FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Ask Norman!
How do I get pricing for my shipment?
Simply click on our GET A QUOTE form or call JACKS and one of our team in will be on hand to help.
Can you ship Personal Items and Commercial Cargo?
Yes, we are unable to assist both personal effects and commercial cargo.
Do you offer meetings to discuss my requirements?
In short, yes you can. Our dedicated team can meet with you (free of charge) in person or virtually to discuss your business requirements. Simply call JACKS or fill out our contact form and we will arrange a meeting with you at your convenience.
What incoterm should I use for shipping?
Prior to shipping your cargo, you will need to know what shipping term you applying to ship your freight. If you are new to importing you contact our team and we will walk you through the process.
What is the difference between FCL and LCL?
FCL or Full Container Loads:
✔ Your cargo will be shipped in a full container.
✔ You can nominate the size of your container based on the weights and dimensions of the cargo you are shipping.
✔ The most common FCL types are 20” General Purpose Container (20GP) and 40” General Purpose Container (40GP). We can assist you in determining which option suits your shipment requirements.
LCL or Less than a Container Load:
✔ Your cargo will be consolidated with other shippers’ cargo in the same container.
✔ LCL shipping is great if you have a small amount of cargo (one or two pallets) and do not need all the space of one container.
✔ LCL is also a generally cheaper alternative (not all the time!) to airfreight for small consignments.
Do I need a customs broker, and what does a customs broker do?
A customs broker is fully licensed by the NZ Customs Association to customs clear cargo arriving in Aotearoa. With ever changing government rules and regulations related to import transactions, it is sensible to engage a customs broker to clear cargo on your behalf.
Our customs brokers will work with you to review your documentation and ensure you are paying the correct duties and taxes for your cargo. Contact our team to find out about the range of services our brokerage team offer, including consultancy and tariff reviews.
How long do I need to wait for my sea freight to be availble from the port?
For Seafreight imports into New Zealand, containers need to be offloaded from the vessel and staged for collection or unpacked is being shipped by LCL. This means that goods are not immediately available for collection on the same day the cargo vessel lands at port.
As a guide, you should allow 2 days from the business arrival date for your FCL container to become available.
For LCL cargo you should allow 3 -6 business days from date of arrival before we will be able to collect your cargo. This extended timeframe is due to the requirement to unpack the cargo from the consolidation prior to collection.
What documents do I need when importing into Aotearoa?
The main documents you will need when importing into NZ are:
✔ Commercial Invoice
✔ Packing List
✔ Packing Declaration
Depending on the products you are importing, as well as the country of origin, you may also require:
✔ Fumigation Certificate
✔ Manufacturers Declaration
✔ Import Permit
If this is your first shipment, speak to our consultants for an exact breakdown of what you will need for your consignment.
How are duties and GST calculated on my imports?
Import duty is calculated according to the FOB (Free on Board) value of your cargo in NZ Dollars. Import duty is calculated as standard at 5% of this value. However, free trade agreements, tariff concessions, or dumping duties can affect this price.
GST is calculated on the value of your cargo plus import duty, plus insurance, plus freight. Once you have this value, the standard percentage rate for import duty in NZ is 15% of this total cost.
Our customs consultants can provide an anticipated cost for duties and GST if you provide a commercial invoice for your shipment. GST is payable on all imports, in full, prior to the goods being released for delivery to you.
How do I book my shipment with JACKS?
Simply call our team today on or fill in our contact us form and we can book your shipment. We will need a few details so please ensure you have the below on hand:
Collection Details
✔ Supplier’s name
✔ Supplier’s office address
✔ Supplier’s warehouse address
✔ Contact person
✔ Phone numbers
✔ Email address
Consignment Details
✔ Size of shipment
✔ Preferred method of shipping
✔ Commodity
✔ Commercial Value
Delivery Details
✔ Buyer’s name
✔ Buyer’s office address
✔ Buyer’s warehouse address
✔ Contact person
✔ Phone numbers
✔ Email address