Use coupons
Coupons are the easiest way to cut shipping costs. The best ones come with your signup bonus.
- •Sign up through this link to secure your $605 signup bonus in shipping coupons — the best coupons you will get
- •Check the Coupon Guide for additional discount codes once your signup coupons are used up
- •On some occasions there are discounted items, great coupons, and even refunds on shipping. Always check the ACBuy Discord for the latest deals
Avoid major holidays
Shipping costs spike around major holidays. The most notable ones are Chinese New Year, Golden Week, and Christmas, but any large holiday period can cause delays and price increases. Logistics providers raise their rates and work with reduced staff during these periods.
If your items arrive at the warehouse around a major holiday, hold off on submitting your parcel until the holiday period is over. Submitting during peak periods can make your haul considerably more expensive than usual.
Understand volumetric weight
Most people overpay on shipping without realising it. For the majority of shipping lines, you are charged based on whichever is greater: the actual weight or the volumetric (dimensional) weight.
Volumetric weight formula (varies by line)
Volume weight = Length × Width × Height / 8000
Dimensions in cm, result in kg. The higher the divisor, the cheaper volumetric shipping is for you.
You can see the exact formula for any line by opening the shipping calculator and reading the description next to most routes. The divisor differs per line, so it is always worth comparing before you commit.
This catches many buyers off guard. For example, a pair of shoes weighing 1 kg physically can come out at 1.8 kg volumetric because the shoe box adds bulk without adding mass. Choosing to remove or fold packaging when submitting your parcel can significantly reduce your volumetric weight.
Euro DHL EC-PUREWEIGHT (EU only)
For most EU countries, ACBuy offers the Euro DHL Duty Free EC-PUREWEIGHT line. As the name suggests, this line charges based on actual weight only — volumetric weight does not apply.
The catch: it is only available for parcels up to 5 kg. If you have a lighter haul that would otherwise be penalised by high volumetric weight — bulky clothing, shoes with boxes, or similar — this line is worth checking before picking a route.
Always compare the EC-PUREWEIGHT rate against other available lines using the shipping estimator before committing.
Vacuum sealing
Vacuum sealing is one of the most effective ways to reduce volume, especially for soft or bulky items. You can request this through the agent remarks when submitting your parcel.
- •Puffer jackets, pillows, and similar items benefit the most — vacuum sealing can compress them to a fraction of their original volume
- •Regular clothing also benefits, with reduced volume and the added bonus of moisture protection during transit
- •Shoes need extra care. Make sure your shoes are crease-protected before sealing — or avoid vacuum sealing shoes altogether, as the pressure can crease the toe box and upper permanently
Tips to reduce volume
The agent remarks field when submitting your parcel is your most powerful tool. Be creative with it. A few examples of what you can ask:
- 01Ask the agent to place your socks or boxers inside the shoes instead of leaving the cardboard shoe tree inside. The shoe tree adds volume and contributes nothing to weight.
- 02If you are shipping a suitcase or large bag, ask the agent to fill it with the rest of your haul. This collapses the outer shell volume and consolidates everything efficiently.
- 03Think about how your items will be packed and where dead space exists. Use the remarks to request specific packing arrangements. Agents generally follow reasonable instructions.
Select Remove Packaging if you want to minimise costs as much as possible — original boxes are one of the biggest sources of wasted volume. Keep in mind that removing the box also removes a layer of protection.
As an alternative, you can remove the boxes but purchase bubble wrap through ACBuy and ask the agent in the remarks to wrap your items with a thin layer for added protection at much lower volume than keeping the original packaging.