International Shipping from Freehold, NJ

• A description of every item in the package. Not "gift" or "clothes." Customs wants "2 cotton t-shirts" and "1 pair leather shoes." Vague descriptions are the most common reason a package gets held.
• A value for each item. Be honest. Undervaluing to reduce duty is the other common reason packages get stuck, and the problem lands on whoever is collecting it.
• The full delivery address, including postal code.
• A phone number for the person receiving it. Several countries require it, and a package with a question and no phone number goes back to the US.
• Your ID.

If you get stuck on part of the form, ask us. We can point you in the right direction. But the form is yours to complete, and having it ready before you walk in is the difference between a few minutes at the counter and a long one.

• Compare FedEx, UPS, USPS, and Meest for your package and tell you which fits
• Pack it properly for an international trip, or cut down a box that's bigger than it needs to be
• Weigh and measure it so the price is right the first time
• Check the destination country's rules before you tape the box shut
• Print the label and give you a receipt with the tracking number

Lithium batteries can only travel installed in the device they power, up to two batteries or four cells, each under 100 watt-hours. Anything pre-owned, damaged or defective with a lithium battery in it cannot go at all, which rules out sending an old phone or laptop.

Most countries also prohibit cash, jewelry and precious metals.

On top of that, every country has its own list. Pick your country above.

Carriers publish expected transit times, but customs clearance adds time nobody can predict or control. A package can sit for days waiting on a question about what's inside.

We'll tell you what the carrier estimates. Nobody can promise a package arrives on a specific date. If it has to be there for an occasion, send it earlier than you think you need to.