PacMe FAQ

 

Browse through our Frequently Asked Questions to find answers to your questions and find out more about how PacMe works.

All your online shopping, delivered in one package Get your mailbox Join Now
Take a Tour

Customs

 

It's your choice, either you or PacMe can create the customs form for your outgoing package.  The customs' item list is the trickiest part of the shipment to coordinate between the two of us.  If you want us to do it, just check the box when you are submitting the consolidation.  There is a $10 fee for us to do it, but we often do it for free if you don't have many items.

 

If you want to fill out the customs item list yourself, then here is the process that will help you do it:

  • When a package arrives, we scan the invoice and take a few photographs of the items so you can see what's inside the box.  We upload these files into your account.  Note, however, that many retailers, Amazon in particular, will "drop ship" items from different warehouses so you might have placed only one order, but it could arrive in two or more boxes.  Perhaps only one had an invoice and maybe none of them did.  We will put a message in the package's chat box regarding the documentation in each package (this will get emailed to you). You can use a combination of the invoices, photographs, and your own knowledge of what you purchased to fill out the Item List for each Incoming Package.  You do this in step 2 of the consolidation process.  It could get a bit unwieldy if you have lots of packages in the consolidation and forgot what's in them.

  • Or, you can get a head start in filling out the Item List for each Incoming Package before you do the consolidation.  You do this in the "Item List" tab for the particular Incoming Package.  You can enter the items into the form right there on the tab.  Each package has it's own set of tabs. Later, when doing a consolidation, you can suck the item list from each particular Incoming Package into the consolidated package's customs form.  Then, you can still edit the final customs' item list.

In summary, we will print the actual customs form during the final shipping stage when we print the carrier label, but you can control the information that goes into the customs form (e.g. item list and value) if you would like.   We will let you know if we expect an issue.

 

 

 

You are responsible for all customs fees, duties, and taxes when your package arrives at its destination.  There are no US fees on export.

 

We strongly encourage you to understand the duty rates in your country.

 

If you reject the package (if the rates are so high that it is not worth accepting the shipment, for instance), then you will need to pay for the return shipping charges.  In most countries, you are not allowed to simply "abandoned" the package.

 

We can give you a little more advice in your My Account chat box. Just ask.

 

 

Theoretically, every product has an internationally-accepted customs code that assists countries in abiding by quota and tariff systems.  That's the HS code (Harmonized Code).  It's optional to use them for personal shipments.

 

For instance, a 100% cotton tshirt has a different code than a tshirt made from 50/50 cotton and polyester, and might very well have a different customs duty rate for a large, commercial shipment.

 

For personal shipments under $2500, however, HS Codes are usually not required at all.  If you are filling out your own customs form, you don't need to include them.  Dubai is an exception - HS Codes speeds your shipment through customs. We try to include them on the customs form because they do help speed a package through customs.  We use 6-digit codes, which is the minimum necessary to pass through most customs controls.

 

 

 

Yes.  It's usually common sense.  Ammunitions, flammable liquids, and other obvious dangerous stuff cannot be sent, nor can the the common highly-regulated products such as alcohol, tobacco, prescription drugs, plants seeds, and perishable food.  Well, they can be shipped, but usually require an import license of some sort.  

 

You might be surprised at what else you can’t export from the US or import into your country.  For example, simple wireless routers often cannot be shipped to some countries, given what must be their strategic importance to national security.

 

Lithium Ion batteries are limited to 2 per package.  Youtube all the blow ups to see why.

 

Nail polish, perfume, essential oils, many mosquito repellents (deet and picaridin), dry shampoo, and most aerosals are considered flammable, particularly if they contain alcohol. If the US retailer will only ship it by surface mail (ground, not air) to our warehouse, then it definitely cannot be shipped overseas. That is, flammables can only go by ground, not air.

 

E-cigs and vapes are prohibited in many countries.  We ask that you do the research for your country, as the regulations are constantly changing.

 

We will do our best to catch these items when we check your packages into our system. If an item is prohibited, we will put the package "on hold" and will contact you in the package's chat box.

 

UPS-1 and UPS-2 are good websites to view prohibited goods and restrictions for each country.

 

If you have specific questions, contact us in your My Account chat box or email us at helpme@pacme.com.  Copy and paste the URL of the item, if available.

 

 

 

We will be building a Customs "Tips & Tricks" section with information about specific countries, but for now, the US Government has a decent website for country tax rates: export.gov

 

 

X Close