International express shipments are often returned or destroyed due to customs violations, prohibited items during transport, abnormal declarations, or the recipient’s refusal to cooperate, triggering red flags from the destination country’s customs or carrier. Different reasons require different solutions. Identifying the core reason first and then addressing it specifically can minimize losses.
Below, Weefreight will provide detailed explanations to help you.
I. Common Reasons for Packages Being Returned
Core Reasons Related to Customs Clearance
Under-declaration of goods value, concealment of sensitive attributes (containing batteries, liquids, cosmetics, food) being discovered; lack of mandatory certifications such as CE, FDA, CPC, or authorization letters; conflicting document information; failure to provide identification documents for personal shipments; exceeding reasonable limits for personal use and being classified as commercial shipments without the ability to provide additional documentation; and long-term refusal by the recipient to pay customs duties/storage fees.
Reasons Related to Transportation and Channels
Packages exceeding weight or size limits and not meeting channel carrier standards, making loading and unloading during transit impossible; damaged packaging, liquid leakage contaminating other goods, leading to forced return by the carrier; severely incorrect address or postal code, resulting in multiple failed delivery attempts and inability to correct the information.
Policy and Compliance Reasons
Goods belonging to categories prohibited in the destination country (some medicines, animal and plant products, infringing counterfeit goods, dangerous goods); temporary local restrictions or upgraded quarantine policies, resulting in packages not meeting new entry requirements. II. Common Reasons for Packages Being Ordered for Destruction
Destruction is more serious than return, and generally involves illegal activities, high risks, or situations where return is impossible:
Clearly prohibited items: narcotics, military equipment parts, prohibited drugs, products related to endangered plants and animals;
Seriously infringing counterfeit or substandard goods, seized and investigated by customs;
Dangerous goods, flammable and explosive materials, corrosive substances, deemed non-transportable by aviation and customs;
Food, fresh produce, and cosmetics without quarantine certification, posing health and safety risks;
Packages remaining uncleared or unclaimed for a long time, exceeding storage limits, and forcibly destroyed by customs according to regulations;
Extremely high return shipping costs and very low cargo value, leading customs or the carrier to suggest direct destruction.
III. Remedial Measures for Different Scenarios
Customs clearance pending return, not yet officially shipped out
Fastest remedy: Complete the required documents according to customs requirements (ID card, certification, authorization letter, payment voucher), correct the declared information truthfully, pay customs duties and storage fees promptly, and complete customs clearance to resume normal delivery. This is the lowest-cost solution.
Recipient refuses to pay customs duties / does not cooperate
The sender and recipient negotiate, and the sender pays the customs duties through the courier channel, or changes the customs duty payment method. After payment is completed, delivery continues; if negotiation fails, decide on return as soon as possible to reduce the accumulation of overdue storage fees.
Incorrect declaration, misdeclared product name but not prohibited items
Immediately submit the corrected commercial invoice and explanation through the customs broker, apply for re-examination, and accept customs re-valuation and supplementary tax payment. In most cases, this can avoid return. Return Shipment Confirmed, Irreversible
Contact the carrier to confirm return shipping costs and routes, and agree on the payment method; simultaneously record the return shipment status. After the goods return to the country, they can be repackaged according to regulations, correctly declared, and then arranged for a second shipment; for low-value goods, weigh the return shipping cost against the value of the goods and consider abandoning the package.
Facing Destruction, Appeal Period Still Available
Only non-prohibited and non-infringing goods have a chance of remedy. Immediately provide complete qualifications, brand authorization, and legal purchase certificates, and submit an appeal letter to customs through a customs broker to prove that the goods comply with regulations and can enter the country; if it is due to overdue warehouse fees, pay the fees and clear customs as soon as possible; if it is indeed prohibited or infringing, there is usually no room for appeal.
IV. Key Points for Preventing Returns and Destruction
Check the destination country’s prohibited items list in advance, and do not ship prohibited, infringing, or uncertified sensitive items;
Declare the value and name of the goods truthfully, do not under-declare or misdeclare, and ensure that the document information is consistent;
Individuals should upload their documents promptly, and companies should prepare certification and authorization documents;
Ensure that the address and postal code are accurate, and provide a valid contact number to ensure delivery and contact;
For high-value and sensitive goods, prioritize commercial express services with strong customs clearance capabilities, and do not blindly choose low-cost, non-standard channels.
(Note: The above information regarding timeliness or costs is for reference only. Please refer to the actual situation at the time of shipment. Thank you!)
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