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Blog — tips and news about parcel shipping
Articles, tips and news about carriers, prices, seasonal deadlines and the latest in international shipping.
Seasonal · 2026-10-06
Sending a parcel to a student abroad: Erasmus, halls of residence and what to pack
What is worth sending and what to buy locally, how to address a parcel to a hall of residence, what shipping costs and why cheese and sausage should stay out of a parcel to Britain.
6 min read
Tips · 2026-10-01
Online store returns: how to set up a process that does not put customers off
What the law requires (14 days, refunds, who pays return shipping) and the four things a working returns process rests on: terms, a form, a carrier with a label and a fixed refund deadline.
6 min read
Opinion · 2026-09-28
Free shipping threshold: how to set it without killing your margin
Work out your free shipping threshold with AOV + shipping ÷ margin. What it comes to at 25, 35 and 50% margin, why it must sit above your average order and when to move it.
6 min read
Tips · 2026-09-25
Shipping label automation for online stores: from manual printing to API
Retyping addresses costs hours a month and returned parcels. The three stages of label automation, what Sendcloud costs, when a direct carrier API makes sense and which A6 thermal printer to buy.
6 min read
Tips · 2026-09-16
Fulfilment for small online stores: when it pays off and when to keep packing yourself
A single-item order through a fulfilment provider costs about €3.80 to €5.50 all in, and the price per order barely falls with volume. How to price your own packing, when outsourcing pays off, and what to ask before you sign.
7 min read
Tips · 2026-09-10
How to return goods to a foreign online store without losing money on postage
Who pays return postage depends on whether the trader disclosed the cost before you bought. Three 14-day windows, when the trader foots the bill, and why duty and VAT on non-EU returns are never refunded automatically.
8 min read
Tips · 2026-09-06
Cash on delivery abroad: where it works, what it costs and when to switch it off
Cash on delivery is a regional service in Europe, not a continental one. GLS supports five destinations, DPD added Slovak parcel shops in June 2026. Local ceilings, currency rules, remittance spreads and why a refused parcel costs several times more across a border.
8 min read
Tips · 2026-09-02
Sending a parcel outside the EU? CN22/CN23 customs declarations without the mistakes
CN 22 or CN 23? Value is only part of it, and with a parcel the choice is already made. A practical run-through of the mistakes that get items held at customs, including ITMATT advance data.
8 min read
Tips · 2026-08-26
Your Parcel Damage Claim Was Rejected — What to Do Next
Carrier rejected your damage claim for inadequate packing? Under CMR Article 17(4)(b) that defence is narrower than it looks. Reservation deadlines, the 8.33 SDR per kg cap, and how to write an appeal that gets answered.
8 min read
Tips · 2026-08-18
How to Pack Fragile Items for Shipping: Glass, Electronics and Ceramics
Fragile items break from vibration and stacking pressure, not from a single drop. How much cushioning you need, how to pack glass, electronics and ceramics, why a "Fragile" label changes nothing, and how to handle a damage claim.
8 min read
Prices · 2026-08-07
Shipping from the USA to Europe in 2026: What It Really Costs
The real cost has four parts: shipping, duty, import VAT and the clearance fee. Since 1 July 2026 the EU has scrapped the €150 duty-free threshold and charges a flat €3 per item, so even cheap orders are dutiable. Indicative rates by weight, a worked example and three ways to save.
8 min read
Prices · 2026-08-05
Shipping a Parcel to the USA in 2026: Costs, Duty and What You Need
Since the US suspended de minimis on 29 August 2025, every parcel is dutiable regardless of value and postal services across Europe are returning only gradually. What shipping, duty (~15% for EU-origin goods) and clearance really cost, and what to prepare before you ship.
8 min read
Prices · 2026-07-20
Shipping a Parcel to the UK in 2026: Prices, Customs and What to Watch
Since Brexit the UK is outside the EU: every parcel needs a customs declaration and the recipient pays 20% UK VAT. Up to £135 it is VAT only, above £135 duty applies too; a gift up to £39 is tax-free. A small parcel costs roughly €15–35. Carrier prices, customs and three things to watch.
7 min read
News · 2026-04-09
EU De Minimis Ends: €3 Customs Duty per Item Since 1 July 2026
Since 1 July 2026 the EU no longer exempts consignments up to €150 from customs duty. Orders from Temu, Shein or AliExpress now attract €3 per item, with a handling fee due in autumn 2026. What counts as an item and what you pay.
6 min read
Seasonal · 2026-04-01
Summer 2026: Ship Luggage and Sports Gear by Courier — Beat the Baggage Fees
How to save on airport baggage fees by shipping suitcases and sports equipment ahead. Price guide for common holiday routes (Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece), how to organise it, and packing tips for courier shipping.
7 min read
Seasonal · 2026-03-17
How to Ship Luggage Ahead on Holiday — and Save on Baggage Fees
Airlines advertise 20 kg free baggage, but excess charges are €50–100 per bag on most carriers. Alternative: ship your suitcase ahead with a parcel courier. When it pays off, how to organise it, and what it actually costs.
6 min read
Tips · 2026-02-10
How to Save on International Shipping — 7 Tips for 2026
International shipping is expensive, but there are practical ways to cut costs by 20–50%. Seven concrete tactics: from choosing a broker over a direct carrier to consolidating shipments and optimising parcel dimensions.
6 min read
Opinion · 2026-01-13
Parcel Carriers in Europe 2026 — Who Is Who and For Whom
Overview of all major European parcel carriers: regional (DPD, GLS), express global (DHL Express, UPS, FedEx), and brokers/platforms (Eurosender, Sendcloud, Shipito). Who each carrier is for and when to use which.
9 min read
Tips · 2025-11-18
5 Common Mistakes When Shipping a Parcel Abroad
Half of all international parcel claims trace back to the same five mistakes: vague item description, poor packaging, using postal services instead of couriers, false "gift" declaration, and ignoring prohibited items. Here's what each mistake actually costs and how to avoid it.
7 min read
Seasonal · 2025-10-28
Christmas Shipping Deadlines 2026 — Last Days to Post for On-Time Delivery
Overview of last posting dates for Christmas parcels in 2026. EU destinations, non-EU routes, and express options — with buffers for December carrier congestion.
6 min read
Seasonal · 2025-10-14
Black Friday 2026 Shipping — How to Avoid Delays and Lost Parcels
Black Friday 2026 is on 27 November. How to prepare as a shopper and as an e-commerce seller — when to order, how carrier networks respond to surge demand, and why to insure high-value orders.
7 min read