Released: February 25, 2019

Help Desk FAQ

Should I use a private shipping company to send goods or gifts?

Many newcomers in the U.S. use private international shipping companies to ship goods back to their home countries. One attractive feature of these small shippers is that they tend to charge less than larger companies like FedEx, UPS or DHL. The downside is that they are at higher risk of going out of business.

When a private shipping company fails, customers may find themselves not only out the money they paid to ship the goods, they also may lose the goods they tried to ship. 

Government regulation of these private international shippers is minimal to nonexistent. By comparison, if delivery problems or fraud occurs via the U.S. Postal Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service can provide assistance.

To avoid problems when sending packages overseas, use companies that have been in business for years and have a track record of delivering on time. You can check a company’s reputation and record of complaints through sites such as BBB.org (Better Business Bureau) or Yelp.com.