Guides
Guides — how to ship a parcel correctly
Complete library of parcel shipping guides. From addressing a parcel to customs formalities outside the EU.
Basics
5Everything you need to know before your first shipment — addressing, packing, dimensions.
5 min read
How to Address a Parcel — International Format Guide
Complete guide to writing a parcel address correctly for domestic and international shipments. Line order, postcodes, country name format for USA, UK, EU and beyond.
8 min read
How to Pack a Parcel — Step-by-Step Packaging Guide
Practical guide to packing parcels that survive transit. How to choose the right box, protect fragile items, how much padding to use, and how to seal and label correctly.
5 min read
How to Describe Parcel Contents — Customs Declaration Guide
Describing parcel contents is not a formality — customs officers, sorting systems and claims departments rely on it. How to write accurate content descriptions for domestic and international shipments, and what happens if you write "personal items" or "gift".
8 min read
How to File a Parcel Claim — Damaged or Lost Shipment Guide
Step by step: how to file a claim for a damaged or lost parcel with DHL, UPS, FedEx, GLS, or national postal services. What documents to prepare, how long it takes, and what compensation to expect.
6 min read
Parcel Packaging Supplies — What to Buy and Where to Get It
Complete guide to parcel packaging supplies: boxes, bubble wrap, tape, void fill, and accessories. Price comparison, where to buy, and tips for regular senders.
Advanced
9Tips for frequent shippers — consolidation, reshipping, parcel tracking.
7 min read
How to Send a Valuable Parcel — Insurance, Tracking, Signature Required
Guide to shipping expensive items safely — electronics, jewellery, documents. Insurance options, signature-required delivery, extra packaging advice, and which carriers handle valuables best.
8 min read
Parcel Tracking Statuses Explained — What Each Status Means
Guide to parcel tracking status messages. What "In transit", "At depot", "Awaiting customs", "Delivery failed" and "Returned to sender" mean — with DHL, UPS, FedEx, GLS and national postal services.
9 min read
Parcel Insurance and Compensation — What Each Carrier Covers
Overview of default liability coverage and add-on insurance at DHL, UPS, FedEx, GLS, and Eurosender. What is included by default, what to add, what is excluded, and how quickly you receive compensation.
7 min read
How to Ship a Bike by Courier: Cost, Packing and E-Bikes
How to ship a bike by courier within Europe. Which carriers accept a bike box, how to pack it, what drives the price and why an e-bike battery changes everything.
6 min read
Shipping Parcels Over 30 kg and Oversized Items: Limits and When to Use a Pallet
How to ship a parcel over 30 kg or an oversized item in Europe. Typical carrier weight and size limits, heavy-parcel services up to 70 kg and the point where a pallet makes more sense.
6 min read
How to Ship a Pallet as a Private Person or Small Business
How to ship a pallet within the EU without a carrier contract. Euro pallet dimensions, packing, prices from €207, ground-floor collection and delivery to a private address.
7 min read
Shipping Skis and Snowboards to the Alps: Cost, Packing and Deadlines
How to send skis or a snowboard ahead to a hotel in the Alps. Which carriers take which lengths, how to pack, what drives the price and when to ship before Christmas.
7 min read
How to Ship Furniture, a Washing Machine or a TV Bought Second-Hand
How to ship furniture, a washing machine, a fridge or a TV you bought second-hand. When a parcel is enough, when you need a pallet or a dedicated van, how to pack and what to agree with the seller.
6 min read
How to Ship Tyres and Wheels by Courier
How to ship tyres, alloy wheels or complete wheels by courier. Whether they fit carrier limits, how to pack them, when a set belongs on a pallet and why volumetric weight sets the price.
International
10How to ship a parcel across borders — documents, insurance, choosing a carrier.
10 min read
How to Send a Parcel Abroad — Complete International Shipping Guide
International shipping guide — from booking to customs clearance to delivery. EU vs. non-EU rules, customs forms, import duties, delivery times, and carrier recommendations by destination.
6 min read
International Parcel Tracking — Why It Goes Silent and What to Do
Guide to international parcel tracking. Why tracking disappears at borders, how cross-carrier tracking works, when to contact your sender, and how to find a parcel using universal trackers.
9 min read
Buying from the USA with Shipito — Complete Reshipping Guide
Step by step: how to get a free US delivery address, shop on Amazon US, Best Buy or eBay, consolidate packages, and ship to Europe. Costs, customs duties, and money-saving tips.
7 min read
Shopping on Amazon US via Shipito — Step-by-Step Guide
How to buy on Amazon.com (US, not EU), ship to your Shipito address, and forward to Europe. Account setup, payment, weight limits, Prime membership, and common mistakes.
7 min read
Prohibited Items in Parcels — What You Cannot Ship and Why
Complete list of items banned universally, by carrier, or by destination country. UK, USA, Australia, Arab countries — specific rules explained, and what happens if you break them.
7 min read
Moving Abroad: Boxes by Courier or a Removal Company?
Four ways to move your belongings abroad: boxes by courier, a pallet, a dedicated van or a removal company. Limits, indicative costs and where the price tips from one to the next.
7 min read
How to Arrange a Parcel Collection Abroad and Have It Delivered to You
How to get a parcel picked up in another country and delivered to your door when the sender cannot or will not ship it. Booking the courier yourself, customs on parcels from the UK and the mistakes that sink a collection.
7 min read
Buying from US Stores Beyond Amazon: eBay, Walmart and Best Buy via Shipito
How to shop at US stores other than Amazon using Shipito. What to watch for at eBay, Walmart, Best Buy and iHerb, what assisted purchase costs and when consolidation pays off.
7 min read
Shipito Review and Pricing 2026: Plans, Fees and Who It Does Not Suit
A fair Shipito review with fees verified on 9 October 2026. Free account versus Premium, processing and consolidation fees, a worked example and the cases where Shipito is not worth it.
7 min read
Shipito vs MyUS vs Planet Express vs Stackry: US Forwarders Compared
Four US parcel forwarders compared: membership, per-parcel fees, consolidation, storage and sales tax. Price lists checked on 9 October 2026, with a three-parcel example.
Customs & VAT
9Customs values, import VAT, prohibited goods and how to fill in a customs declaration.
8 min read
Customs and VAT: Importing from the USA to Europe — 2026 Guide
How to calculate customs duties and VAT when importing from the USA to EU countries. The €3-per-item duty on consignments up to €150, IOSS, customs declarations, common mistakes, and real costs for specific purchases.
9 min read
Customs and VAT: Importing from China to Europe — 2026 Guide
Shopping on AliExpress, Temu or Shein? Factual breakdown of customs duty and VAT by shipment value — thresholds, rates, exemptions, and how to calculate your total cost upfront.
9 min read
Sending Parcels to the UK After Brexit — Customs, VAT and Customs Forms
Complete guide to shipping parcels to the UK post-Brexit. What changed since January 2021, which customs form to fill in, how much the recipient pays in VAT and duty, and which carriers handle UK clearance smoothly.
11 min read
Customs and VAT in International Shipping — Complete 2026 Guide
How customs duty and VAT work for international parcel shipping. EU single market, de minimis thresholds, CN22 vs. CN23, IOSS, who pays what, and how to avoid unexpected charges.
8 min read
Parcel Shipping Glossary — CN22, De Minimis, HS Code and More
Key terms from parcel shipping and customs explained clearly. CN22, CN23, de minimis, HS code, volumetric weight, IOSS, DAP, DDP and more essential terms.
6 min read
HS Code Lookup Guide — How to Find the Right Tariff Code for Your Product
The Harmonised System (HS code) is the 6-digit code that determines customs duty and VAT rate for every type of goods. How to find the correct HS code, which databases to use, and common mistakes e-commerce businesses make.
8 min read
IOSS Guide — VAT for E-Commerce Selling into the EU (2026)
What is IOSS, who must register, how it works for sub-€150 parcels, and what obligations apply to e-commerce businesses selling into the EU from outside. Practical guide for B2C online sellers.
9 min read
How to Import from China — Air, Sea & Rail Freight, Customs and Container Costs
Practical guide to importing from China for e-commerce businesses and SMEs. How to choose between sea, air and rail freight, LCL vs. FCL container costs, customs clearance and which tools to use.
7 min read
The True Cost of Buying from the USA: Product, Shipping, Duty and VAT
What an item from the USA really costs once US sales tax, forwarding fees, shipping, customs duty and VAT are added. Three worked examples with stated assumptions, October 2026.
Carriers
5Step-by-step guides for individual carriers — DHL, UPS, FedEx, Eurosender, Shipito and more.
7 min read
How to Ship with Eurosender — Step-by-Step Guide
Complete guide to shipping via Eurosender. How to get an instant quote, choose a carrier, pay, and drop off your parcel — no registration required, transparent pricing from multiple carriers.
9 min read
WooCommerce + Sendcloud: Step-by-Step Integration Guide (2026)
Complete guide to connecting WooCommerce with Sendcloud: plugin installation, API connection, checkout carrier selection, bulk label printing and automated tracking emails. Including fixes for the most common errors.
8 min read
Shopify Shipping for EU Merchants: Carriers, Apps and Rate Strategies (2026)
Shopify has no native support for most European carriers. How EU merchants solve shipping on Shopify: carrier apps, multi-carrier platforms (Sendcloud), service point pickers at checkout and shipping rate strategies across EU markets.
8 min read
Sendcloud vs Packlink vs Direct Contracts: How to Connect Your Store to Carriers
Three routes to connect an online store to carriers: a multi-carrier platform (Sendcloud), a shipping marketplace (Packlink PRO), or direct carrier contracts. Pricing, integration effort and volume thresholds compared.
7 min read
Sendcloud Review, Pricing 2026 and Alternatives
A Sendcloud review with pricing checked on 9 October 2026. Plans from Free to Pro, cost per parcel, who it suits, who it does not and the main alternatives.