Guide to ePacket Tracking, ePacket Delivery & Shipping (2024)

As ecommerce becomes more global, shoppers are increasingly purchasing products from stores outside their home countries.

ePacket is a shipping service for packages sent from China and Hong Kong to over 40 countries. It’s designed to scale back delivery times and costs.

Staying updated on international shipping services like ePacket is vital when you run a web-based store. Dropshipping businesses (reminiscent of those using AliExpress to source products) can use ePacket to compete with local stores’ customer support. 

Then again, businesses coping with local products can maintain a competitive advantage over China-based merchants by understanding what advantages ePacket brings.

Read on to learn the way ePacket shipping works, discover about ePacket tracking, and get answers to common questions on ePacket delivery.

What’s ePacket?

ePacket is an ecommerce shipping service that lets consumers receive their purchases faster and more affordably from online stores based in China and Hong Kong.

Launched in 2011, ePacket is obtainable by third-party logistics providers (3PL), allowing merchants on marketplaces reminiscent of AliExpress to supply fast and reasonably priced shipping of lightweight packages.

Dropshipping businesses operating outside of China can use ePacket to compete with the delivery times of local manufacturers.

What’s ePacket shipping?

Because the “e” in its name implies, ePacket is a shipping and tracking service designed for ecommerce. It lets consumers receive small, lightweight purchases faster and more affordably from online stores and marketplaces that ship out of China and Hong Kong.

You could see ePacket offered as a shipping option by merchants in China on web sites reminiscent of eBay, AliExpress, and Alibaba. But any merchant in China and Hong Kong can offer ePacket tracking if the package meets the necessities for an ePacket delivery.

The USPS has requirements for packages and parcels being sent with ePacket. The utmost length of a package is 24 inches (60 centimeters), and the full length, height, and thickness of packages can’t be greater than 36 inches (90 centimeters). ePacket shipments must weigh lower than 4.4 kilos (2 kilograms).

Moreover, merchandise could be value not more than $400, and packages have to be shipped from China or Hong Kong to one in every of the 44 eligible ePacket countries.

What’s ePacket delivery?

ePacket delivery began as a fast, reasonably priced shipping solution for Chinese merchants and merchants selling from Hong Kong to ship to the US. Through the years, it has expanded to greater than 40 other ePacket countries, including Canada, the UK, and Australia.

ePacket delivery to the ultimate destination is handled by a neighborhood carrier that operates inside the package’s destination country—USPS, Canada Post, Royal Mail, Japan Post, etc. Each local carrier has its own delivery processes, fees, and package requirements.

Who delivers ePacket?

ePacket delivery is handled by multiple partners within the success chain. First, the carrier in China or Hong Kong brings the package to the border and provides initial ePacket tracking. From there, it’s sent to the destination via a global carrier.

After crossing the border of its destination country, the package is picked up by a neighborhood carrier. The local carrier is chargeable for delivering it to the destination address provided by your customer.

Does ePacket deliver to your door?

ePacket delivery only covers the journey to customs; it doesn’t guarantee a delivery window with the destination carrier, which is vital for dropshipping businesses to recollect. Many local carriers offer doorstep delivery once they’ve received the ePacket shipment, though some addresses cannot accept this service or could also be out of the carrier’s range.

Is there ePacket tracking?

Tracking and delivery confirmation is a component of the ePacket shipping solution.

ePacket tracking gives customers end-to-end coverage at no additional cost. They will monitor and locate their packages on official web sites reminiscent of USPS.

Undeliverable mail can also be returned for free of charge, which helps merchants refund customers who don’t receive their purchases.

The best way to track an ePacket

For patrons who require ePacket tracking, there are just a few ways to trace an ePacket delivery. The primary is to make use of the tracking tools on official postal service web sites, China Post or USPS, depending on where your ePacket shipment is in transit. 

Nevertheless, it might be tricky to search out official places to trace an ePacket while it’s traveling through China. In case you’re having a difficult time using official web sites, you possibly can track packages via third-party tracking services. Just a few popular options include:

Parcels app

The Parcels app website tracks ePackets across USPS and China Post EMS, translating any Chinese information into English and providing an estimated delivery time of your package.

Aftership

Aftership is a straightforward parcel tracking website that gives delivery statuses for as much as 50 ePacket tracking numbers at a time.

17Track

17Track is a Shopify app that merchants can use to permit their customers to trace purchases. With 17Track, customers can track ePackets and receive email notifications triggered by their package status.

Order and ePacket tracking is helpful because customers can self-serve and discover where exactly their package is and when to expect it. In turn, this reduces support inquiries about pending deliveries and improves the shopper experience.

💡 Note: China EMS is a carrier and ePacket is a definite shipping method. 

Which countries support ePacket shipping and ePacket tracking?

As of 2023, over 40 countries support ePacket deliveries:

1. Australia
2. Austria
3. Belgium
4. Brazil
5. Canada
6. Croatia
7. Denmark
8. Estonia
9. Finland
10. France
11. Germany
12. Greece
13. Hong Kong
14. Indonesia
15. Hungary
16. Ireland
17. Israel
18. Italy
19. Japan
20. Kazakhstan
21. Latvia
22. Lithuania
23. Luxembourg
24. Malaysia
25. Malta
26. Mexico
27. Netherlands
28. Recent Zealand
29. Norway
30. Poland
31. Portugal
32. Russia
33. Saudi Arabia
34. Singapore
35. Spain
36. South Korea
37. Sweden
38. Switzerland
39. Thailand
40. Turkey
41. Ukraine
42. United Kingdom
43. United States
44. Vietnam

How long does ePacket take to deliver from China to the US?

On average, ePacket shipping times to the US can take seven to twenty days to reach from the date of shipment. 

Other countries might even see similar or barely longer average shipping times. Around half that point is spent reaching the destination; the opposite half is spent being routed to the proper facilities before making it to the destination country.

Shipping times can vary depending on the package’s destination, customs, holidays, and other delays. But generally speaking, ePacket shipping offers more consistent average shipping times than other economical shipping options from China and Hong Kong.

While a multi-week shipping period can feel like a protracted time, ePacket packages are bulk processed and alter hands several times before reaching their destination.

Fortunately, all of this may easily be monitored, because of the ePacket tracking service included with deliveries, giving customers confidence that their package is on the best way.

How ePacket works on AliExpress

ePacket shipping ought to be front of mind when using Alibaba dropshipping or dropshipping products from AliExpress and deciding which of them to sell. ePacket shipping lets your customers receive their purchase in an inexpensive timeframe, and track their orders while they wait.

It’s also essentially the most consistent option for merchants and customers. Other shipping options might not be as reliable unless you think about dearer shipping options from China and Hong Kong.

ePacket is mostly a free or inexpensive shipping option. This permits store owners dropshipping with AliExpress to supply free shipping.

Learn More: The 9 Best Dropshipping Web sites for Your Online Store

How do I do know if my shipment is an ePacket delivery?

If ordering through AliExpress dropshipping, look under Orders and click on View Detail.

If the package was shipped using ePacket, an ePacket tracking number ought to be listed under Logistics Information and International Shipping Company.

In case you’re not purchasing on AliExpress, you possibly can determine how your package was shipped by the tracking number.

ePacket tracking numbers often start with the letter “L.” If there isn’t a ePacket tracking number, it’s likely the package was shipped using a special method.

Do customers have to pay customs/duties/taxes with ePacket shipping?

ePacket deliveries undergo traditional customs clearances, which can require customers to pay applicable duties and taxes. Check your local laws to see when it’s essential to pay duties and taxes on imported purchases, and for what kinds of things.

Ask the merchant shipping the item if any duties or taxes are owed on arrival. They may be experienced in shipping to your country and higher understand whether duties and taxes can be owed.

Ultimately, what’s the good thing about the ePacket service?

In case you ship locally, your competitive advantage will at all times be the speed of delivery. Some customers won’t tolerate a multiple-week wait for products to reach.

While ePacket doesn’t make shipments from China and Hong Kong as fast as local deliveries, it significantly reduces the gap.

In comparison with other shipping services from China, ePacket also provides:

• Customs clearance. ePacket shares China Post’s customs clearance, so it guarantees speed.
• Fast shipping speeds. ePacket is quicker and cheaper than China Post Air Mail. You may as well return packages without cost.
• Tracking. ePacket tracking and delivery confirmation are included.
• Transparent pricing. No hidden fees, which is unusual when working with cross-border ecommerce corporations.

Read: Read the definitive guide to dropshipping with AliExpress.

The best way to use ePacket dropshipping on Shopify

ePacket is good for Shopify merchants that sell low-to-medium value items and wish to get monetary savings on shipping costs from China. Packages typically take seven to twenty days to reach when using ePacket on Shopify. Make sure you’ve opted for ePacket delivery along with your supplier to set it up in your store.