacturer or supplier to the end customer, without the seller's branding or information appearing on the packaging or shipping label. This can be done for various reasons, such as maintaining the confidentiality of the supplier or preventing customers from finding lower prices by going directly to the manufacturer.

Dropshipping involves the seller acting as a middleman between the supplier and the customer, while blind shipping involves the direct shipping of products from the supplier to the customer without the seller's branding or information appearing on the package.