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Learn everything you need to know about managing international shipments, from initial setup to final package preparation. This comprehensive guide covers three essential areas: configuring your products for international shipping, generating required international documentation, and properly applying shipping labels and customs forms to your packages.

1. Configure Products

2. Print Required Documentation

3. Applying Labels & Customs Forms to your Packages

 

Note: Customs Forms are required for most International Orders. Its important that all forms are printed and properly attached to your packages. 

 

Video Walkthrough

Video Timestamps
Jump directly to a specific part of the Video:

0:13 Product Configuration
2:26 Printing Labels and Forms
4:18 Attaching Labels and Forms

 

FAQ: Please see our full FAQ for commonly asked International Shipping Questions.

 

Part 1: Configure Products

Please ensure your products are properly configured, or International Customs may delay or deny your international shipments.

Important: The following product data is required for SKUs that will ship to international addresses, and it is recommended that they are configured with Harmonized Code, Manufacturer, Country of Origin, and Brief Description prior to accepting orders from international customers. Learn more about Configuring Products. 

a. Manufacturer

b. Product Description (this should include product materials and color)

c. Harmonized Code

d. Country of Origin

 

1. Log into Cahoot and go to Products > All Products > Search SKU and click Edit.



2. On the Product General Info tab, select the Country of Origin for this SKU
Country of Origin is the Country where the product was manufactured. If the product is composed of other completed goods (i.e. a computer), list the country of assembly.

 



3. Enter Harmonization Code

Harmonization Codes are international standards to describe goods. If you don't know your product's Harmonization Code, you can use the link below to learn more and search the international database of products to find the right Harmonization Code. 
Learn about Harmonization Codes here.

4. Enter a Brief Product Description

Customs wants to know more about the product than just the name; the Brief Product Description should include the Manufacturer, Color, Material, and other important details of the product. If left blank, Cahoot will use the Product Name, but this is normally not sufficient for Customs.

 

5. Submit a Support Ticket to configure your Shipping Services for International Shipping.

 

Part 2: Printing Labels and Forms

Some International Orders require additional Forms. USPS builds in Customs data into the Label itself, but FedEx and UPS International Labels require additional Forms. Cahoot will create the needed Forms automatically, pre-filling in the needed details, based on your product configuration, so please ensure your product data is accurate.

 

1. Navigate to Print and Ship My Orders. 

Here you can see all International Orders with pending Forms


2. These International Forms can be bulk printed via Print > Print Other Forms (8.5x11).

 

If you handle these orders in bulk, you can now print the packing slips or pick lists as normal.

 

3. Alternatively, print these forms directly from the Sales Order page: 

 

If you create Labels manually, the Print Other Forms and the Shipping Label and Packing Slip popups will both open automatically for ease of use. 

 

 

Important: Some countries require the Consignee (Receiver) Tax ID to appear on the Shipping label. Parcels missing this information can still be shipped, but can be held up at customs, or even denied entry. You can either edit the customer's address to add the Tax ID to the Company field, or directly add it to the label when creating the Shipping Label:

 

 

Part 3: Attaching Labels and Forms to Packages

International Forms need to be signed, and attached to the outside of the package. Please see the Instructional Video above for further instruction. 

1. Place all products and the packing slip inside the package.

2. Close and secure the package.

3. Attach the shipping label.

4. Sign all International Forms and fold in half.

5. Attach clear shipping forms sleeve. 

6. Insert Forms into the shipping sleeve making contents clearing visible to the carrier.

7. Ensure sleeve is closed.

8. Hand package over to shipping carrier.

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