International Shipping FAQ

Find quick answers to common questions about international shipping through Cahoot. This FAQ covers fulfillment schedules, carrier services, customs requirements, and address handling for international orders.

Fulfillment Operations & Schedules

When does Cahoot fulfill international orders?

Cahoot fulfills international orders Monday through Friday, excluding weekends and holidays. If your SLA includes Saturday fulfillment, international orders will also ship on Saturday.

What are typical international transit times?

Cahoot does not add handling time beyond carrier estimates. Standard international shipping typically takes 8-20 business days. Actual transit times vary by:

• Destination country
• Carrier and service level selected
• Customs clearance speed

Carrier Services & Capabilities

What international carriers and services does Cahoot support?

Cahoot supports standard and expedited international shipping through UPS, FedEx, USPS, and DHL. Service availability varies by destination, package size, and your account configuration.

What USPS international services are available?

USPS offers three international service levels through Cahoot:

What DHL international services are available?

Cahoot supports three DHL international service types:

DHL Parcel International Direct (PLT)

• Supports DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) - duties prepaid at checkout
• Maximum weight: 66 lbs to Canada, 44 lbs to other destinations
• Best for merchants wanting to prepay customs duties for customers

DHL Parcel International Standard

• DDU only (customer pays duties on delivery)
• Same weight limits as Direct service
• More economical option when DDP not required

DHL Packet International

• Small parcel service, up to 4.4 lbs
• Maximum dimensions: Length + Width + Height = 36", each side max 24"
• DDU only, postal product for lightweight items

Customs & Documentation

Do I need to print separate customs forms?

It depends on the carrier:

• USPS: No separate forms needed. Customs declarations are included directly on the shipping label.
• FedEx, UPS, DHL: Yes, requires a Commercial Invoice. Cahoot automatically generates these forms when you create the shipping label. Print and attach to the package exterior in a clear document pouch.

For detailed instructions on printing and attaching international forms, see Shipping International Orders: Printing Other Forms.

Does Cahoot offer DDU (Delivery Duty Unpaid) or DDP (Delivery Duty Paid)?

Cahoot accounts are configured for either DDU or DDP—not both. Contact Cahoot Support to request your preferred configuration.

Understanding the difference

DDU (Delivery Duty Unpaid) - Default Setting for Cahoot Carrier Accounts

• The recipient pays customs duties and import taxes before delivery
• Customs authorities in the destination country contact the customer for payment
• Package may be held until customer pays (typically 5-10 business days)
• Customer experience: Unexpected charges may cause delivery delays or refusals

DDP (Delivery Duty Paid)

• All duties and taxes are prepaid by the seller at checkout
• Package is delivered directly without additional charges
• Better customer experience but higher upfront costs for seller
• Not available for all carriers and destinations

What is a consignee tax ID and when is it required?

Some countries require the recipient's tax identification number to appear on international shipping labels for customs clearance. This is most common when shipping to:

• Brazil (CPF or CNPJ)
• Chile (RUT)
• South Korea (Customs ID)
• China (for certain shipments)

Parcels missing this information can still be shipped but may be held at customs or denied entry. You can add the tax ID to the Company field in the customer's address or directly when creating the shipping label.

Address Handling & Troubleshooting

What if a destination country doesn't use postal codes?

Some countries do not use postal codes. However, certain carriers require a postal code to be entered even for those countries.

If you are unable to get a rate:

• Enter 00000 in the Ship To Postal Code field
• Retry rating and label creation

How do I handle international addresses that are too long for the label?

Some carriers have character limits for Ship To address fields, and international addresses can often exceed these limits. If this occurs, you can edit the Ship To address and split the address across multiple address lines (Address Line 1, Address Line 2, etc.) to successfully create the label.

Why do special characters show as question marks on labels?

Many carrier label APIs do not support non-Roman or Unicode characters. International addresses that use characters such as Kanji, Cyrillic, or Arabic may not print correctly on the label. You might see:

• A series of question marks (???)
• The replacement character � (a black diamond with a white question mark)

If this happens, copy the address into Google Translate to translate the characters into English. Then paste the translation into the shipping system and create the label.

Why are some international services unavailable for my shipment?

Not all international services are valid for every shipment. Service availability depends on several factors, including:

• Package size and weight
• Ship To country or destination
• Ship From origin
• Carrier-specific restrictions

If you are unsure which service to use for different types of shipments, check with your carrier for specific details.

Policies & Restrictions

Are there product price limits for international shipping?

Cahoot has a limit of $300.00 per unit wholesale price for international shipments.

While shipping carriers provide some free liability insurance, Cahoot strongly suggests additional Shipsurance Cargo Insurance, which Cahoot can offer at 85% less than shipping carriers.

Does Cahoot ship to military addresses?

Yes. Cahoot ships to all APO/DPO/FPO addresses.

What items cannot be shipped internationally?

Common restricted or prohibited items include:

• Lithium batteries (restrictions vary by carrier and destination)
• Hazardous materials (aerosols, perfumes, flammable items)
• Perishable goods
• Alcohol and tobacco products (country-specific restrictions)
• Items requiring export licenses

Always verify destination country restrictions before accepting international orders. Carrier-specific restrictions are detailed in Troubleshooting International Orders.

Why am I getting "No Service" errors for international orders?

The "No Service" error typically occurs when:

• Missing product data: International shipping requires Harmonized Code, Country of Origin, Manufacturer, and Product Description to be configured in your product catalog
• Destination not supported: The carrier doesn't service the destination country
• Package exceeds limits: Weight, dimensions, or value exceeds carrier limits for that destination
• Service configuration: Your account is set to DDP but the destination doesn't support it

For complete troubleshooting steps and carrier-specific limitations, see Resolving the "No Service" Error.

How do I handle international returns?

International returns require special handling and may incur significant costs.