International shipping

Five carriers, one stop, and the customs paperwork filled in with you before the parcel leaves.

What each carrier is generally used for

The five carriers we ship abroad with and what each one is generally used for.
Carrier	Generally used for	Details
DHL DHL Service Point	Parcels and documents leaving the country, with the customs paperwork filled in with you.	DHL details
FedEx FedEx Authorized ShipCenter	A worldwide network for parcels that are already boxed, or that we box here.	FedEx details
UPS UPS Authorized Shipping Outlet	A worldwide network, and the pickup that Meest parcels also leave on.	UPS details
USPS USPS Approved Shipper	The postal route: it travels with USPS and is handed to the destination country’s post.	USPS details
Meest Meest shipping	The Eastern European corridor — see the Meest page for what that covers.	Meest details

The paperwork an international parcel needs

Bring or decide with us

Commercial invoice — what is in the box, and what it is worthCustoms declaration on the carrier’s own formElectronic Export Information, for the shipments that require itDeclared value — your choice at the time of shipping

About the contents

Full recipient address, with a phone numberA description per item, not “gift” or “parts”Quantity and value per itemAnything the destination or the carrier restricts

Not every shipment needs an EEI filing — the carrier's rules and the contents decide it, and we will tell you which applies to yours.

Packing for a border

A parcel going abroad is handled more times, by more people, than one crossing the state. It is also opened more often: customs can inspect it, and a box that was only just strong enough will not survive being opened and re-taped. If what you are sending is fragile, oddly shaped or valuable, have it packed here — professional packing covers the work, and custom boxes covers the cases where nothing off the shelf fits. If you would rather pack it yourself, boxes and supplies are on the shelf.

Write the description of the contents as if a stranger has to understand it, because one will. "Gift" is not a description; "two cotton shirts, $40" is. Under-declaring the value to save on duty is the other common mistake — it also caps what any claim could ever pay out.

Declared-value coverage is your choice when you ship, and if something does go wrong we will help you file the claim with the carrier. Drop-off and pickup times are the same for international parcels as for domestic ones — see the last pickup for each carrier — and you can track a package with the number on your receipt.