Articles on: Onboarding

How to Book a Shipment with TUNL

Booking your first international shipment? You’re in the right place. This guide walks you through each step of the booking flow, so you can ship with confidence and avoid common pitfalls. Let’s dive in.

🎥 Prefer to Watch Instead?

For more visual learners, please check out our video guide here:
👉 How to book shipments using TUNL’s platform

It’s free and only takes 2 minutes.
👉 Log in or create your account here

2. From Details: Who’s Shipping? ✈️

We pre-fill your sender (from) information using the details you provided when signing up. Double-check that:

Your email address is correct and actively monitored

Your phone number is reachable

📣 Why it matters: If there's an issue with your shipment - customs delays, delivery questions, or anything else - this is how we’ll reach you.

🔐 Note on Business Names & Exporter Codes

If you signed up using your ID (not an exporter code), you won’t be able to ship under a business name. To ship as a business, you’ll need an exporter code. Learn how to get an exporter code →
Want to update your business details? Check this article on updating your sender info →

3. To Details: Your Customer’s Info 📬

Enter the recipient (to) details, including:

Full name or business name

Accurate address

Correct contact number and email

📣 Why it matters: Our carriers may contact your customer for delivery instructions, customs fees, or clearance. Wrong info = delays (and headaches).

4. Parcel Details 📦

Here’s where you tell us what you’re shipping.

Currency

Choose the currency you want to use.

💡 Pro tip: Choose the destination country’s currency to avoid conversion fees.

Contents Type

Merchandise – Selling goods internationally? This is your option.

Samples – Only choose this for free items. Misdeclaring commercial items as samples can lead to penalties. More on shipping samples →

Documents – For non-sale items like passports. You can declare a value of R1.

5. Invoice and References 🧾

Invoice Number – Use your sales invoice number. Shopify users often use the Shopify order number.

Product Reference – Add any custom reference. If you have an IOSS number or other customs ID, drop it here so it shows on your waybill/invoice.
(Psst—we’re working on adding a dedicated field for these.)

6. Parcel Dimensions 📐

Enter the length, width, height, and actual weight of each parcel after packaging.

📦 Need tips on packaging? Check our packaging guide →

Click "Add Parcel" if you're sending more than one.

Make sure parcel weights and sizes are accurate to avoid rebills or penalties.

7. Declare Your Items 📃

Now list what’s inside your parcel:

Customs Description

Use a clear, specific description (e.g. “Mens Cotton t-shirts” instead of “Clothing”).
Tips on writing great customs descriptions →

HS Code

Once you enter a description, we’ll auto-generate an HS Code.
Copy and paste it into the HS Code field.

💡 Pro Tip: Always read the short description beneath the generated HS Code to confirm it accurately describes your product.

If it doesn’t sound right, try being more specific in your product description (e.g. “bovine leather handbag” instead of just “bag”) to get a better match.

Learn more about HS Codes →

Product Details

Weight – Must be less than or the same as total parcel weight

Value – Be honest; misdeclaring value is illegal, and can lead to fines for you or your client

Country of Origin – Where your product was made

⚠️ Shipping Consumables or Skincare Products?

If you’re shipping anything that can be eaten, ingested, or applied to the skin (think supplements, food, cosmetics, etc.), many destination countries will require extra documentation, like an MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) or product safety certificate.

📄 These docs are often mandatory for customs clearance.
❓Not sure if your product qualifies?

Check with us at support@tunl.to or Whatsapp and we’ll help you navigate the requirements.

👉 Read our helpdesk article on MSDS and required supporting docs →

8. Choose a Carrier 🚚

You’ll choose between:

FedEx / UPS Express – Door-to-door collection and delivery

TUNL Economy – Only for USA. You’ll send your parcel to us first.

Sending to us? Here’s how →

9. Optional Extras 🧳

Signature on Delivery

Add this if your parcel can’t be left unattended. Great for countries with higher theft risks.
[Learn about signature-on-receipt →]

Shipment Protection

Highly recommended for high-value items. It’s an affordable peace of mind, and if you don’t opt in, TUNL won’t cover losses.

See our shipment protection policy →

10. Incoterms (Customs Charges) 💰

Choose who pays customs:

DAP (Delivered at Place) – Your customer pays before delivery

DDP (Delivered Duties Paid) – You pay upfront at checkout

You’ll see an estimated breakdown of customs charges before booking.

[Incoterms explained →]

What affects customs fees? Learn about de minimis values →

11. Review & Confirm ✅

🚨 Final step: Check every detail before clicking “Buy Label”.
We can try to correct small errors (like address tweaks) after booking, but there’s often an extra charge - and no guarantees.

✅ Tick the box to confirm everything’s correct

🎉 Click Buy Label - and you’re done!

12. After Booking 🖨️

You’ll now see your booked shipment.

Download and print your waybill

Attach your waybill securely to your parcel

Commercial Invoices:

FedEx – No need to print

UPS – Print 3 copies to hand over to the driver. They do not need to be attached to your parcel.

Customs will use your commercial invoice to clear the shipment out of South Africa, and into the destination country.

Want TUNL Rates at Checkout? 🛍️

🚀 Selling on Shopify or WooCommerce?

You can display TUNL shipping rates directly at checkout so your customers know their international delivery options upfront.
👉 Check out this helpdesk article on our integration options, their differences and benefits →

🦸‍♀️ Have more questions? We're here to help!

WhatsApp us or email support@tunl.to for more information.

Updated on: 26/06/2025

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