Kakobuy shipping, before you commit
Freight is the part of a haul nobody budgets for. Two parcels of the same value can differ by 60% in shipping because one is mostly air. Put your dimensions in, pick a line, and watch the number move.
These are planning defaults, not Kakobuy quotes. Kakobuy prices each parcel live at checkout, by charged weight, line, destination and current fuel/surcharge rules. Always re-read the number you see in your own order before paying.
Line rates used by this model
Editable defaults for planning. Treat them as a shape, not a quote.
| Line | Base | Per kg | Transit | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy air (consolidated) Slowest, cheapest. Good for clothes and anything you are not in a hurry for. |
8.4 | 12.5 | 18–30 days | cheapest no batteries |
| Standard air (tracked) The default choice for a first haul: tracking, reasonable speed, no premium. |
10.9 | 16 | 10–18 days | tracked most parcels |
| Express courier (DHL/FedEx class) Fast and predictable, but volumetric weight is charged at 5000 and customs is stricter. |
15.5 | 24 | 5–9 days | fastest customs-friendly paperwork |
| Sensitive-goods air For branded goods, cosmetics and anything a standard line refuses. |
13.2 | 19.5 | 12–22 days | branded restricted items |
The three numbers that decide your bill
- Charged weight. Whatever is higher: the scale or the volume. Everything else is downstream of this.
- Divisor. 6000 on economy and standard, 5000 on express couriers. A 24,000 cm³ parcel is 4.0 kg on one and 4.8 kg on the other.
- Declared value. Drives VAT, duty and insurance. Declaring low to save tax is the fastest way to lose a parcel with no recourse.
What people get wrong
- Measuring the item, not the parcel. Packed volume is what ships. Add 3–5 cm per dimension for padding.
- Ignoring consolidation. Three separate parcels pay three base fees. One consolidated parcel pays one.
- Shipping air. Puffers, caps and bags are volumetric. Ask for compression where it will not ruin the shape.
- Choosing express for a heavy haul. Express bills volume at 5000 and charges more per kilo. It is for urgency, not for value.
Parcel fillers that change the maths
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Shipping questions, answered plainly
How does Kakobuy calculate shipping?
By charged weight: the higher of the scale weight and the volumetric weight (length × width × height ÷ divisor). The divisor depends on the line — usually 6000 for economy and standard air, 5000 for express couriers. Multiply the billed kilos by the line rate, add the first-kilo base and any handling, then customs on top.
Why did my 900 g jacket bill at 4 kg?
Because a puffer is mostly air. A 40 × 30 × 20 cm parcel is 24,000 cm³; divided by 6000 that is 4 kg volumetric, which beats the 0.9 kg on the scale. Compress the item, ask the warehouse to vacuum-pack where possible, and the bill drops.
Does removing the shoebox really help?
It is the single biggest lever on a shoe haul. A boxed pair typically adds 250–350 g and a lot of empty volume. Remove it and you are billed on the shoe, not on cardboard. The trade-off is protection — ask for the shoes to be wrapped.
Are these numbers what Kakobuy will charge me?
No. This is a planning model with editable default rates. Kakobuy prices each parcel live, by line, destination and current surcharges. Use the estimate to compare lines and to sanity-check a quote, then read the real figure at checkout.
When should I pay for a rehearsal?
On your first haul, and any time the parcel is above 5 kg or contains something bulky. A rehearsal packs and weighs the parcel before you commit to a line, which turns a guess into a number.
What about customs and VAT?
Assume VAT from the first euro in the EU and the UK, and assume a courier handling fee on top. Kakobuy sells duty-inclusive lines for some destinations, but no agent can promise a parcel clears. Budget the tax, and treat any "tax-free" claim as a line characteristic, not a guarantee.