Discreet Shipping
Discreet Shipping is a great way to send shipments to your customers covertly. FreightCenter can help you set up a discreet shipment so only you and your customer know what's coming.
What Is Discreet Shipping?
Most companies plaster their business name and logo all over their shipping materials, like boxes and crates, so customers know what they get when the trailer rolls up. But sometimes, customers don’t want their packages known to the world. They need these packages to be a secret so no one knows what they’re shipping.
This is why freight brokers and carriers offer discreet shipping (or blind shipping) as an option. Discreet shipping is a nonintrusive way to send your shipment to the customer without letting anyone other than the shipper and the customer know what’s inside. A shipper can even send their package to the customer without them knowing it’s coming!
Read more below to learn more about discreet shipping…
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Why Ship Discreetly?
Customers may have several reasons for choosing to have their shipments sent discreetly. Some items usually shipped discreetly include:
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Luxury items like Air Jordan shoes, jewelry, or art pieces
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Medication, medical supplies, and medical equipment
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Adult novelty products
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Home security equipment
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Surprise gifts from friends or family members
Most of these items are of high value or need special care that a normal freight delivery can’t or won’t provide. They must be hidden from other customers or carriers looking into the truck’s trailer. They need to blend in and not stand out with flashy branding all over the packaging. Companies can have their branded wrapping paper or bubble wrap inside the package for recipients receiving a surprise gift.
Another reason someone may ship discreetly is that the customer is changing freight carriers. Some companies may be unable to continue using the same carrier as before but don’t want to let the carrier know they’re switching to a competitor. Discreet shipments allow the shipper to use their new carriers without revealing the truth to their old ones until the company fully transitions out.
Discreet shipping is similar to drop shipping, which is when a company transfers some of its products to a wholesaler or distributor, who then warehouses them until a customer makes an order. The wholesaler actually sends the product to the customer, while the company just makes and sends the product to the wholesaler. Amazon became famous for doing this kind of selling, as did grocery stores with generic brand products.
However, the original company’s name and address are still mentioned in the shipping documents during drop shipping, whereas discreet shipments do not have the shipper’s information on the documents. They are more for products that the shipper doesn’t want anyone, aside from the customer, to know came from them, while drop shippers use the distributors to help them deliver their products to customers.
How Freight Carriers Ship Discreetly
When a shipper chooses to have their package shipped discreetly, they can do so in several ways. The most common way is to use plain, unmarked packaging with no obvious labels. No logos, symbols, or branding; these items look ordinary and blend in with the other packages. Shippers sometimes decorate the inside of a box with a message and custom wrapping paper so the customer knows who sent a plain box to them. If you must have a label with the shipper’s name and address, the box can be turned away from the trailer door so no one can see it.
Another way is to send the packages under another business name, a partner, or a different carrier. Customers familiar with the shipper’s name or regular carrier will not expect the package if it comes from another source.
Not all carriers offer discreet shipments. You must contact carriers to find out whether they offer them. If they do, you may need to fill out special documents, such as a discreet shipment form. The shipment will have two bills of lading (BOLs), one with the falsified or hidden information and one with the shipper’s true name and address. There might also be an extra fee issued by the carrier for discreet shipments.
A 3PL like FreightCenter can find carriers that offer discreet shipping services for you. A FreightCenter agent can answer any other questions about discreet shipping and work on the paperwork with you.
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Pros and Cons of Discreet Shipping
Should you go with discreet shipping for your next shipment? It depends on the product and how the customer and shipper want the shipment sent. There are a few pros for shipping discreetly:
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Valuable/expensive shipments will be protected from others, especially thieves hunting for unattended freight.
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Discreet shipments hide surprise packages very well, ensuring your customers are astounded when they open the freight.
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Keeps potentially revealing products from being discovered, like adult novelty items.
However, discreet shipments aren’t for everyone. There are a few drawbacks:
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Carriers do charge extra for discreet shipping, including for additional accessorials like re-labelling.
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Arranging international discreet shipments can be challenging. Customs require detailed information about the shipment, including the shipper’s name and address if it’s coming from outside the country. Because discreet shipments are so secretive, customs are likely going to inspect them, as they are often targeted for smuggling illegal products. It’s important to work with a carrier and customs broker to determine if an international discreet shipment is the right choice for you.
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Fraudulent carriers and shippers often use discreet shipments to deceive customers. They claim to have sent a shipment via discreet shipping, but it turns out that neither the shipment nor the shipper exists. While freight brokers can prevent many fraudulent orders like these, they can’t catch them all. It’s crucial for you to be cautious about where you make your purchases and question whether discreet shipping is necessary.
Discreet shipping is a good option for shippers and customers who don’t want their freight out in the open for all to see. Some products are too costly, important, and downright embarrassing to be seen by a person passing by an open freight truck. There’s also something fun about getting an unknown package and discovering a fun surprise inside.
Discreet shipping can be a complicated process, however, so it’s important for anyone considering this option to have someone on their side who can guide them through the process. FreightCenter can help you set up a discreet shipment using our free quote tool, or give us a call at 800.716.7608.
Guaranteed competitive pricing every time you ship.
Frequently Asked Questions About Discreet Shipping:
Q. What is discreet shipping?
Discreet shipping allows shippers to send their products to their customers without anyone else knowing what’s inside the shipment. These shipments have unremarkable, plain packaging. The boxes are also re-labeled with a phony name and address or have their labels hidden so no one looking inside the trailer can see them.
Q. Why ship something discreetly?
Discreet shipping is a great option if you want to ship something valuable and expensive, have sensitive material you don’t want others to see, are secretly transferring to another carrier, or want the shipment to be a surprise to your recipient.
Q. If I ship discreetly, how will the customer not know it's from me?
Every carrier that offers the service does it differently, but it usually goes like this: when you choose to ship discreetly, you must fill out special paperwork for the order, like a discreet shipment form. There will be two Bills of Ladings (BOLs): one with the sender’s fake name and address (or no address) and another with the true name and address.
Discreet shipments can be a bit confusing to quote for, so it’s recommended that you get a 3PL like FreightCenter to connect you with carriers that offer the service. They will also help with the paperwork.
Q. Is there an extra charge for discreet shipping?
Often, there is. Many carriers that offer discreet shipping have additional fees for discreet packaging and re-labeling. Make sure you double-check with your FreightCenter agent and carrier about extra charges.
Q. Can I send a package from a different source and have both the sender and customer not know each other's identities?
Yes, that’s possible. We call this double-discreet (or double-blind) shipping: neither the sender nor the customer know each other’s names or addresses. It’s a complicated process, so here’s an example: let’s say you buy shoes from a shoe store and then resell them to customers for a living. You don’t want the store or the customer to know about each other because then the store could offer a better deal and cut you out, or the customer could go to the store for their order instead of you.
So you do a double-discreet shipment. The store receives a phony name and address for the customer on their BOL, and the customer gets a phony name and address for the sender. You and the carrier are the only ones who get a BOL with both sides’ correct names and addresses.
Not many carriers do this kind of shipping, less so than regular discreet shipping. FreightCenter can help arrange double-discreet shipments with you, making the process easier than organizing it alone.
3 Advantages of Using FreightCenter for Discreet Shipping:
Experience and Expertise
FreightCenter has over 25 years of experience in the logistics industry. Our knowledgeable team of logistics experts are ready to assist you with even the most complex of discreet shipments. No hassle, no worries, FreightCenter has your back.
Customized Solutions
No idea how to arrange a discreet shipment? No problem! FreightCenter's friendly agents are here to help you. We'll connect you to carriers specializing in discreet shipping, explain how to file your paperwork, and answer any additional questions you have about shipping discreetly.
Specialized Carriers
Not many carriers offer discreet shipping. FreightCenter can cconnect you with the right carrier for your needs, with competitive pricing that will save you money without skimping on quality service and safety.
