Ish7anli vs the kinds of shipping companies in the market
We won't name anyone and we won't compare prices. We compare company types: classic business forwarders, new companies that opened as the market reopened, and global couriers — what each is genuinely good at, and where each stops.
Service comparison table
Services only — no price claims.
| Service | Ish7anli | Classic freight forwarder | New shipping company (post-2024) | Global express courier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buy-for-Me (we buy on your behalf)You send a link or a supplier name — we pay the seller and ship it to Syria. | Yes | No | Limited | No |
| Foreign cards, PayPal & foreign bank accountsPaying a US or European seller from Syria is the hard part. We already hold the cards, the PayPal accounts and the bank accounts. | Yes | No | Limited | No |
| Buy from any store, factory or supplierAmazon and eBay, but also brand websites, wholesalers, factories and manufacturers — not just marketplaces. | Yes | Limited | Limited | No |
| Built for online shoppers (B2C)One parcel, one person, a price before you order, and a follow-up you can read on your phone. | Yes | No | Limited | Limited |
| Business freight & bulk cargoPallets, containers, LCL/FCL sea freight and air cargo for companies. | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited |
| Multiple origin countriesUSA, Europe, UK, UAE, Turkey and China — not one lane only. | Yes | Limited | Limited | Yes |
| Door-to-door delivery inside SyriaDelivered to your address, not left at a depot for you to collect. | Yes | Limited | Limited | Limited |
| Commercial paperwork done properlyCommercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, HS codes — prepared the way customs and the supplier both expect. | Yes | Yes | Not stated | Limited |
| Incoterms & trade languageEXW, FOB, CIF, DDP — we tell you which one protects you before you sign anything. | Yes | Yes | Not stated | Limited |
| Consolidation of many ordersSeveral sellers, one shipment, one freight cost, one customs entry. | Yes | Limited | Limited | No |
| Tracking & written follow-upAn account, a tracking page and a WhatsApp thread — not a phone call you have to chase. | Yes | Limited | Not stated | Yes |
| Years of experience in the Syrian marketIsh7anli has been serving Syrians since 2018/2019 — through the hardest years, not just since the market reopened. | Yes | Yes | No | Limited |
| Backed by an established groupIsh7anli (2019) is part of iShip (2014), founded by a family trading & forwarding business active since 1985, with the founder in the industry since 1999. | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Yes |
| Support that speaks your languageSyrian Arabic on WhatsApp with a real person, plus English and French when you deal with suppliers. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited |
Compiled from market observation, last reviewed 2026-08-02. Every company differs and offers change — always check a company's current terms before you commit.
The company types in the market
Classic freight forwarder
The established forwarders — strong on containers and China lanes, built for companies moving volume.
- • Real strength in bulk freight, containers and China routes.
- • Established customs relationships for commercial imports.
- • Good rates once your volume is big enough.
- • Not built for one person buying one item online.
- • Usually cannot pay a foreign seller on your behalf.
- • No free warehouse address for your own online orders.
New shipping company (post-2024)
The many small and medium companies that opened as Syria reopened to the world.
- • Hungry, flexible, and often fast to answer.
- • Some have good single-lane rates, especially from Turkey or China.
- • Little or no track record — hard to verify before you pay.
- • Trade paperwork and Incoterms knowledge is often thin.
- • Rarely hold foreign payment instruments of their own.
Global express courier
The international door-to-door couriers and their forwarding products.
- • Fast, well-tracked express service where they operate.
- • Global brand recognition and network.
- • Express only — no cheap economy or sea option.
- • They move your box; they don't buy for you or advise on trade.
- • Coverage and service into Syria is limited and changes often.
Comparison FAQ
How do I choose between a classic forwarder, a new online service and a global courier?
Match the company type to the job. A classic forwarder is built for containers and commercial cargo. A global courier is built for small, urgent documents and parcels at a premium. A consumer online service is built for one box from a US store. If your shipment mixes these — a purchase abroad, a payment you can't make, customs and a delivery to your door — you need one party that covers the whole chain, which is what we do.
Why don't you compare prices with other companies?
Because a price without the same scope is meaningless. Two quotes for the same kilo can mean two completely different things once customs, local delivery, payment abroad and documentation are counted. We compare services instead, then give you a real all-in number from our calculator for your actual shipment.
Can another company buy the goods for me if the seller won't accept Syria?
Most cannot, because it requires paying the seller abroad with a foreign card, PayPal or bank account and taking that risk. Forwarders and couriers move what you already own. We buy on your behalf, receive it at our own warehouse, then ship and clear it for you.
Do you handle export out of Syria as well as import?
Yes. Export is where most consumer services stop entirely. We prepare the commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and HS classification, book the airline or courier, and hand your buyer abroad a tracked shipment.
Is the comparison table on this page about specific named companies?
No. We compare market archetypes — categories of company — never a named competitor. It's compiled from market observation and reviewed periodically, so always confirm any company's current terms directly with them before you commit.