Question 1

Do I need to register to use Importsquare service?

Accepted Answer

To use the Importsquare service, you need to sign up for an account. When you sign up, you will receive a unique unit number / account number so that you can use it as our warehouse address and mailing address for online shopping.

Question 2

What can I do in My Account?

Accepted Answer

"My Page" allows you to add/edit overseas shipping destinations, check package status, check inspection content, pay shipping charges, and more.

Question 3

Where is Importsquare Warehouse loacated?

Accepted Answer

Our US warehouse is in Portland Oregon where there is no no sales tax.
Most states in the United States have a sales tax of approximately 7-9%.
You will be able to enjoy the profits of free sales tax.

Question 4

What is the dimension (volumatic) weight?

Accepted Answer

Dimensional weight, also known as volumetric weight, is a pricing technique based on size rather than the actual weight.
Carriers charge the greater of actual weight or Dimensional weight.
Dimensional weight is calculated as (length × width × height) / (dimensional factor)
Dimensional factors may vary by carrier.

Question 5

What will my warehouse address look like?

Accepted Answer

As below, you will have a unique unit number after our warehouse address.
John Smith
10180 SW Nimbus Ave J6 Unit 1111
Portland OR 97223, United States

Question 6

How can I track my package?

Accepted Answer

All package shipped out from Importsaure has tracking number. You can find the tracking# of the package shipped in your account page. You can open carrier tracking page by clicking the tracking#.

Question 7

What shipping methods do you offer?

Accepted Answer

If you want to see a list of all available shipping methods we offer, you can go to the shipping methods page.
If you want to know which transport options are available for your specific destination, our transport calculator can give you all the options.

Question 8

Can I ship lithium-ion batteries from USA?

Accepted Answer

Yes and No.
lithium-ion batteries can be shipped dependent of type of battery, quantity and carrier.
Please contact us for more detail.

Question 9

Can you ship Cologne / Perfume?

Accepted Answer

Perfume/cologne is considered a Dangerous Goods by the airlines.
Some carrier ship Perfume/cologne as Dangerous Goods with additional process.
Please contact us for more detail.

Question 10

Is my package subject to duties and/or taxes?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and you are responsible for any duties and/or taxes that incurred.
Please contact your local customs office for more information as duties and taxes are dependent on the destination, provenance and value of items shipped.

Question 11

What is Assisted Purchase?

Accepted Answer

Assisted Purchase is a service that we would purchase item(s) on your behalf.
You can tell us what you would like us to purchase.
We will check availability, etc and get back to you with invoice.
The casic fee for Assisted Purchase is 10% for USA and 15% for Europe of total cost of purchasing the item.

Question 12

How do I place a consolidation (combine) request?

Accepted Answer

It is simple!
You can consolidate the package(s) in "Package in Warehouse" status, and select the package and click "Consolidate".
Ware house will then repack the package.
 
Note: Certain type of item has shipping restriction by carrier and can not be consolidated.

Question 13

What is Fulfillment service?

Accepted Answer

If you are a retailer, e-commerce store, small business, we can do labor-intensive processing for you. 
 
It saves your time
It saves yor shipping cost
It saves your effort
 
You can use the time you save for better management and improve customer service.

Question 14

What payment methods do you offer?

Accepted Answer

We accept following payment
 
credit card
PayPal
Bank transfer

Question 15

How do I make a payment?

Accepted Answer

You can make payment from your account page.
 
For Assisted Purchase payment, click "Pay Now" and choose the payment opion for payment.
 
For shipping payment, you will have payment screen after selection the shipping method.

Question 16

What if the item that arrives to warehouse is damaged or missing items?

Accepted Answer

We do our due diligence to inform customers if we notice any damage to package arrived. 
However, it is ultimately customer's resposibility to ensure all the items arrived to warehouse is in proper condition.
 
We take photo of every package arrived and make inspection comment, but we are not able to inspect every package in detail. We ask you to view the photo of arrived package and refer to the inspection comment if any. If you wish to check in more detail, please request additional photo and/or special request.

Question 17

Is my package insured?

Accepted Answer

When selecting the shipping method, you will see the insurance the carrier provide.

Question 18

Prohibited & restricted items

Accepted Answer

Like all of the carriers, we can not ship any of these items:
 
 • Combustible, flammable items (gasoline, paints, oil etc.)
 • Pressurized cans, aerosol can products (hairspray, paint spray can etc.
 • Hazardous materials and corrosive material (chemical, industrial chemical etc.)
 • Firearms, firearms parts & accessories, any items under the control of ITAR (ammunition, gun, scopes, military weapons & accessories, night vision goggles etc.)
 • Agriculture and produces (live or dead plants, animals, fur, fruits etc.)
 • Monetary items (coins, precious stones, cash, precious metal etc.)
 • Drugs (prescription drugs, illegal drugs of any form etc.)
 • Indecency items (pornography magazines, DVD, adult toys etc.)
 • Stand-alone Lithium-ion battery (PI965) is prohibited to be shipped by Planet Express. We can only ship items that contain Lithium-Ion Battery (PI967) and items that packed with Lithium-Ion Battery (PI966)
 • Certain restricted items like perfume or tobacco product can be export but will require additional documents. Please contact Planet Express support team if you’re unsure some items can be shipped or not.
 • Corrosive, Explosive, Flammable, Compressed/Pressurized items, a Chemical solution of any form, Hazardous Materials
 • Flammable liquid, paint
 • Perishable food items
 • Human or animal remains, live or dead animals or plants
 • Identification, Money, Precious metal,
 • Electronic equipment or equipment requires ECCN (Export Control Classification Number).
 • Firearms or firearms parts, rifle scope, red dot sight, ammo or any items under the restriction of ITAR, Department of Commerce, US Customs Border Protection, or US Department of Treasury.
 • Lithium-Ion Batteries are allowed. Only PI966 (Lithium Ion Batteries packed with equipment), PI967 (Lithium Ion Batteries contained inside equipment).

Question 19

Battery

Accepted Answer

Being able to ship lithium-ion batteries is dependent upon three things:
 
1) The type of battery (as shown below)
2) The country restrictions, which you can go to here to find out more.
3) The carrier you chose, which can be found right below this question.
 
PI965 - Loose batteries - NOT ALLOWED 
EXAMPLE: phone batteries, camera batteries, etc.
 • Due to regulations by the IATA, FAA and the TSA, Shipito cannot ship loose lithium-ion batteries
PI966 - Batteries packed with equipment - ALLOWED (CARRIER RESTRICTIONS APPLY) 
EXAMPLE: A phone + phone battery
 • Requires rigid outer packaging in order to provide protection from damage or compression of the batteries, the inner packaging must be placed in a strong, rigid, outer packaging. 
PI967 - Batteries contained in equipment - ALLOWED (CARRIER RESTRICTIONS APPLY) 
EXAMPLE: A phone with the battery inside it

Question 20

Dangerous Goods

Accepted Answer

Anything that considered as Dangerous Goods by the airlines need additional process for shipment.
Please contact us for more detail.

Question 21

Cross Border Global Prohibited Items

Accepted Answer

All commodities valued over US$20,000 without approval
One-of-a-kind/irreplaceable articles such as artwork valued over US$500,000 each
Flammables with a flash point of 140 degrees Fahrenheit or less
Auto parts with fluids in them
Fine art
Fine jewelry
Furs
Pornography/obscene material
Precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum in the form of bullion, coins or ingots
Watches valued over US$1000
Weapons and weapons accessories
Bullion and money of every description such as (but without prejudice to the generality of this clause) cash, bank notes, coins, currency notes or currency of any kind
Stamps (postage or revenue); vouchers; tokens; tickets of any kind; and credit, debit or cash cards
Time-sensitive or critical written materials or documents including, but not limited to, bids and contract proposals
Contraband including, but not limited to, illicit drugs and counterfeit goods
Livestock, bloodstock and living animals
Human remains
Division 1.1 Explosives (e.g., mines and nitroglycerine)
Division 1.2 Explosives (e.g., rockets and warheads)
Division 1.3 Explosives (e.g., smoke signals, projectiles and commercial fireworks)
Division 1.5 Explosives (e.g., blasting agents)
Division 1.6 Explosives
Division 2.3 Toxic Gas
Division 6.2 Infectious Substances
Class 7 Radioactive Material including White I, Yellow II, Yellow III and fissile material

Question 22

Cross Border Global Restricted Items

Accepted Answer

Class 3 Flammable Liquids
Division 1.4 Explosives (e.g., airbags, small arms ammunition and model rocket motors)
Division 2.2 Non-Flammable, Non-Toxic Gas
Division 4.1 Flammable Solids
Any transaction involving International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or other commodities subject to import licenses
Artwork, archeological artifacts and antiquities
Biological agents, etiological agents, and hosts and vectors of human disease
Class 8 Corrosives
Class 9 Miscellaneous (e.g., self-inflating life rafts, lithium batteries and dry ice)
Division 2.1 Flammable Gas
Division 4.2 Spontaneously Combustible Flammable Solids
Division 4.3 Dangerous When Wet Flammable Solids
Division 5.1 Oxidizers
Division 5.2 Organic Peroxides
Division 6.1 Toxic Substances (solid or liquid)
Flowers
Fresh foodstuffs
Gems, cut or uncut
Hazardous materials/dangerous goods and radioactive materials
Household goods and personal effects
Lithium ion and lithium metal batteries
Medical Devices – must verify that the accepting warehouse complies with state requirements/ licensing/permits for distribution of medical devices
Microchips, computer chips, microprocessors, central processing units (CPUs) and mobile telephones
One-of-a-kind/irreplaceable articles such as artwork valued between US$250,000 and US$500,000 each and other single items valued at US$250,000 and higher
Other perishables
Pharmaceuticals
Precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum in the form of scrap, dust, sulfides, residue, industrial preparations such as silver powder and silver termination paste, and jewelry
Project cargo
Retail tobacco products
Tranquilizing guns and ammunition
Transportation moves for and on behalf of the U.S. government/Department of Defense contract products or other governmental agencies, wherever located, that require specific licensing in advance of any move

Question 23

Are there any restricted countries?

Accepted Answer

We cannot service embargoed countries. Please see the list of countries.
 
North Korea
Iran
Cuba
Myanmar
Syria
Sudan
Crimea

Frequently Asked Questions Shipping