🌍 Shipping Free or $0 Items Internationally — Why You’ll Need a Dollar Value
Last updated April 22, 2025
When shipping internationally through Parsel, every item in your order must have a dollar value — even if it’s a replacement, free gift, giveaway, or promotional item. This is because customs authorities require a declared value for all imported goods in order to apply the appropriate taxes or duties.
If an item is listed as $0.00, you will not be able to purchase an international label through Parsel, since a valid customs form can’t be generated without a value.
🚨 Why Can’t the Price Be $0.00?
Customs officials need to assign a taxable value to every item entering their country — even if it was given away for free.
Without a declared value:
- The shipping label cannot be purchased.
- The customs form will not generate properly.
- Your shipment may be rejected, held, or delayed.
✅ How to Handle Free Items on International Orders
If you're offering free or promotional items internationally, here’s how to properly set up your orders:
Option 1: Use a Coupon/Discount Approach
- Set the product price in Shopify to a real dollar value (e.g., $20).
- Apply a discount code or automatic discount to the transaction to make the total free or reduced for the customer.
- This keeps the item’s value for customs but still offers a free or discounted experience for the customer.
Option 2: Adjust the Order Before Shipping If you already have a $0 order that needs shipping:
- Place the order on hold in Shopify.
- Update the product price in Shopify to reflect a dollar value (minimum of $1 recommended).
- Remove the hold from the order.
- Return to Parsel and generate the label as normal — the new value will be pulled through automatically.
📝 Example Scenarios
| Scenario | Can You Ship Internationally? | What to Do |
| Item price is $0.00 | ❌ No | Update item price to at least $1 |
| Item is $20, but customer gets a $20 discount | ✅ Yes | Use a Shopify discount or coupon |
| Domestic order with $0 price | ✅ Yes | No issues for domestic orders |
⚠️ Important Note:
Even if you sell or give away an item for free, customs requires its fair market value to be declared for tax and duty assessment.
You are responsible for providing a reasonable estimated value.
📌 Summary
To successfully ship international orders:
- Never leave a product price at $0.00 for international shipments.
- Set a value in Shopify (at least $1) and apply a discount if needed.
- Update any existing $0 orders by adjusting the price before fulfilling them in Parsel.
If you have any questions about international shipping requirements or need help updating your orders, feel free to contact our Parsel support team — we’re here to help! 🌟