How the first trial order works, step by step
A trial shipment checks the label, the actual weight and the tracking handoff on the lane you will use. Here is what to prepare, what happens in each step and what to check before you move more stock.
What is the short answer?
The first trial order proves that one real order can move through the lane you plan to use: the label prints correctly, the parcel bills at the weight you expect, and tracking hands off to the destination carrier. The trial volume is agreed per account. Once the trial passes, more stock can move and orders can start flowing.
What should I prepare before the trial?
For each SKU: the product name, material, quantity, declared value, HS code and manufacturer. These five declaration fields are what ShopRest needs to prepare a compliant declaration. Add the packed weight and dimensions, the destination countries and the postcodes you ship to most. If you want garment work such as hangtags or care labels, send the labels or say which ones the warehouse should apply.
What happens in each step?
Step 1, confirm the cargo and the destination. ShopRest names the warehouse and the lane that can carry the product. Restricted goods are checked before a SKU goes live.
Step 2, exchange product data. You send the SKU, material and value. ShopRest prepares the declaration data that lane needs.
Step 3, send the goods. The partner warehouse in Shanghai receives the goods, opens and counts the cartons, and puts them away. A deeper visual check is optional.
Step 4, confirm terms. Payment terms are confirmed in the service agreement before orders ship.
Step 5, ship the trial order on the selected lane and follow it to delivery.
What does the trial actually check?
The label: the address and waybill print correctly and match the lane. The weight: the packed parcel bills in the band you expected. The tracking handoff: the tracking number moves from export to the destination carrier, so your customer sees updates. It also checks that the declaration data is accepted for that lane.
Worked example: one apparel unit to Melbourne
One apparel unit, 0.2 kg packed in a 10 × 5 × 2 cm mailer, to postcode 3000. The reference price for China direct apparel economy is AUD 6.89 with fuel included, and the reference transit is 7–12 working days. The trial confirms that the parcel bills at 0.2 kg, that the label matches the lane, and that tracking appears on the Australian side. Warehouse handling for that order is on the formal quote.
How long does the trial take?
The transit part follows the reference range for the lane, counted in working days from the order leaving the warehouse. Inbound to the China warehouse depends on when your goods arrive and the agreed receiving window. We agree the trial timeline with you when the cargo and lane are confirmed.
Do I need a developer to connect Shopify?
No. A standard Shopify store does not need a custom build. An approved store can sync products and SKUs, import orders, and write the tracking number and fulfilment status back to Shopify. This is available to approved ShopRest merchants. It is not a public install from the Shopify App Store.
What happens after the trial?
Once the product data and the stock are in place, orders ship on the selected lane. If you also hold stock in an overseas warehouse, later orders ship from there when the SKU is in stock, and from China when it is not. Review the first weeks of orders for weight, transit and exceptions before increasing volume.
What are common reasons a trial needs another run?
Packed weight differs from the weight on the SKU sheet. A declaration field is missing or does not match the product. The address format does not suit the destination carrier. A battery or restricted component was not declared. Each of these is fixed before the next order, not after a customer complaint.
How do I fill in the five declaration fields correctly?
Product name: describe what it is and what it is made of, for example "women's cotton knit T-shirt", not "clothing" or "sample". Quantity: the number of units in the parcel. Declared value: the real transaction value of the goods, in line with the price the customer pays. HS code: the Harmonized System code for the product; the first six digits are shared internationally, and destination countries add more digits. Manufacturer: the name and address of the factory that made the goods.
These fields drive both clearance and tax. A vague description or a value that does not match the sale is the most common reason customs asks for more information. For apparel, knitted and woven garments sit in different HS chapters, and some destinations treat them differently, so the construction matters as well as the fibre.
How large should the trial be?
The trial volume is agreed per account. In practice it should be large enough to cover each lane and destination you plan to use, and small enough that a correction costs little. If you will ship to Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, plan at least one trial order on each lane rather than testing only one market.
What should I check when the trial order arrives?
Ask the recipient to confirm the packaging condition, that the right item and size arrived, and how many working days it took. Compare the billed weight with your SKU sheet. Check that the tracking showed each stage, including the handoff to the local carrier. Note anything to change before the next shipment.
What should I send to start?
Send the SKU list with the five declaration fields, packed weight and dimensions, destination countries and expected monthly orders. We reply with the lane, the warehouse handling, and the steps for your trial.