First Time Using Send2Hub? Here's How It All Works
TL;DR: Register, get your UK address, shop any UK retailer, and your parcels arrive at our warehouse the same day they're delivered. From there you choose to ship straight away or consolidate with other purchases first. This guide walks through your first shipment from start to finish.
If this is your first time using a parcel forwarding service, the whole process can feel unfamiliar. It isn't complicated, but knowing what happens at each stage makes the first shipment much less confusing. Here's the full journey, from registration to delivery.
Step 1: Register and Get Your Address
Registration takes under two minutes. Once you verify your email, your personalised UK address at our warehouse in Stoke-on-Trent is ready immediately, complete with your own unique unit number. This is a real street address, not a PO Box, and it's yours to use with any UK retailer that delivers domestically. For the full detail on how the address itself works, see our guide to getting a UK delivery address.
Step 2: Shop as You Normally Would
Use your Send2Hub address at checkout exactly as you would your own home address, just remember to include your unique unit number in the address field, it's how incoming parcels get matched to your account. From here, shopping works the same as it always has, you're just checking out with a British address instead of your own. If a retailer doesn't accept your payment card, our Shop & Ship service can purchase items on your behalf.
Step 3: Your Parcel Arrives
When your parcel reaches our warehouse, it's automatically photographed, weighed and measured the same day. Parcels arriving before 14:00 GMT are typically processed the same working day, anything after that is usually processed the following morning. You'll see it appear in your account dashboard with a photo of the outer packaging, its weight and dimensions, so you know exactly what's arrived without having to ask.
Step 4: Decide What Happens Next
This is where first-time users often pause, unsure whether to ship immediately or wait. If you're only expecting one item, shipping straight away is usually simplest. If you're planning to order more over the coming days or weeks, it's often worth holding items in free storage and combining them into a single shipment later. Consolidating multiple parcels typically cuts your overall shipping cost by 40 to 60 percent compared with shipping each one separately, so for anyone ordering more than one item, it's almost always worth considering. Free storage runs 30 days on the Individual plan, 45 on Business, and 60 on Premium. Learn more on our parcel consolidation page.
Step 5: Ship When You're Ready
When you're ready to send your parcel or consolidated shipment onward, compare rates across Royal Mail, Parcelforce, UPS, DHL, FedEx and DPD using the shipping calculator. Costs and speed vary by carrier, so it's worth comparing rather than defaulting to the same one each time. Send2Hub prepares the customs documentation for your shipment as part of the process.
What to Expect With Customs
Most destinations charge some form of import duty or VAT, and the exact amount depends on your country, the value of your shipment and what's inside it. Use the customs duty estimator to get a sense of likely charges before you ship, so there are no surprises on arrival.
A Few Things You Can't Forward
Perfumes, aerosols and standalone batteries are among the most common items new users try to send that can't be accepted. Check the prohibited and restricted items page before ordering anything you're unsure about, it's a quick check that saves a delay later.
Common First-Time Mistakes
Leaving your unique unit number out of the delivery name field is the most common issue for new users, without it, incoming parcels can't be matched to your account automatically. Assuming a parcel from outside the UK can be forwarded is another frequent misunderstanding, Send2Hub only accepts parcels dispatched from within the UK, no exceptions. Shipping each item separately without checking whether consolidation would save money is a missed opportunity many first-time users make, it's always worth checking before committing to individual shipments. Underdeclaring the value of goods on customs paperwork should never be attempted, it's a legal offence and can cause real delays at your destination border.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to pay anything to register or receive parcels?
No. Registration is free, and there's no monthly fee on the Individual or Business plan. You only pay when you're ready to ship a parcel onward.
What happens if I forget to include my unit number at checkout?
Parcels without a unit number can be harder to match to your account and may take longer to process. Always double check it's included before completing a UK retailer's checkout.
Can I combine my first order with future purchases?
Yes. Hold your first parcel in free storage and consolidate it with anything else you order afterward, as long as it's within your plan's free storage period.
How do I know how much shipping will cost before I commit?
Use the shipping calculator at any point, it gives you live rates across all six carriers based on your parcel's actual weight and dimensions.
What if the retailer I want to shop from doesn't accept my payment card?
Our Shop & Ship service can purchase items on your behalf if a UK retailer doesn't accept your card or doesn't offer international checkout.
Ready to send your first parcel? Register free and get your UK address in under two minutes.