Which Is Right for You Amazon Card or Sea Freight?

Which is Better Amazon Card Delivery or Sea Freight?

In the field of cross-border e-commerce, Amazon, as one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the world, has caught the attention of many Chinese sellers. For those who want to enter the Amazon platform, card delivery and sea freight are two common logistics models. But which way is more suitable for you? This requires an in-depth analysis from multiple dimensions such as cost, time efficiency, and service.

Card delivery refers to sending goods directly from domestic areas to Amazon's overseas warehouses through courier companies or international freight forwarders. The advantage of this method lies in its simplicity of operation. Usually, providing a goods list and address can complete the shipping process. Since it adopts either air transport or sea transport combined with local delivery, the transportation time of card delivery is relatively short, making it suitable for products that require high timeliness. For instance, during a promotional event in 2025, an electronics brand chose the card delivery method to quickly deliver their latest model of headphones to the European market, successfully seizing the opportunity and achieving significant sales growth. However, card delivery also has its limitations, such as strict weight restrictions on individual packages, usually not exceeding 30 kilograms; additionally, high freight costs are another challenge, especially when order volumes are small, resulting in significantly increased logistics costs per item.

Compared to card delivery, sea freight is a more cost-effective option. It involves transporting large quantities of goods via large container ships to the destination port, followed by local logistics companies handling customs clearance and delivery to Amazon warehouses. The biggest advantage of this mode lies in the cost-effectiveness brought about by economies of scale, particularly suitable for large quantities and low-priced goods. According to statistics from a certain cross-border e-commerce platform, using the sea freight method to transport small household appliances saves approximately 40% of logistics costs compared to card delivery on average. However, the drawbacks of sea freight should not be overlooked. Firstly, the entire chain is longer, from stock preparation to final listing, which may take a month or even longer, posing a significant challenge for brands pursuing rapid turnover rates. Secondly, the customs clearance process is complex and ever-changing, and any oversight could lead to delays or returns, causing unnecessary losses for merchants.

So how can one make a wise decision in actual operations? The author believes that the following aspects should be considered

Firstly, clarify your own positioning and target market. If the products you operate belong to high value-added and small-batch types, and your target customers are mainly concentrated in developed countries and regions, then the card delivery solution can be given priority; conversely, for ordinary consumer goods that emphasize cost-effectiveness and have large sales volumes, sea freight will be a better choice.

Secondly, pay attention to changes in platform policies. In recent years, Amazon has continuously adjusted its warehouse management strategies, such as increasing the minimum storage period requirement for FBA Amazon Logistics, all of which directly affect the cost-benefit ratio of different logistics models. Timely mastering relevant information and optimizing supply chain layout accordingly is crucial.

Thirdly, strengthen internal cooperation and external resource integration. Whether adopting any method of shipment, efficient team collaboration remains the key. At the same time, actively seeking reliable partners, such as reputable freight forwarding companies or professional customs brokers, can effectively reduce risks and enhance overall operational efficiency.

In summary, Amazon card delivery and sea freight each have their own advantages and disadvantages, and there is no absolute superiority between them. Sellers should weigh the pros and cons based on their actual situation and flexibly apply these two modes to maximize profits. Of course, during this process, maintaining keen market insight and being prepared to deal with various emergencies are essential to remain invincible in this fiercely competitive blue ocean.