19 questions we answer every day, from volumetric weight to customs inspection
Couriers charge on the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight. Volumetric weight is length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000 for most air and dedicated-line services; some sea routes are priced per cubic metre. Bulky but light goods - bedding, plush toys, pillows, storage boxes - are the ones volumetric weight hits hardest.
Four moves work best: ① remove the seller's outer cartons, shoe boxes and filler; ② consolidate several parcels into one shipment so the first-weight charge is paid once; ③ vacuum-compress clothing and bedding to cut volumetric weight; ④ send non-urgent bulky items by rail or sea. Avoiding peak season helps too.
The first weight is the minimum chargeable unit - commonly 0.5 kg or 1 kg. Additional weight is charged in 0.5 kg steps above that. Because chargeable weight is rounded up in 0.5 kg increments, a parcel weighing 0.1 kg over a step is billed at the next step, so the packed weight is usually slightly higher than the net product weight.
Consolidation saves you by merging first-weight charges and removing extra outer boxes, but the outer carton itself weighs something. If several small parcels do not actually fill much space, merging them can add the weight of one bigger box. Our warehouse evaluates the options first and picks the cheaper side - unpack, compress, or ship as is.
Flammables and explosives, compressed gases, corrosive or radioactive material, controlled knives and weapons, narcotics and prohibited medicines, live animals and plants, and counterfeit branded goods are absolute no-gos. Many countries add restrictions of their own - Australia bans meat, egg and dairy products, and the United States enforces strict rules on meat and some plant material.
Battery-powered items, magnetic goods, liquids, powders, cosmetics, food, medicines and branded products are classified as sensitive cargo. They are not impossible - they simply must travel through a matching dedicated line, and you must tell us what the goods are before dispatch. Almost every sensitive item has a workable route. What cannot be fixed is an undeclared shipment: if it is inspected the loss falls on the sender.
Devices with built-in lithium batteries - phones, laptops, wireless earbuds, shavers - can go on many dedicated lines if packed and declared correctly. Standalone batteries (power banks, 18650 cells, large battery packs) are far more restricted, and some countries or routes refuse them outright, so always confirm the destination and line first.
All three are sensitive cargo and usually need a dedicated line with destination-specific requirements. As a rule: seal the packaging, keep the original outer box and ingredient labelling, and do not mix them in with general goods. Some countries restrict herbal medicines or alcohol-based cosmetics, so checking the list first prevents a return.
It depends on the destination's de minimis threshold - up to 800 USD in the United States and generally around 150 EUR in the EU are treated as low value, but always check the latest local rules. High declared values, vague descriptions and contents that do not match the declaration all sharply increase the odds of an inspection.
Truthfully, specifically and reasonably. A clear item name - cotton T-shirt, sports shoes - attracts less attention than a generic gift or daily goods, and the value should match your purchase receipt. Do not under-declare on purpose: if it is checked you may still pay the duty and lose transit time on top.
It means the operator handles both export declaration and import clearance, with duty already included in the freight price. The consignee does not pay anything extra on delivery, which suits customers who prefer not to deal with clearance paperwork. The trade-off is a slightly higher unit rate - you are converting uncertainty into a fixed cost.
Inspection does not automatically mean seizure. Customs normally asks the consignee, through the courier, for supporting documents - purchase receipts, product information or identification. Keep your order screenshots, payment records and product links, then supply what is requested; most inspections are released once the documents are provided.
As a guide: dedicated air lines 5-12 working days, rail and express rail 15-25 working days, sea freight 25-45 working days. Real transit depends on the destination country, flight availability and clearance speed; Singles' Day, Black Friday, Christmas and the weeks before Chinese New Year are slower across the board.
International transport passes through consolidation, export declaration, flight allocation, transshipment and customs clearance, and not every stage produces a scan. This is normal and does not mean the parcel is missing. Tracking usually resumes when the shipment reaches the destination country or clears customs; if nothing changes for more than 7 working days, ask support to investigate.
Enter either number on our Track page. The M number is your consolidation order number and shows the overall status: warehousing, packing and dispatch. The carrier tracking number (UPS, DHL, CLEKT and so on) follows the international leg in detail. Both work - they simply show different layers of the same journey.
Yes. Unpacking and consolidation, bubble wrap reinforcement, separate cushioning for fragile items and additional sealing for liquids are all standard services. For valuable or especially fragile goods, add a note to your request and the warehouse will follow the reinforcement plan.
180 days free storage for incoming parcels and 90 days free for parcels that have already been packed. Buying over several weeks and shipping everything together is a common pattern - you do not have to pay freight the moment the first parcel arrives.
Open and inspect the box before signing, and take photos. Contact support within 24 hours with the photos and tracking number to open a claim. Insure high-value shipments: uninsured parcels are usually compensated as a multiple of the freight charge, which is exactly why valuable goods should always be declared.
Air for urgent, small or valuable shipments; rail and express rail for non-urgent bulky goods to Europe where price and speed balance best; sea freight for heavy goods, furniture and bulk restocking. Choosing a route is a trade-off between transit time, cost and cargo type - tell us the destination, the goods, the estimated weight and how urgent it is, and we will recommend a line.
This wiki is maintained by GuangSuMao and covers general industry knowledge. Specific charging rules, route restrictions and de minimis thresholds depend on the latest destination-country regulations and real-time confirmation from our support team. For route pricing see Routes, and for an estimate use the calculator under Tools.
Tell us your destination, cargo type and estimated weight, and we will suggest a route and a price
