Shipping Lines Explained: Picking the Right One

After QC approval, the agent asks you to pick a shipping line— a carrier + route combination with its own price-per-weight, speed, tracking quality and country restrictions. The menu looks overwhelming; the decision usually isn't.

The three families

• Economy lines — slowest (often several weeks), cheapest per kilogram, sparse tracking. Right for low-urgency, low-weight hauls.
• Standard lines — the middle path most people pick: reasonable speed, full tracking, sane pricing.
• Express lines — courier-grade speed at courier-grade prices. Worth it when you genuinely need a date, not as a default.

Weight is the whole game

Lines charge by weight brackets, and many use volumetric weight (a formula on the parcel's dimensions) when it exceeds the scale weight. Two practical consequences: shoe boxes can cost more to ship than the shoes (decide if the box matters to you), and consolidation — shipping several items in one parcel — is the single biggest saving available. The agent repacks; you just have to be patient enough to order in batches.

Customs, honestly

Import rules changed dramatically in 2025–2026 and most older guides are now wrong. US buyers: the $800 de-minimis is suspended — every parcel is dutiable, which is why agents now push duty-inclusive (DDP) lines for the US; read the 2026 US customs guidebefore your first haul. EU buyers lose the €150 duty exemption on July 1, 2026. Everywhere: assume any parcel can be assessed, treat duties as part of the real price, and declare honestly — "tax-free line" is consolidator marketing, not a legal status. Agents offer insurance on most lines, but read what it actually covers: destination-customs seizure typically requires paperwork you won't get, and several economy routes are excluded entirely.

A sane default

For a first haul: a standard tracked line, items consolidated, boxes only for the items where the box is the point. Confirm the line ships to your country with the agent's calculator the week you ship — line availability shifts. Then get back to finding things worth shipping.