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Why the Wait? Understanding the Transit of Your Order from Our Warehouse to You!

Transit of Your Order from Our Warehouse to You


Discover the Essential Steps and Shipping Options

‘I’ve just completed my order: why can’t my items ship as early as tomorrow?’

If you’ve found yourself wondering the same thing, you’re in the right place! In this guide, we’ll not only walk you through the different shipping methods available but also take you behind the scenes to explain the processes that ensure your goods are prepared and ready for their shipment.

Dispatch Times: The Importance of Planning

Shipping timelines are one of the most common questions we receive. It’s essential to understand that estimated delivery times begin only once the carrier has picked up your goods and they’ve left the port, airport, or transport hub. Before reaching this stage, there’s a meticulous internal process that must be completed. This includes consolidating items from various manufacturers, conducting thorough quality checks, ensuring safe packaging, and, where necessary, fumigation. Only after these steps are complete can we book a carrier, who will then provide the earliest available departure date. Within five days of that departure, we’ll load your goods. It’s important to remember that transport companies, especially shipping lines, adhere to strict schedules. Factors like overbooking or logistical constraints may lead to waiting for the next available carrier. This is why careful, advance planning is crucial to ensuring your goods arrive on time.

The Internal Process: What Happens Before the Shipment?

Imagine your goods are ready in our warehouse today—naturally, you’d expect them to ship out by tomorrow, right? Well, it’s not quite that simple. Before your products can begin their transit, several essential steps need to be completed. These steps are crucial to ensuring that every detail is handled with care and that your goods arrive at their destination in perfect condition. Here’s a look at what happens behind the scenes before your shipment leaves our warehouse:

1.Consolidation of Goods from Manufacturers

Consolidation Salbini

Before we can proceed with shipping, we need to receive all the items you’ve ordered. This step is especially important when your order includes products from multiple manufacturers, as each item must be carefully consolidated to ensure everything is ready to go together.

2. Quality Control

Once we receive the goods, each item undergoes a meticulous quality check to ensure it meets our high standards. This process is crucial in preventing any issues down the line and ensuring that all products are in perfect condition before shipment.

3. Packaging and Preparation

After passing quality control, your goods are expertly packed to guarantee their protection during transit. Unlike many suppliers, we pay extra attention to this stage because we understand how vital proper packaging is in preventing damage and avoiding additional responsibilities for you as the importer. When necessary, we use custom-made crates or additional protective measures to ensure the highest level of security.

4. Fumigation (If Necessary)

Depending on the destination and local regulations, fumigation may be required. This is a process that uses biocidal gases to eliminate any organisms or parasites, ensuring that the goods are safe and will not pose a threat to the ecosystem of the final destination.


Only after all these steps are completed will your goods be fully prepared for shipment via your selected method. Each step is vital to ensuring that your products are in perfect condition and ready for a smooth, secure shipment to their final destination.

Shipping Methods: How to Choose the Right One

Understanding the different types of international shipping is essential. Each method comes with its own timelines and unique features, so it’s important to evaluate them carefully based on your specific needs. This will help you make the best choice and avoid any unpleasant surprises along the way.

1. Air Shipping

For smaller orders or when time is of the essence, air freight is the perfect choice. It’s particularly suited for urgent projects that require a fast turnaround.

Delivery time: Approximately 10 days from shipment.

2. FCL (Full Container Load) Sea Freight

When you’re handling large orders or managing an entire project, FCL sea freight offers the most efficient solution. With a dedicated container just for your goods, you benefit from both security and optimized transport for bulk shipments.

Delivery time: Approximately 45 days from shipment, depending on the destination. At Salbini, we work with non-stop shipping companies to ensure swift deliveries.

3. LCL (Less Container Load) Sea Freight

If your shipment volume doesn’t justify a full container but you still need a maritime option, LCL is the way to go. Your goods will share space with other shipments heading to the same destination, helping to keep costs down.

Delivery time: Approximately 60 days from shipment.

4. Standard Sea Shipping

For non-urgent, smaller orders, Standard Sea Shipping provides a cost-effective option. While it takes longer, it still upholds high standards of safety and quality control.

Delivery time: This can vary based on container availability and stopovers along the route, so it cannot be accurately estimated from the start.

5. Overland Shipping

For destinations that can be easily reached by road from Italy, such as other European countries, overland shipping offers a practical and affordable solution. Ideal for small to medium-sized orders.

Delivery time: Approximately 7-14 days from shipment, depending on distance and road conditions.

We’ll Help You

If you’re unsure about which shipping method is best for your order, don’t hesitate to reach out! We’re always here to assist you in choosing the solution that perfectly suits your needs. Let us help make your shipping experience as smooth and efficient as possible.

Customs duties and taxes

Customs duties and taxes

Duties and taxes are imposed to protect national revenue and safeguard local industry. Almost all shipments crossing international borders are subject to duty and tax assessment, with customs officials basing this on information provided on the commercial invoice and other relevant documents.

When do you need to pay customs duties and taxes?

Payment to the authorities must be met before the shipments are released from customs. 

Australia

Things you buy over the Internet have the same duties applied as any other import.

For goods with a value of AUD 1000 or less, there are generally no duties, taxes or charges to pay at the border,

For goods with a value over AUD 1000, you will need to fill out an import declaration and pay duties, taxes and charges at the border.

GST is payable on most goods imported into Australia.The GST payable is 10% of the value of the taxable importation. Generally, GST is payable before the goods are released by Home Affairs. If you are an importer and are registered for GST, you may be able to defer the payment of GST by participating in the deferred GST scheme.

United States

Import duty and taxes are owed when importing goods into the United States, whether by a private individual or a commercial entity.

The valuation method is FOB, which means that the import duty and taxes payable are calculated exclusively on the value of the imported goods. Duty rates vary from 0 to 37.5 percent, with a typical duty rate about 5.63 percent.

Goods must be declared for entry into the U.S. within 15 days of arrival or prior to leaving a bonded warehouse or foreign trade zone. The importer of record declares the transaction value of the goods and country of origin, along with other information. The declarations must include an invoice and packing list (or equivalent) listing all goods.

CBP then assesses duty, which must be paid by the importer of record before goods can be released. Many importers participate in a voluntary self-assessment program with CBP.

Korea 

Korea has a flat 10 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on all imports and domestically manufactured goods. A special excise tax of 10-20 percent is also levied on the importation of certain luxury items and durable consumer goods.

Tariffs and taxes must be paid in Korean Won within 15 days after goods have cleared Customs. 

Asia

Generally, all goods entering Singapore are subject to a 7% GST on imported goods. This import fee is applicable for items which have a total value of SG$400 and above.

The taxable value is calculated based on its Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value and all other duties and tax charges.

In 2021, the Singapore government announced that low-value goods bought online will also be subjected to GST from 1 January 2023.

Importing through Salbini

On our site and in our quotes, prices don’t include GST and customs duties, being a tax that you don’t need to pay us.

In fact, we are exporters, not importers.

These import duties and taxes are paid by the buyer / importer upon arrival of the goods in their country.

The Salbini team offers the buyer all the assistance and information necessary to complete the procedures.

Euro hits parity with the US dollar

Euro-Dollar

The euro has suffered a swift and brutal slump this year, and now it has crossed a major threshold: for the first time in 20 years, the exchange rate between the euro and the US dollar has reached parity. The euro hasn’t been valued below $1 since July 15, 2002. It’s now below $1.01.

What does it mean?

It means the European and American currencies are worth the same amount.

The falling exchange rate has been blamed on rate rises, Europe’s energy dependence on Russia and growing fears of a recession, which typically drive investment in haven assets. Energy prices have driven euro-area inflation to a record 8.6% in June, making everything from groceries to utility bills more expensive.

Why dollar is king now

The dollar has climbed in value against global currencies by more than 10% since the beginning of the year.

It means that people need to put up fewer dollars in exchange for other currencies.

What does a strong U.S. dollar mean for imports, exports?

For decades, currency devaluation was a monetary policy tool to obtain competitive trade advantages. The idea is simple: if your currency is worth less, your products are cheaper, and it is much easier to put them on the market, which revitalizes exports and boosts the economy.

A strong dollar may help consumers buy more imported goods. 

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics said “if you’re an importer, the strength of the dollar is a good thing”. Zandi expects the dollar’s strength against the euro to last for a year or two.

“I don’t see the dollar significantly weakening any time soon,” he said.

Sources: El Paìs, AP News, Moody’s Analytics.

Ocean freight

Ocean freight

More than 90 percent of the goods transported in the world are carried by ocean freight.  

Businesses that deal with international shipments are always faced with the dilemma of choosing between Ocean freight and Air freight. Although the two serve the same purpose, they are poles apart in multiple ways. Choosing to use one over the other boils down to a significant difference in cost and time. 

Why should you choose ocean transport? 

First of all, the ocean shipping industry offers the most competitive freight costs to shippers, especially over long distances.

Moreover, no matter the size of your shipments, sea freight companies can usually accommodate your needs. Smaller shipments can be grouped together with other cargo to fill a container, allowing for cost-sharing of the transportation services. Larger cargo can fill one or more containers.  

Full Container Load (FCL) or Less-than-Container Load (LCL)

A FCL shipment is used when a shipper bears the cost of the entire container and uses it exclusively for a single shipment, even if they do not have enough goods to fill it up. On the other hand, an LCL shipment means shippers share the containers with other shipments and only need to pay for the space used.

While FCL may be cheaper than LCL, the latter may be a better option for smaller shipments. It is widely considered to be the future of logistics as the rise in e-commerce has contributed to a growing trend of ad-hoc and lower-volume shipments.

Additionally, emerging markets have also shown a preference for smaller shipments. This has led to a steadily growing demand for LCL options.

Environmental impact

A very important factor that must be considered, given the global warming crisis is the carbon footprint of the company. The mode of transport that a business uses to move around its shipments is a determinant of the company’s consideration for the planet.

When compared to sea shipping, air and many other forms of transportation have much higher carbon footprints – a definite disadvantage for the environment. Ships, on the other hand, provide the most carbon-efficient mode of transportation and produce fewer grams of exhaust gas emissions for each ton of cargo transported than any other shipment method. 

Transit time

Transit time on an ocean shipment usually takes from 12 days up to 50 days depending on the origin and destination.  

For example, a shipment from Italy to Australia averages 45/50 days. Transit time on an air freight shipment to Australia takes 6/7 days. Make sure to consider that due to COVID, transit time has become longer. It’s better to understand there are challenges faced in all stages of the supply chain.

The actual transit time from Italy to Australia is 60/65 days via Ocean freight, 8/10 days via air freight.

How to import European products in Australia

Do you need to renovate your house, or create a new residential project with the best European luxury brands? Here’s how you can do it with our help!

Online shopping

On our Australian website, you can buy the goods you need, choosing among thousands of products from the best European brands.

At checkout, after entering the country and post code the site automatically calculates shipping fees.

Payment is simple and can be made with bank deposit to our Australian bank account, credit card or Paypal.

GST and customs duties are to be paid when goods arrive in Australia.

Delivery

After payment, you can choose between two delivery methods:

  • Ocean freight, that takes 8 to 9 weeks; 
  • For faster delivery select delivery by Air freight, which generally takes about 1/2 weeks.

You needn’t worry using a custom agent because our courier takes care of everything. 

All you have to do is pay GST and duties before delivery.

Tailor-made quotes

If you need to purchase lots of products in a single order, you can request a quote for your project.

Just contact us and our staff will offer you the best solution on the market, including transport costs and payment methods.

All in one order, tailor-made for you.

Safe shipping

Your purchases arrive safely and securely as they have been shipped in custom-built crates made by us for the journey. 

Our crates reduce the risk of damage to goods during transport.

Contacts and after-sales assistance

If you have any questions you can contact us by phone at our Australian telephone number (03 8658 0755), or send an email at info@salbini.com or use the 24/7 live chat service.

We are always available, before, during and after the delivery of the goods covered by a 2-years warranty.

Cover image: Freepik.com

Salbini for Epworth 2022

Salbini for Epworth 2022

We support two Epworth events in Melbourne.

We are happy to take part into two beneficial events: Friends of Epworth Race Day and Epworth Gala Ball.

Epworth HealthCare is Victoria’s largest not-for-profit private hospital group, renowned for excellence in diagnosis, treatment, care and rehabilitation. Epworth is an innovator in Australia’s health system, embracing the latest in evidence-based medicine to pioneer treatments and services for patients.

We invite all of our friends, customers and partners to participate in these two important charitable initiatives.

We hope you can join us. 

Friends of Epworth Race Day

Funds raised from Friends of Epworth Race Day will be directed towards improving patient care at Epworth through the purchase of advanced medical equipment, the provision of educational scholarships to staff, fostering bench-to-bedside translational research and supporting patient support programs.

Visit the Epworth website for more information.

Epworth Gala Ball

The Epworth Gala Ball is the flagship event of Epworth.

Funds raised from the Gala Ball will help Epworth continue its history of excellence and innovation, supporting the introduction of new surgical techniques, new equipment and technologies, and new treatment trials.

Visit the Epworth website for more information.

Global logistics chain: the effects of the pandemic

How the Covid-19 pandemic affected the supply chain around the world.

The Covid-19 outbreak

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a crisis of the global supply chain: ships stuck at sea, warehouses overflowing, trucks without drivers.

Businesses across the economy struggled to hire workers and they have reacted to shortages by ordering earlier and extra that has placed more strain on the system.

When the pandemic struck in early 2020, people and businesses were quickly forced to restrict their activity, sending the global economy into a brief but damaging free fall. 
Under the model, called “just in time” manufacturing, companies stockpile as few raw materials and parts as possible, instead buying what they need as they need it.

The New York Times

China

With the closure of offices, stores and factories, companies laid off workers en masse. Moreover, there was a sudden need of surgical masks and other protective gear, made in China.

As Chinese factories ramped up to meet the new demand, cargo vessels delivered protective gear around the globe, even to regions that do relatively little trade with China, such as West Africa.

The New York Times

This led to a shortage of shipping containers in China.

United States

The spending in the United States was encouraged by government stimulus programs to resuscitate the economy.

As a result of the demand increase, a wave of factory goods swiftly overwhelmed U.S. ports. Swelling orders also outstripped the availability of shipping containers, and the cost of shipping a container from Shanghai to Los Angeles skyrocketed tenfold.

Online shopping

The many lockdowns in cities have changed the spending habits of entire countries overnight.

This has generated an increase in online sales.

Online shopping actually increased by at least 10 percentage points across most product categories, most notably: electronics, DIY, education, cosmetics, home goods, and pharmaceuticals.

The supply chain issue: what can we expect?

The supply chain has become a central political issue and it is likely to last for many more months — if not years. The emergence of new Covid variants during 2022 could accentuate some of the current pressures.

Despite some easing in recent months, international shipping costs are likely to remain high in 2022.

Sources: The New York Times, The Conversation, Ansa.

Salbini 2020-2021: We have quadrupled our sales, thanks to you too!

Over the past two years, our brand has grown despite the pandemic. An extraordinary result obtained also thanks to your trust.

A new identity appreciated on the global market

We are always here. We are always us.

After 12 successful years of the Fesal company, in 2018 we created the new Salbini brand, but it was not enough.
We understood that it was necessary to focus on the exclusive services that we are able to offer.
For this reason, in February 2020 we rebranded our brand by expanding the selection to the best European luxury brands.

We have gone from the “Italian Design Worldwide” e-commerce website to a “Design Worldwide” service company, with a new identity, a new corporate website – the one you are reading this article on 🙂 – and new communication systems.

We have created a new brand identity that reflects our corporate identity.
Today we faithfully transmit our values and you too have rewarded us, by entrusting us with a small order, or a large supply and we thank you.
The Salbini brand is increasingly synonymous with reliability. 
Customer reviews on Trustpilot testify to this.

People at the center

Our company is made up of people who are our real strength, and we are proud to call ourselves a “family”.
All our activities, from the simplest to the most demanding, are based on trust, sincerity and mutual respect.
Satisfied customers and the big brands that ask us to collaborate are the testimony of our professionalism on the market.
But our greatest joy is personal relationships. In fact, it often happens that business contacts become friendships, going beyond business. We know each other to provide products and we find ourselves becoming friends.

We are really happy to be there.

The Covid-19 pandemic and our corporate reorganization

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we live.
With millions of deaths worldwide and health systems collapsing, many companies have been brought to their knees by various lockdowns.

Thanks to new digital systems we have managed to speed up internal processes, even during lockdowns. A new corporate communication organization has allowed us to continue working remotely by constantly staying in contact with customers, partners and suppliers in total safety.
Our logistics have improved and is now even more efficient and more environmentally friendly.
The integration of new payment methods has allowed us to reduce transaction costs, making us even more competitive through personalized quotes for large supplies.
The expansion of the Italian and international staff has allowed us to take care of every detail, internal and external, improving the services offered.

The complete supply for residential, commercial and hospitality projects

Not just appliances.

We have been on the market for over sixteen years, and we have been for the most part through our old e-commerce site fesal.com, thanks to which many in the world have been able to appreciate our professionalism, especially for the supply of household appliances.

Maybe you too bought appliances the first time you trusted us 🙂

With the launch of the Salbini brand we went further, expanding and establishing ourselves more and more on the market also as resellers of the best European brands of furniture, lighting, bathroom and outdoor furniture, marble, natural stones and accessories.

For the first time in our history, in 2021 our furniture sales exceeded our sales of household appliances.
Today, the best of European design also passes through Salbini services, and we are very proud of it.

The creation of new partnerships with important companies in the industry

We have further expanded our wide range of brands by introducing new European manufacturers that we have carefully selected.
We have also established new transportation partnerships, making shipping safer, greener, faster and cheaper for our customers around the world.
The new partnerships with installation companies ensure a wide range of coverage for assembly and product warranties.

We have grown and our partners have grown with us.

Growth in all geographic areas

Australia continues to be our main market. 57% of our sales were shipped to Australian customers, mainly on the East coast, but there are also orders on the West coast.

We have also grown proportionally in other markets, carrying out small, medium and large orders for Asia, Europe, America and Africa.

We are Salbini, we are Design Worldwide.

“Sono Sicuro” Certificate by AICEL

sono sicuro

We are proud to be part of Aicel’s group of accredited online stores.

Our company works in full compliance with all the rules of e-commerce in full protection of the final consumer.

The “Sono Sicuro” certificate.

“Sono Sicuro” is the certification issued by AICEL (Italian Association of Electronic commerce) that distinguishes “healthy and virtuous” e-commerce companies that are committed to guarantee high levels of service quality to their customers.

In order to obtain the certificate the company needs to guarantee:

  • quality and service;
  • transparency of the conditions of sale;
  • clarity on privacy and cookies;
  • security of economic transactions-return and refund conditions;
  • correct information, advertising.

The certificate is verified annually examining the entire structure of the site and its commercial procedures.  In the event of behavior that doesn’t comply with the requirements, the certificate is withdrawn.

That’s why our customers can feel confident.

Message about Covid

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