Package Consolidation, Insurance, and Claims FAQ

Which Forwarding Companies Let You Combine Multiple Orders Into One Box To Reduce Volumetric Weight?

Answer: Shipito does. Our package consolidation service combines several purchases into one box, and we can repack your items to remove extra boxes and empty space. A smaller box means lower volumetric weight and a lower shipping cost.

Volumetric weight (also called dimensional weight) measures how much space your package takes up. Carriers calculate it like this: (length x width x height in cm) ÷ a volumetric divisor. The divisor depends on the carrier and on whether your package travels by air, sea, or land.

Trucks and planes can only carry so much. That's why carriers charge for the actual weight or the volumetric weight, whichever is higher. A light but bulky box can cost as much as a heavy one.

With Shipito, consolidation costs $3.25 per package for Premium Members and $5.50 for Free accounts. You need at least 2 packages in the same warehouse. When you consolidate, you can keep the outside box, keep only the retail packaging, or ship the products only for the smallest box. See our services FAQ for details.

What's the Best Option for Shipping High-Value Items Like Watches, Cameras, or Designer Handbags From the U.S.?

Answer: Protect the item first, then save money. Consider shipping high-value items on their own or in their original packaging with extra protection, and always add shipping insurance so you can recover the value if something goes wrong.

You've already spent a lot on your new watch, camera, or designer handbag, so it makes sense to want lower shipping costs. But packing an expensive item in one box with many other purchases can increase the risk of damage and can make the customs declaration more complicated.

Consolidation can still work. Keep the item in its original packaging and ask for extra packing material, such as extra bubble wrap ($2 for Premium Members, $4 for Free accounts). Then add insurance when you request your shipment. If the item is lost or damaged in transit, insurance can reimburse its declared value, up to what you paid the seller.

Also keep these rules in mind for expensive shipments:

• Items over $2,500 USD: These must ship via DHL.
• Export paperwork: If a single type of item is worth more than $2,500, U.S. rules require an EEI filing. Shipito can prepare it for a $40 fee.
• Jewelry: Jewelry can't be insured, so think carefully before shipping it.

Our goal is to cut your shipping costs, but never at the expense of security.

What's the Typical Claims Process if a Package Is Damaged While Being Forwarded Internationally?

Answer: You report the damage from your Shipito account within 10 days of delivery, send the required documents and photos, and our team processes the claim. Damage is only covered if you added insurance when you shipped.

Here's how to report a damaged package:

• Step 1: Log in to your Shipito account.
• Step 2: Find the package and choose the option to report an issue with it.
• Step 3: Fill out the form. A support ticket will then appear in your account.
• Step 4: Our team will update you on your claim through that ticket.

We'll need your seller's invoice or proof of purchase showing the purchase price, the purchase date, our warehouse address as the delivery address, and the package tracking number. Please keep all packaging and send photos of the inner and outer packaging and the damaged items. For USPS and RRD shipping methods, also include a report from your local post office or customs office confirming the damage.

Submit a damaged package claim within 10 days of the delivery date. Processing time depends on the carrier. Claims for Airmail Priority, USPS, and Shipito Priority Parcel usually take 30 business days after we receive all documents. Claims for other carriers usually take 5 to 15 business days. See our claims, insurance, and fraud FAQ for all deadlines.

What Forwarding Services Are Best at Handling Address Errors or Mistakes Without Losing the Package?

Answer: Look for a forwarder that matches packages with mistakes to the right account and searches carefully when something goes missing. Shipito does both, and we email you when your package is checked in so you know it arrived.

The most common cause of lost packages is an address error, such as a missing suite number, a wrong postal code, or a misspelled name. Always use your full name and your Shipito suite number when you check out.

When a package arrives with an incomplete or incorrect address, we try to find its owner. If we can match it to your account, we add it to your suite and charge a $5 address correction fee. If we can't find the owner and no one files a claim with tracking details within 30 days of its arrival, the package may be disposed of. We can't track down packages that never reached our warehouse. For those, contact the seller or carrier to request a trace.

If a package that arrived can't be found in our warehouse, we mark it "Lost in Warehouse" and take 3 to 4 business days to search for it. If we still can't find it, we start a claim and ask for the seller's invoice so we can reimburse you. Reimbursement is based on the declared value or the invoice value, whichever is lower.

If we find the package after you've been reimbursed, you can keep the reimbursement, or return it and have the package added back to your account. When you ship internationally, review your delivery address carefully before you confirm the shipment.

Does Shipito Offer Insurance for High-Value or Fragile Packages, and How Does a Claim Get Paid Out?

Answer: Yes. When you request a shipment, you can choose delivery insurance, delivery and damage insurance, or no insurance. If there's a problem, you report it from your Shipito account, and reimbursement is based on the value on your customs declaration, up to what you paid the seller.

Delivery insurance covers packages lost in transit. Damage insurance covers items that are damaged or missing in transit. Insurance isn't active unless you select it, and it isn't available with USPS First Class International or Airmail Economy.

Insurance is not available for these items:

• Jewelry
• Antiques, artwork, and silverware
• Precious stones and metals
• Furs and fur garments
• Household goods and personal effects
• Collectible retail packaging
• Perishable and temperature-sensitive goods
• Money of any kind and non-cash payment instruments, such as checks
• Stamps, tickets, and similar items
• Documents, such as designs, plans, deeds, and manuscripts
• Restricted or prohibited items

Because reimbursement depends on the declared value, fill out your customs declaration accurately. Shipito service fees, such as processing and consolidation fees, are not refundable.

Is There a Limit to How Many Items or How Much Weight Can Be Consolidated Into One Box?

Answer: There's no fixed limit on the number of items, but the final box must fit within your chosen carrier's weight and size limits. For example, a DHL parcel can be up to 48 x 32 x 32 inches (120 x 80 x 80 cm) and 155 pounds (70 kg).

Each carrier has its own limits. You can compare them on our shipping methods page before you consolidate.

Some items also shouldn't go in the same box. Restricted items, such as products with lithium batteries, can limit which shipping methods your whole box can use, so keep them separate from other purchases when possible. Very heavy items and fragile items also don't mix well, because the heavy item can damage the fragile one even with extra packing.

Not sure how to group your packages? Contact our support team, and we'll be glad to help you plan your consolidation.