What is Blind Shipping

What Is Blind Shipping?

Blind shipping is a logistics practice where the shipper’s identity and address are hidden from the final consignee (the buyer). Instead, the shipment shows the seller’s customer or distributor as the shipper of record, creating the impression that the goods are coming directly from them rather than the original supplier or manufacturer.

This strategy is widely used in dropshipping, distribution, and wholesale supply chains.

How Blind Shipping Works

1. Supplier ships goods directly to the end customer.

2. The shipping documents and labels do not display the supplier’s details.

3. Instead, the buyer’s name, warehouse, or distributor is shown as the shipper of record.

Often, freight forwarders or 3PLs (third-party logistics providers) facilitate blind shipping by generating neutral documents (bills of lading, invoices) and controlling the flow of information.

Why Companies Use Blind Shipping

• Protect Supplier Information
  Prevents the end customer from bypassing distributors and going straight to the source.

• Branding Control
  Ensures that only the distributor’s or reseller’s brand is visible on the shipment.

• Streamlined Supply Chains
  Goods move directly from the factory to the customer without stopping at the distributor’s warehouse.

Blind Shipping vs. Drop Shipping

• Drop Shipping: Retailer never handles inventory; the supplier ships directly to the customer, often branded under the retailer’s name.

• Blind Shipping: Focuses on hiding the true shipper’s identity while allowing distributors or resellers to maintain customer loyalty.

Risks and Considerations

• Documentation Errors: If blind bills of lading are mishandled, customs authorities may flag shipments.

• Trust Issues: Requires strong relationships between suppliers, freight forwarders, and distributors.

• Compliance: Must still meet customs and legal requirements even when disguising shipper details.

Blind shipping is a valuable logistics tool for businesses that want to protect their supply chain relationships and brand identity while still leveraging direct shipments from China (or other origins) to global customers.