How to Ship an Item
You are sending the item for evaluation at the showroom.
Now it’s time to pack and send your dress safely:
1. Use a sturdy box
There are cardboard boxes of various sizes that can be purchased at office supply stores or post offices. Make sure the box is large enough to fit the item. If it’s too small, it may damage any details or crush the item.
Example: The box you used to store a wedding dress may be too large for shipping or for economical delivery. Check the sizes accepted by the post office or courier service. A typical wedding dress fits in a 43x30x14 cm box.
2. Wrap or fold the item carefully
Place protective material around the item inside the box.
Examples: Accessories should be packed individually and protected with paper or plastic. For a wedding dress, place a sheet of tissue paper on a table and lay the dress on top. White, acid-free tissue paper or muslin is ideal. Regular tissue paper contains acid that can damage the dress. Alternatively, use a transparent plastic bag, for example, the one from the dry cleaners where you had your dress professionally cleaned.
Dresses with jewelry or embellishments
Fold carefully, placing tissue paper between each layer. This is especially important for dresses with decorations such as beads, sequins, rhinestones, etc. Tissue paper also prevents delicate fabrics (especially tulle or lace) from snagging.
3. Place everything in a plastic bag
Put the folded dress or item with tissue paper inside a plastic bag (for example, the one from your dry cleaner) and fold the opening. This will help protect it in the unlikely event the box gets wet or damaged by liquids.
Although plastic is not recommended for long-term storage, it is safe for transport.
4. Seal with tape
Use strong packing tape to seal the box. You may need to reinforce the openings by taping over them multiple times. If you have a shipping label, attach it to the box and cover it with tape.
Make sure to remove any existing labels on the box—you don’t want your dress sent to the wrong destination!
5. Mark the box as “FRAGILE”
This ensures delivery personnel handle it with care.
6. Weight
How to weigh your item at home:
An average dress weighs around 5 kg, but this depends on the item and box.
– Use a bathroom scale and note your weight.
– Now weigh yourself holding the item close to your body and note the weight.
– Subtract your first weight from the second weight to get the final weight of the item.
– Round the weight and include the packaging weight when estimating shipping costs.
– Alternatively, use a post office scale or a handheld scale.
7. Customs-related fees
If you are shipping from outside Portugal, any customs fees or taxes charged to Bridal Stories are the responsibility of the seller.
These fees do not apply to domestic shipments (within Portugal or the EU).
Import duties may be applied when an order arrives from a country outside the EU, even on second-hand items. Imports may be subject to taxes and charges, such as sales tax and customs service fees.
It is important to understand that these fees are the seller’s responsibility and must be paid to Bridal Stories before the item can be evaluated in person.
If it is possible to pay the fees in advance, please choose this option for a faster process.
8. Correct shipping method
Using the correct shipping method keeps everyone safe during transit.
Make sure to use a service that includes:
– Door-to-door tracking that can be viewed online with a code;
– Or signature upon delivery;
– Insurance coverage for the total value of the sale.
Recommendations: Simulate shipments via CTT Expresso or compare options at Eurosender.
We have no partnership with these companies and are not responsible for any shipments. They are listed for reference only.
Tracking
Sharing tracking details helps keep you and Bridal Stories informed of the shipment’s location and prevents premature refund requests. Tracking information is now standard practice.
It ensures everyone involved knows where the package is during delivery and is useful in rare cases of lost shipments.
Insurance
It may be tempting to skip insurance, but without it, both parties risk losing the item or payment.
In the unlikely event that the shipment is lost or heavily damaged, insurance covers the cost of the item. The seller receives insurance payment and is reimbursed. Check the conditions with each carrier.
9. General Conditions
Pay attention to:
– Sellers are responsible for safely shipping the item, charging the correct shipping type, and providing a door-to-door tracking code;
Seller obligations:
– Pay for shipping;
– Ship to the correct address when paying for shipping;
– Pay any extra fees or customs charges;
– Provide a door-to-door tracking code that can be viewed online.
Not allowed:
– Changing the shipping address after payment;
– Requesting to mark the item as lower value or as a “gift” to avoid insurance or fees;
– Refusing to pay customs fees. This may result in the item being returned or, in some cases, loss of both payment and item.
