Can I ship my iPad overseas?
International shipping has always created plenty of problems for eCommerce shippers and individuals alike, as each country has different restrictions on what you can and cannot send. If you want to ship your iPad overseas, the process isn’t as simple as sticking your tablet in a box, labeling it, sending it off, and praying. Luckily, Shipping School is here to guide you through the process, including which carrier to use will save you the most money. let’s start!
Table of contents
Possible Restrictions When Shipping iPads Overseas
iPads and tablets may be subject to international shipping restrictions because they contain lithium-ion batteries. If you’re not familiar, lithium-ion batteries power iPads and tablets and make them rechargeable. All carriers consider these batteries to be a dangerous good, and if you send your own lithium-ion batteries, you won’t be able to ship them internationally at all.However, you able Lithium-ion batteries can be shipped internationally if they are contained in the equipment they power. Fortunately, this means iPads and tablets can be sent overseas.
Learn more about shipping lithium-ion batteries.
Some countries accept lithium-ion batteries for shipment
One thing to keep in mind is that just because you can ship iPads overseas, it doesn’t mean they will be allowed into the country you are shipping them to. Some countries do not accept shipments containing lithium-ion batteries in the first place! Therefore, you should always check what is allowed and restricted in your destination country before you purchase shipping labels.
To see restrictions per country, visit the USPS Individual Country Listings page and search for the country you plan to ship to. You’ll see the kinds of items that can’t be shipped there, as well as any size and weight restrictions you need to adhere to.
If you still have a shipment, please use the original packaging
If you want to ship your iPad internationally, it’s best to send it in the original manufacturer’s packaging. Since these cases fit your iPad perfectly, you won’t find a better option for protective packaging. You can put the original packaging in a larger cardboard box for another layer of protection, which is nice!
It’s okay if you don’t have the original packaging. You can still use a sturdy cardboard box that fits the iPad without much room to move it around inside. However, you’ll need a lot of packing material to protect your iPad from any damage. In this case, we recommend wrapping the iPad in generous amounts of bubble wrap, then filling any empty spaces inside the box with foam padding, air cushions, or foam liners. The more protection you can use, the better!
Which carrier should I use?
Once you’ve packed your iPad, it’s time to choose the right carrier. When shipping internationally, you typically have several options, but the most popular options are USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL.
USPS will be the cheapest option, but the least reliable. USPS works with other countries’ public postal services, and some countries have excellent postal services. Others are not as advanced. As this is the case, sometimes it is not uncommon for the tracking information to “black out” when your destination country’s postal service takes over the delivery.
UPS, on the other hand, is a private company that relies on its own network to deliver packages anywhere in the world. UPS is our preferred carrier when shipping expensive and delicate items such as iPads overseas because of its fast delivery options and affordable prices.
Generally, FedEx is too expensive for international shipping, so we usually choose UPS. DHL is similar; they specialize in urgent international deliveries, so their prices won’t be as attractive as UPS’s when sending an iPad overseas.
Protect Your iPad Overseas Shipping with Insurance and Signature Confirmation
Here’s the real key, the gist, the “secret sauce” when shipping your iPad overseas: protect your package with shipping insurance.These products are expensive, if they are damaged or disappear during shipping, you will bear the full cost. However, purchasing shipping insurance will fully indemnify you in case anything happens to your package.
That is to say, triple check Make sure your insurance company doesn’t have any specifics about insuring the iPad. For example, many shipping insurance companies will not cover tablets unless you purchase an International Signature Acknowledgment in addition to your insurance.
