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Delivery to 200+ countries worldwide
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Are you new to Irish Parcels? If you’re not familiar with us, or how our service works, let us explain it. Whether you’re a first-time or experienced shipper, we strive to simplify the shipping process with an affordable and convenient solution, saving you time and money!
Irish Parcels offer a fast, reliable and affordable door-to-door parcel delivery service across Ireland, and to over 200 countries worldwide. Ideal for small businesses sending parcels to their customers, or for someone simply wanting to send a gift to loved ones abroad.
A parcel delivery service, often known as a courier or delivery service, is the transportation of a parcel from one location to another.
A door-to-door parcel delivery service means your parcel will be collected from your home or business, and then transported to its destination, meaning that you will not have to drop it off or collect it.
We’ve made our process as smooth and seamless as possible.
Every order with Irish Parcels comes with full online tracking, so you can monitor the progress of your shipment from start to finish.
Enjoy the convenience of our affordable and speedy courier services available online 24/7. Our service also comes with a host of benefits that you won’t want to miss out on!
Pay-as-you-go service
There’s no need to apply for credit or rate cards, it’s as simple as you see the price, you pay for it there and then with your Credit or Debit card, or via your PayPal account.
Top-up and Receive 5% discount
If you’re planning to send multiple parcels, we offer a handy top-up facility which enables you to add funds to your account, making your booking process an even faster one. And for every €100 you top-up, we’ll add 5% credit to your account.
FREE and Enhanced Compensation Cover
Although damage is rare with Irish Parcels, there’s compensation options for additional peace of mind. With every order we provide a FREE €50 Compensation cover, with the option to enhance this cover up to €1000 for a small fee.
Local & Worldwide
Whether you’re shipping Locally or Worldwide, Irish Parcels is your one-stop shop for Parcel Deliveries, offering services throughout Ireland, and beyond to over 200 countries and territories worldwide.
Competitive Prices & Great Choice
We work with a variety of top couriers to make sure we offer you competitive prices. We also offer a great range of services that enable you to choose something that’ll suit your needs.
Local Customer Support
Our friendly and knowledgeable Local Customer Support team are available by Phone, Email, or Live Chat, to assist you with any queries you may have. We also wealth of information available on the support pages of our website.
A Trusted Brand
We’re incredibly proud to be trusted by thousands of business and personal users across Ireland. We are independently rated 4.5 out of 5, which reflects the exceptional customer service we strive to provide.
Join our thousands of happy customers and get an Instant Quote.
Here at Irish Parcels, we are experts at shipping parcels internationally, specialising in delivering packages to over 200+ countries around the world. We want your item to arrive safely and promptly. So, to help you get your parcels ready for sending and answer any questions you may have, we thought we'd put together this guide on how to package a parcel for overseas shipping.
When sending your items it is important to use sturdy double-walled cardboard boxes. Do not use flimsy cardboard boxes or brittle plastic boxes, as often these can break and cause damage to the items during transit. Irish Parcels does not accept items in suitcases or bags. Due to Covid-19 most couriers are not physically inspecting all parcels, so it is your responsibility to ensure you use the correct packaging and have sealed your box for collection. Please do not sellotape or strap boxes together.
To ensure your items arrive safely, there are a few things you need to do!
Yes!
When sending an international parcel, there are items that you cannot ship, these are called prohibited items. If your shipment includes these products your order may be subject to being cancelled and you may not receive a refund. If the item is collected it will not be covered by compensation cover.
Prohibited items include; Aerosols, Air Bag, Alcoholic Beverages, Ammunition, Animals Of Any Form (Alive Or Dead), Batteries (All), Biological Samples, Car Batteries, Car Bonnet, Car Bumper, Cash, Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Cheques, Christmas Crackers, Compressed Gas, Counterfeit Currency, Dangerous Goods, Drugs (Including Prescription), Filth, Fire Extinguisher, Fish (Live Or Dead), Flammable items, Gun, Hazardous Goods, Human Remains, Infectious Substances, Juice, Liquid, Lottery Tickets, Meat, Money/Cash/Currency, Nail Polish, Oil, Paint, Passport, Perfume / Aftershave (All), Perishable Goods (All), Plant, Pornography, Printer Toner (International Parcels Only), Replica Weapons, Settee, Sinks, Slush Syrup, Sofa, Stamps (Unless Franked), Tobacco, Toilets, Unknown, Water, Weapons, Windscreen.
Yes! Labels are incredibly important, do not give your package over to your courier without attaching your labels. All you need to do to access your labels is go to the My Orders section of IrishParcels.ie. Depending on what service you are using, your label design will vary, some contain barcodes and others do not, so do not be alarmed if your labels are different from last time.
You will receive your label after booking, an email will let you know when your labels are ready and available to print. All you need to do is print off the labels provided and stick it on your parcel using tape. If you are provided with more than one label, attach one to your item and give the other label to the courier. Ensure that when you attach your labels that no barcodes or addresses or covered or obscured.
If you are having issues printing your labels, please contact our customer services team. Do not give your parcel to the courier driver without having labels attached. You may incur an admin fee or your parcel could be returned if you do not attach labels.
Only if sending an item outside the EU! All parcels that are travelling outside of the EU will need to have customs forms, which will be supplied to you by Irish Parcels. You can access them in the My Orders section. Each country will have its own customs regulations, so it is your responsibility to investigate this prior to sending your parcel.
International parcels can be liable to local duties and taxes, the person shipping the item is responsible for these payments. Irish Parcels is not liable for the payment of any local Customs Duties and Taxes. This lies with the responsibility of the sender/receiver. Failure to pay for customs can result in your item being confiscated or abandoned by local customs officials.
To attach your custom forms, insert 3 copies into a clear document enclosed wallet. If you do not have this, please hand the custom forms directly to the driver.
Irish Parcels offers a door to door delivery service, so your parcel will be collected from the address you have provided. Drivers collect your items between 9.00 and 18.00, however, we are unable to give a specific time of collection. For business addresses, drivers will usually collect during working hours.
When you use our service to send your package overseas, you will be provided with online tracking, so you can track where your package is and most importantly when it will arrive at its destination. You will be able to check your package's journey and can contact our customer service team directly if any issues arise. You'll also receive a notification when your parcel is out for delivery, so you are also kept informed of your item's journey. Irish Parcels offers full online tracking for all shipments if you have any questions about your item our dedicated customer service team is here to help.
So that’s our expert advice on how to package a parcel for overseas shipping. If you still have any questions after reading, please get in touch with us and we’ll always be very happy to help!
More blog posts:
Top 10 Strangest Customs Regulations From Around The World
How To Ensure Your Parcel Arrives Safely – 8 Expert Tips
4 Mistakes To Avoid When Shipping A Parcel To America
Learn more:
Our International Courier Prices
Irish Parcels offers convenient and affordable parcel delivery services across Ireland, to Northern Ireland, to mainland UK and to over 200 countries worldwide. We provide inexpensive rates for both domestic and international shipments.
In this post, you can find absolutely everything you need to know about sending a parcel with Irish Parcels this Christmas, including information on our recommended Christmas send by dates if you need your item to arrive in time for Christmas, as well as our office Christmas closure dates and contact details for our couriers.
Below you can find our recommended send by dates for the Christmas period. If you would like your parcel to arrive in time for Christmas, we recommend sending on or before the following dates listed. Please note that these are the latest dates we advise. You may still book a collection after the listed dates, however, we then cannot guarantee that your item will arrive in time before Christmas. Please note that all Irish Parcels services are estimated and can be subject to occasional delays.
Please note that we recommend allowing 1 extra day than normal during December due to high volumes of shipments, and also to consider any adverse weather conditions. Deliveries will take place until 21st December.
TNT Services
UK - 18th December
Europe Economy - 18th December
Europe Express - 18th December
Worldwide Economy - 13th December
Worldwide Express - 17th December
GLS Services
Ireland - 18th December
UK - 17th December
Europe - 13th December
DPD Services
DPD Next Day - 20th December
DPD 48 - 19th December
Europe - 18th December
Find out more from each courier's website: TNT, GLS, DPD.
Below you will find the Irish Parcels office opening hours during the Christmas period. You can also see on which days collections and deliveries will be taking place.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You can place a booking on our website anytime. Our online booking system is available 24/7.
You may contact our office directly from 9am-6pm on any of the days we are open, as listed above. However, if you need to query your shipment when our offices are closed over the holiday period, please find contact details for our couriers below:
GLS: Please call 018606200 and have your parcel tracking number to hand. This can be found by logging into 'My Orders' in your Irish Parcels account.
TNT: Please call 0818 400 600 and have your tracking number to hand. This can be found by logging into 'My Orders' in your Irish Parcels account.
DPD: Click here to find the number for your local depot. Have your "CR101" reference number ready. This can be found by logging into 'My Orders' on your Irish Parcels account and clicking 'Track'.
Whether you run a small business in Ireland and are in need of a reliable shipping solution over Christmas, or perhaps you're an individual sending a thoughtful gift to a loved one - anyone can send a parcel with Irish Parcels this Christmas.
Booking with Irish Parcels is easy. Simply start by getting a quote straight from our homepage. We'll compare quotes from leading courier companies to give you the lowest prices and fastest delivery times for your shipment. All you have to do is select the option that best suits your needs!
After that, we'll collect your parcel and deliver it straight to where it needs to go. Our convenient door to door service means that the entire process is hassle-free, and our online parcel tracking tool allows you to monitor the progress of your shipment every single step of the way. If you happen to have any questions or concerns along the way, our unrivalled customer support will be more than happy to help. Don't hesitate to contact us via phone, email or live chat if you need to.
Booking a parcel delivery this Christmas with Irish Parcels is up to 80% cheaper than booking with the courier directly. Get a quote and see how much you'll save!
Learn more:
Irish Parcels - Courier Ireland
Ireland To UK Courier Services
Here at Irish Parcels, we know a thing or two about shipping parcels all across the world. If the thought of shipping parcels to Canada is leaving you scratching your head, we're here to shed light on the process to make it much more digestible.
Here's the essential things you need to know before shipping to Canada:
There are reasons aplenty why businesses or individuals may want to ship parcels to Canada. If you have a loved one residing in Canada, perhaps you wish to send them a thoughtful touch of home in the form of a care-package. On the other hand, you may be a small business aiming to expand your services globally, and as such, find yourself hunting for the best shipping solution to fit your needs. The reasons are endless - however, regardless, it's essential to do your research beforehand.
When importing goods into Canada, you are legally required to complete and attach a customs invoice to your shipment. Whether you're sending business samples, gifts or personal effects; if your shipment is not accompanied by a customs invoice, it will not make it past your local country border, and you may have to pay hefty return charges to get it back (unless you're sending only documents).
What is a customs invoice and what is it used for?
A customs invoice is used by the destination country's Customs authorities to access and inspect the imported goods, and to levy any duties or taxes that they may deem applicable to the goods being imported into their country. It is important to understand that it is not the courier who is applying additional charges, it is the Customs authorities. When shipping to Canada, you must comply with this.
When completing your customs invoice, declaring the honest value of your goods is extremely important, as the local authorities require this information to calculate how much tax and duty needs to be applied to your shipment. Any goods worth over $20 CAD will be subject to tax and duty, whereas anything below it will not.
However, some items do not qualify for this exemption:
An import license may be required to import your goods into Canada. This depends on the type of product you are importing, as well as the reason for import. Canadian Customs will contact the recipient to provide the license before it can be cleared.
For a shipment to qualify as a gift, the shipping documentation must be clearly marked "GIFT" and include a detailed description of the goods. Gifts worth $60 or less are duty and tax exempt. However, if the package is worth more than $60, duty and tax will be applied. For example, if you send a gift worth $200, your recipient must pay the applicable duty on $140.
However, some items do not qualify for the $60 CAD exemption:
You may be eligible to an exception on any duties and taxes on your goods if you are a Canadian resident importing personal effects into Canada. This also applies if you originally obtained your goods in Canada and are returning them after a year from purchase, with no value limit. If you are not a Canadian resident, then you may need to pay an additional fee on your import. This is at the discretion of Customs.
When completing your customs declaration, it is important to do so properly and clearly. In order to demonstrate that your shipment consists of personal effects, you will be required to accurately describe each item included in the package. For example, if it is a shipment consisting of personal clothing, you would declare this as: "5 x t-shirts, 2 x pairs of jeans, 3 x dresses" etc, as opposed to "10 x clothing".
If shipping personal belongings to British Colombia as a non-Canadian passport holder, shipments can only be cleared once the consignee has arrived in Canada, as such, you may be required to supply your permit or visa and entry stamp.
If shipping to; Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Price Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Yukon or Nunavut - self-clearance will be required, in which the consignee will need to visit a local Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) location. As such, it is important to ensure that a CBSA location is accessible to you.
It is important to note that any goods that have not been cleared within 40 days of arrival into Canada will be assumed "abandoned" by Canadian Customs and the ownership of the goods will transfer to the Canadian state for disposal.
It is advised that you do not ship personal effects valued at more than $2500.
Although Irish Parcels does not specifically specialise in shipping personal effects, there are many reputable companies offering convenient luggage shipping services to Canada, including My Baggage, who offer door to door luggage shipping.
It's certainly no secret that food makes a great gift. However, if you're thinking of shipping them to a destination such as Canada, you're going to need to do some research. All food imports to Canada are controlled by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and they require some additional paperwork to be attached to your food parcel.
Here are some requirements for sending food abroad:
Canada is a vast country, and as such, some areas will inevitably be considered remote by couriers. Remote areas typically take longer to deliver to, and will likely also come with an additional remote area surcharge. This is something worth keeping in mind when it comes to comparing courier quotes for your shipment.
For security, quarantine and customs reasons, there are certain items which may be prohibited or restricted from importing into Canada. This can differ around the world. As a general rule, you can be sure that the following items are prohibited:
What type of packaging can be used?
As is standard with all parcels, it is advised to invest in new, sturdy, double-walled (or even triple-walled) cardboard boxes as they are most durable and suitable for transporting all different types of items. If you are sending any fragile or delicate items, it is recommended to use internal packaging to protect them during transit. You can use a range of materials such as bubble wrap, foam or newspapers.
Hopefully our handy guide gives you some further insight into shipping parcels to Canada. If you have any questions about the process or wish to enquire about shipping parcels to Canada with Irish Parcels, contact us or find out more below!
You might also like:
4 Mistakes To Avoid When Shipping A Parcel To America
5 Top Tips For Sending Large Parcels Overseas
7 Reasons Why You Should DEFINITELY Use Irish Parcels
Learn more:
Irish Parcels - Parcel Delivery Ireland
Irish Parcels - International Parcel Delivery
Irish Parcels offers a fast, reliable and affordable courier services; whether you need to send goods regularly or just need to send a one-off parcel. If you've booked with us before, you'll know exactly how handy our service is. If you've never booked with us before, here's a list of some really great reasons why you DEFINITELY should...
When you book with Irish Parcels instead of going directly to a courier company, you can save up to 80% on your parcel deliveries! That's because we have negotiated fantastic low rates with our network of highly reputable couriers. Don't worry - you'll still receive the same high-quality service that these couriers are renowned for; but you'll get it for just a fraction of the price. What's more, if your parcel weighs over 2kg, we can be considerably cheaper than AnPost, too.
Booking with Irish Parcels couldn't be easier. There's no complicated sign-up process - all you need to get started is your email address and the details of your parcel. For the utmost convenience, we offer a fully door-to-door service, which means all you have to do is book online, attach shipping labels (which we send to you) to your parcel and let allow us to take care of the rest! We'll collect your item and deliver it straight to where it needs to go. It really is that easy.
Irish Parcels is regularly used by hundreds of small, local businesses. We understand that keeping costs as low as possible is a priority for small businesses, and we're confident that we provide the most cost-effective shipping solution for them.
When you book with us, you'll be provided with full online parcel tracking so that you can monitor the progress of your shipment every single step of the way. You'll be notified when your shipment is out for delivery, so you'll know when to expect it.
Again, we realise we might sound a little bit biased, but our customer support team are (without a doubt) the best in the business. Thanks to many years experience, our team are experts in the field of logistics. So, if you happen to have any questions or concerns along the way; you can contact our support team via phone, email or live chat and they'll always be quick to respond and more than happy to help.
We don't just send parcels within Ireland. We send to mainland UK, all across Europe and to over 200 countries worldwide! So, if you fancy sending a care package over to your loved one in the land down under, we're the ones to give you a hand.
Obviously, we have plenty of good things to say about ourselves. But you don't have to take our word for it. We have hundreds of independent reviews with customers saying all kinds of lovely things about Irish Parcels. So, if you need a second opinion to convince you, feel free to have a look at our most recent reviews!
Read more:
5 Top Tips For Sending Large Parcels Overseas
How To Ensure Your Parcels Arrive Safely - 8 Expert Tips
Learn more:
Irish Parcels - Courier Ireland
Ireland To UK Courier Services
Irish Parcels allows you to send parcels within Ireland, to the UK, or to 200+ countries worldwide. We provide fantastic international delivery rates and super fast transit times, so you can easily send parcels this December.
Below, you can find everything you need to know about sending a parcel with us this Christmas. Please take note of our holiday season send by dates.
Irish Parcels makes sending parcels easy. Our easy-to-navigate online booking and payment system takes just a few moments to complete. Simply start by getting a quote on our homepage. We'll compare quotes from leading courier companies to provide you with the best prices and fastest delivery times.
After that, we'll collect your parcel and deliver it straight to where it needs to go. We provide a convenient door to door service and full online parcel tracking.
As the holiday period is a particularly busy one, we recommend booking your parcel delivery early and leave an extra day to prevent any delays.
Although delays are extremely rare and the majority of our parcel deliveries arrive on time, certain unforeseen circumstances such as adverse weather conditions and high volumes of shipments can affect the drivers' timing.
Below you can find our recommended send by dates for the Christmas period. If you would like your parcel to arrive in time for Christmas, we recommend sending on or before the following dates listed. You may still place a booking after these dates, however, we cannot guarantee that it will arrive before the 25th.
Next day services - 19th December
48hr/2 day services - 16th December
2-3 day services - 15th December
International - 12th December
Express 12.00 services - 22nd December
Please note that each of our couriers will have their own individual cut off dates. You can get more information on each of their websites: DPD, GLS, TNT.
Below you'll find all information regarding our opening hours during the Christmas and New Year period. You can also see on which days collection and delivery will be taking place.
PLEASE NOTE: You can still place a booking on our website on ANY of these dates. Our online booking system is available 24/7.
You can contact our office directly from 9am-6pm on any of the days we are open, listed above. However, if you need to get in touch when our offices are closed, please find direct contact details for our couriers below:
GLS: Please call 018606200 and have your tracking number to hand. This can be found by logging into 'My Orders' in your Irish Parcels account.
TNT: Please call 0818 400 600.
DPD: Click here to find the number for your local depot. Have your CR 101 reference number ready. This can be found by logging into 'My Orders' on your Irish Parcels account and clicking 'track'.
You can save money on your parcel deliveries this Christmas with Irish Parcels.
Our pay-as-you-go service means that anyone can book a parcel delivery with us. All shipments are priced individually based on sizes and weights, which means you'll receive the very best value for your money every time.
Get a quick quote from Irish Parcels today.
We hope you've had a great 2016. Thank you so much for using Irish Parcels, and we hope we can help with your parcel deliveries again in 2017. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at Irish Parcels!
Learn more about Irish Parcels:
Irish Parcels - Courier Ireland
Perhaps you just can't make your item fit into a medium sized package, or perhaps the item itself is a large and bulky item. Whether you're a small business shipping products intentionally, or an individual sending gifts to a loved on the other side of the world - there are a few things to consider when sending large parcels overseas.
Thankfully, here at Irish Parcels, we're experts at this kind of thing. We specialise in parcel deliveries throughout Ireland, the UK and to over 200+ countries worldwide. The services that we offer are particularly competitive for larger or heavier items over 5kg, so from our own experience, we're here to lend our advice for sending large parcels overseas to ensure they arrive quickly and safely.
5 Top Tips For Sending Large Parcels Overseas
Whether or not you can send a large or heavy item will of course depend on the courier that you choose. Many couriers will have a variation of restrictions placed on different services, so it is important to check these as not doing so could result in a fine set upon by the courier, or the item being returned back to the sender.
For example, an item being shipped to Australia must be clearly masked if its weight exceeds 55kg. These kind of policies are set in place to ensure that heavier parcels can be handled safely when they arrive in the destination country. It's important to research these regulations before sending your heavy parcel to ensure you are taking all of the necessary steps to keep your item safe as it arrives at its destination.
Keep in mind that every country will also have regulations about what can and cannot be imported. Double check, even triple check that the large parcel you're sending doesn't contain any prohibited items to avoid any issues.
Bonus tip: Don't forget, if you are sending your large parcel outside of the EU, you will be required to complete customs documents in order to declare the contents and value of the items contained in your parcel. On these documents, you will also be required to declare the weight of the parcel, so be sure that this information is accurate.
As with any item of any size, packaging your parcel securely for transit is vital. At Irish Parcels, we always urge our customers to package their items in strong, double-walled cardboard boxes - especially if it is a heavy or large item. A double-walled box is sturdy and durable, and much less likely to collapse, tear or open under pressure.
If your item requires specific packaging due to its larger size or heavier weight, such as a pallet, be sure to consider this necessary step before sending it on its way.
Sending your large parcel with a reputable courier service that provides online tracking is always a good idea. With full access to online tracking, you will be able to monitor the progress of your shipment as it makes its way to its destination. You will be able to keep an eye out for any red flags, and will be able to get in touch with the courier if you have any concerns. You'll also be notified when your item is out for delivery, so you'll know exactly when to expect it.
At Irish Parcels, we offer full online parcel tracking on all of our shipments. If you have any questions or concerns about your shipment, our dedicated customer service team is always happy to help.
Before selecting your courier, do your research to ensure that you're getting the very best value for your money. It's no surprise that shipping large and heavy items will be more costly than the average sized parcel, however taking the time to find a reputable courier means you have that extra peace of mind knowing that your items will be handled with the utmost of care, making it a worthwhile cost.
At Irish Parcels, our prices are particularly competitive for large and heavy items. Get a quote from our homepage to compare prices and shipping times between a network of reliable couriers. Making use of courier comparison services is a guaranteed way to save on large, international parcel deliveries.
So that's our expert advice on sending large items overseas. If you still have any questions after reading, please get in touch with us and we'll always be very happy to help!
More blog posts:
Top 10 Strangest Customs Regulations From Around The World
How To Ensure Your Parcel Arrives Safely - 8 Expert Tips
4 Mistakes To Avoid When Shipping A Parcel To America
Learn more:
Our International Courier Prices
For those unfamiliar with the Depop phenomenon, it's a hugely popular mobile app marketplace, used by millions of people to buy and sell clothing.
Depop is at the forefront of a new wave of online shopping, with its Instagram-esque interface and eBay like experience.
Provided you have a great item for sale, anyone can make a profit on Depop and we've created this handy guide to making money on the platform.
As Depop has a very visually similar interface to Instagram, your images are extremely important. Your picture is essentially your sales pitch so it needs to be perfect. You can add up to four images per item, so try to offer good quality, high resolution images of your item in natural daylight and from as many different angles as possible.
With clothing, it's always great to get a model shot of you, or someone else wearing the garment to show how it fits, as clothing can often look vastly different on the rail. Make sure you use your own image - it's prohibited to copy catalogue or website pictures of items and if you're found to be doing so, you could be banned from the site.
When describing your item, keep it brief whilst being as informative and accurate as possible. Enter the mind of the buyer and think about all the essential information you would need prior to purchasing, for example, the size, the material, the quality of the item and any issues with the garment. Include shipping details and let buyers know if you accept exchanges or refunds.
Be competitive your pricing. Research the marketplace to see the price points of similar items and examine who your target audience is to determine an appropriate budget. For example, if you are selling items that appeal to 18 year old girls, it's unlikely that they will have a huge amount of disposable income to splurge on items.
Always accept in-app instant payment by connecting your PayPal account, as this gives you extra protection and also makes you more likely to feature on the app's prominent 'Explore' page, which will drive more visits to your products.
Being interactive on Depop and providing a good experience for the buyer is key to establishing a great reputation, increasing your followers and therefore your sales. Try to reply to all comments and messages and ship items as quickly as possible to keep your customers happy and make them more likely to repurchase.
Add a couple of hashtags to your product to make it more visable in searches. Be selective with your hashtags and only use a couple, as spammy hashtags will lead to your items being hidden.
A great tip for improving customer experience is to provide a personal note to the buyer. You can also ask customers to leave you a rating which can help increase your sales.
Check the profile of your buyer to see their ratings and comments to flag any potential issues. And be sure to take payment before shipping.
Think of Depop as your own little store and use your social media profiles as marketing channels to let people know about the items you have for sale. You can also provide exclusive discounts to your followers on each channel as an added incentive to buy.
Of course, here at Irish Parcels, we're all about the shipping and have some great tips for sending items with Depop. The main point to note with shipping on Depop is that the site does not offer shipping labels so all sellers are responsible for packing their items and shipping them.
Firstly, ensure that your shipping is priced reasonably, but is still high enough so that you don't end up out of pocket. If you use Irish Parcels, you can get a quick, no obligation quote on our homepage, which you can check before listing your item.
Always use a reputable courier company and provide your customer with shipping information and tracking details so they know when to expect their item.
Only ever send to the delivery address listed in your buyer's profile. If you send to another address it will not be covered by the Seller Protection.
Keep your proof of postage. With Irish Parcels, we will send you a confirmation email once you've booked your delivery, which you can forward to your customer.
And finally, if you can, offer international/worldwide shipping as this can significantly increase your views.
If you have any questions about parcel deliveries, get in touch and we'll be happy to help!
Learn more:
12 Tips For Sending A Parcel Abroad
4 Mistakes To Avoid When Sending A Parcel To America
Our International Courier Prices
Ireland To UK Courier Services
Top 10 Strangest Customs Regulations From Around The WorldWe, at IrishParcels.ie, like to think we know pretty much everything there is to know about sending a parcel. But there's one part of the process that even we can not get our heads around.
Customs.
If you've ever sent a parcel abroad, outside the EU, you'll know how confusing customs regulations can be and how much of a nightmare it is to complete those dreaded customs documents. There are so many rules that vary from country to country, some making absolutely no sense whatsoever.
We've come across a few particularly peculiar customs regulations during our time, so we thought we'd share some of the strangest few with you.
Apparently, you can not send a pair of matching shoes to Mexico, South Africa or India. This is in an attempt to control each country's own shoe market and applies mostly to shoe manufacturers. Matching personal shoes are fine, so don't worry about having to walk around in odd flip flops on your next holiday to those parts of the planet.
Not only are you forbidden to send chewing gum to Singapore, but you can't even buy it or consume it. This is down to a 1992 ban to promote civic cleanliness and anyone caught with this contraband could face a fine.
Algeria bans the import of toothpaste and all dental products. This is likely due to the inclusion of fluoride in these products which is seen to be toxic and poisonous by many nations.
You are not allowed to bring back more than one pint of Holy Water to Fiji after a pilgrimage. If you want to bring more than this amount, you will require a certificate to say that it is disease free.
If you're considering sending a wheelbarrow to Nigeria, we hate to break it to you, but they are strictly forbidden in the country in order to strengthen Nigeria's own manufacturing industry.
Loud items such as car horns have been banned from entering Saudi Arabia, due to the country's many noise restrictions.
The Kinder Egg is banned in America due to the yellow plastic piece in the centre being considered a choking hazard. A few years ago, the American Federal Government fined a Canadian family $12,000 for trying to take ten Kinder eggs into the US. This rule is no yolk (pahahaha... sorry...).
Sorry lovers, but for some reason, Malawian authorities have forbidden the entry of all aphrodisiacs into the country.
Due to a wave of panic, caused by pranksters in clown costumes in the southern French village of Venargues, these kinds of outfits are now banned. These incidents have lead to a wide-spread anti-clown vigilante movement across the whole of France, which may soon see the costumes banned through the entire country.
Eyeglasses and foreign spectacles can not be imported into Uruguay.
If you have any questions about parcel deliveries, get in touch and we'll be happy to help!
Learn more:
12 Tips For Sending A Parcel Abroad
4 Mistakes To Avoid When Sending A Parcel To America
Our International Courier Prices
Ireland To UK Courier Services
Safety is a top priority when sending a parcel.
"Damage", "delayed" or "lost" are words that no one wants to hear. When you hand that package over to the delivery driver, you need to know that it will arrive at its destination in perfect condition.
If you choose a reputable courier (see our list of couriers), your parcel is more likely to arrive safe and sound, but there are a few extra steps you can take to ensure your package is delivered unscathed.
When you send a parcel by courier, it's important to consider all the stages of transit it will go through. For example, it will be sorted using a machine and transported in a vehicle alongside tens or hundreds of other items of all shapes and sizes.
Best practice is to pack your item in a strong, double-walled cardboard box with bubble wrap and packaging peanuts. Good packaging will significantly reduce the likelihood of your parcel collapsing under pressure or tearing. You can read more of our packaging advice in our blog post: 8 Mistakes To Avoid When Packaging Your Parcel.
Before booking with a courier, always check that your parcel contents can be sent on the service. This is of particular importance if you're shipping an item overseas, as countries (especially outside the EU) have their own customs rules and regulations.
In addition to checking the country's own rules, be sure to read the courier's list of prohibited items. If you were to send a prohibited item, your shipment may be delayed, refused or sent back and you will be unlikely to receive any compensation.
You can take a look at IrishParcels.ie's prohibited and non compensation list here.
Speaking of customs... when you are sending an item outside the EU, you will need to complete customs documents and attach them to your item. (At Irish Parcels, we will send you these forms to complete after booking.) In these forms, you declare the content and value of the items you are sending.
Although your courier provider may be able to give you advice with regards to these forms, it is always the customer's own responsibility and failure to do so could again result in delays, refused delivery or a big unpleasant bill for customs charges.
Always book with a courier that provides online tracking information. Again this of most importance when shipping overseas.
As couriers collect and deliver thousands of parcels every single day, they are unable to monitor each item individually. With online tracking, you can follow your shipment every step of the way and alert the courier if you notice any issues.
Online tracking will also notify you when your item is out for delivery, so you'll know when to expect its arrival.
If you are sure that your items are safe to send - in terms of contents and packaging, always take out compensation cover.
This means that in the event of damage, loss or long delays, you may be entitled to some money back.
At Irish Parcels, we offer €50 free compensation cover per item, which you can increase up to the value of €1,000 during booking, for a small additional fee, if you need to do so.
This sounds obvious, but when sending a parcel, make sure the address details you enter are completely correct. Typos are easy mistakes to make and incorrect address details are the cause of most issues with couriers. Even just the slightest typo or formatting error can cause your item to be delayed or returned to sender.
This applies mostly to international addresses which are most often formatted completely differently to Irish addresses. If you're unsure, we always recommend Googling the address you are sending to or double checking with the recipient.
Once you're absolutely 100% sure that the addresses are correct, you'll need to print out your labels and attach them to your parcel.
Again, this sounds straightforward, but when labels are not securely fastened, they can become easily removed from the package and cause your delivery to be significantly delayed or even lost.
We recommend putting your labels inside a plastic wallet or polypocket and securing them with parcel packaging (brown) tape.
And finally, the best way to ensure your parcel is delivered safely, is to use a reputable courier.
For example, at Irish Parcels, we use TNT, GLS and DPD to carry out our deliveries. They are trusted names that most people and businesses are familiar with, because they have a longstanding reputation for quality service within the courier industry.
Do not use a courier that does not have a website, a contact number or a customer support team.
If you have any questions about parcel deliveries, get in touch and we'll be happy to help!
Learn more:
Ireland To UK Courier Services
