This is the most complete guide to blind shipping in 2021.
Picture this :
When you dealing with your client go through thick and thin, but found that they finally go with your supplier.
How embarrassing.
To keep shipment blind and protect your business secret is what I’m going to talk about.
Let’s get started.
What is blind shipping ?
Blind shipping , is when importers ship directly from the supplier to customer, while hiding any identity ( company name, logo, contact information, etc ) of the supplier from the customer, so to protect the business secret.
That is to say, the real consignee involved in a shipment is unaware of who the real shipper is.
Who need blind shipping ?
The blind shipments are requested by distributors or those who are doing middleman business.
Anyway, if you are the one who want to send goods to customers directly from your suppliers, blind shipping is necessary to consider.
Why need blind shipping ?
Simple to understand.
If your cargo especially the outside package contains any information of your supplier, your customer may reach out to your supplier and kick you off.
Blind shipping means you can protect your business secret.
How does blind shipping work ?
To keep the shipment blind is to hide any identity of the supplier or manfacture.
We freight forwarder plays a vital role in this coordination work.
1. Amend shipper & consignee
Change the shipper and consignee is the first job for us.
Question is how ?
We will offer M/BL and H/BL. Period.
M/BL
Shipper : You
Consignee : Your Client
We give it to your client for import Customs at destination
H/BL
Shipper : Your supplier
Consignee : You
We will give it to your supplier for export Customs in China
You see ? Quite simple technique.
2. Change Docs and Remove Marks
Is blind shipping safe ?
Yes, blind shipping is to protect your business secret.
Just a blind shipment requires careful mind.
Every details must be considered, otherwise, all the previous efforts could be wasted.
Remember the identity : company name, logo, contact information, etc ?
Don’t use your China supplier’s docs, and never send them to your client by mistake.
We will need to change to use your own Packing List and Invoice and other documentations.
One more thing, remove any other shipping marks or labels which show the supplier’s information.
Just make sure your client won’t ever find any information related to your suppliers.
Double blind shipping
A double blind shipment is a more advanced type of blind shipping.
There are two characteristics:
- your supplier is unaware of where a shipment will be delivered to
- your client is unaware of where the shipment is coming from.
In other words, both your supplier and your client’s identity must be protected in a double-blind shipment.
Only we freight forwarder and you know where the shipment comes from and deliver to.
Double blind shipping is more difficult to handle than blind shipping.
In order to operate a double blind shipment, three conditions must be met.
- You deal with your China suppliers under Incoterm EXW.
- Your China supplier don’t need tax rebate when Customs clearance.
- We handle the completed door to door shipping.
CASET STUDY
How Romeo doing middleman trading business 100% safe ?
Romeo, JR GROUP LLC, a SMEs distributor located in Richmond, California, CA.
I served him personally from 2013 till 2020.
During the 7 years, I handled more than 500 shipments ( About 12 containers yearly, most are LCL and air shipments ) .
And the destinations are more than 50 countries widely in Europe, Southeast Asia, North America, South America and the Pacific.
Really, it is a big challenge for us.
As you can image, if any mistakes happen, JR’s clients will be lost, and we will lose faith from JR Group.
Luckily, all JR’s clients and suppliers are well protected.
Zero mistake, 100 % blind shipment.
That’s amazing, right ?
Here is how we did this.
We only use PO ( Purchase Order , like 0050324 ) number as the unique identification of order on hte email subject
Never we put other any involved party like supplier, client’s company, final receiver, we forwarder, etc on the email subject.
It’s a very useful way to keep shipment blind , as many identity information mistakes are made careless, and even we don’t realize it.
And “D”…. is the abbreiviation of supplier’s company name. We don’t use or mention full name for both supplier and client.
Who knows D stand for ?
Only JR Group and we know ” D ” means one of their supplier.
That’s a secret, but take it.
In the email body , Romeom JR provide clear instruction for a new shipment.
- Cargo Quanties
- Ship Date
- Supplier
- Client
Since it is a new shipment, that’s why Romeo use a full name for the client this time.
Most importantly, Romeo marks the blind shipping request for every new order instructions in red.
It reminded every team member to take note the instruction.
Ok. That’s all for the blind shipping.
Now, I would like to hear from you about this topic.
Have you ever lose client when leaking out supplier information carelessly ?
Whether you master the technique of change the shipper & consignee ?
What if your clients asking their own agent to handle the shipping ? Can you still keep the shipment blind ?
Let me know by leaving a quick comment below right now.
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