Real Challenges Indian Small Exporters face in the USA and Canada
As an Indian exporter shipping to North America, you're likely to encounter these common hurdles:
1. Unexpected Customs Holds
Many exporters report shipments held at US or Canadian customs for weeks, often due to minor paperwork errors or random inspections. This leads to delayed deliveries and unhappy customers.
2. High Return Rates
E-commerce sellers frequently face return rates of 20-30% in the US market, much higher than in India. Managing these returns from afar is costly and logistically challenging.
3. Chargeback Fraud
Small sellers report losing thousands of dollars to chargeback fraud, where customers falsely claim non-delivery of goods they've received.
4. Inconsistent Shipping Times
Even with premium courier services, delivery times to North America can vary greatly, from 5 to 15 days, making it hard to set customer expectations.
5. Marketplace Suspension
Many small sellers have faced sudden account suspensions on platforms like Amazon or eBay due to customer complaints or policy violations, often stemming from misunderstandings of platform rules.
6. Currency Exchange Losses
Fluctuating exchange rates between the Indian Rupee and US/Canadian dollars have caused significant profit margin erosion for many exporters.
7. Product Adaptation Costs
Exporters often underestimate the cost of modifying products to meet North American standards, such as changing electrical plugs or adjusting clothing sizes. These real-world challenges can significantly impact your export business.