Frequently Asked Questions

Through the grouped purchasing power of our customers, GMS has been able to negotiate deeply discounted rates which we can then pass along to our customers. Our website software accesses DHL's software in a seamless way to allow our members the opportunity to ship their packages from home through DHL™. The best part is it will be picked up at your doorstep!

Our chosen shipping carrier is DHL™. They will be the ones picking up and handling your packages from door to door.

You could, but because of our grouped purchasing power we are able to negotiate heavily discounted rates and pass on the savings to our customers. As a single shipper, it would be difficult for you to achieve these rates yourself. Take for example DELL™ and IBM™ who are shipping partners with DHL™. They spend millions of dollars a year shipping packages and therefore get heavily discounted rates with DHL™. Most businesses and individuals can't ship the volume that companies like DELL™ or IBM™ do, but by partnering Global Mission Shipping and with an authorized reseller of DHL™, you become part of our base that allows us to get those heavily discounted rates with the carriers that large companies like DELL™ and IBM™ do and we pass along the savings to you.

Yes. Because of our group purchasing power and partnership with DHL™ we are able to negotiate deeply discounted rates that almost all business cannot achieve on their own. 99 out of 100 times we can save our customers 10% to 40% or more over their existing FedEx™ or UPS™ rates.

You could start shipping through GMS as soon as today.

We require payment in the form of a major credit card such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.

When filling out the shipping questionnaire, you will be asked what the value of the items being sent is. We suggest you be as conservative on this figure as possible but give a general description of items being sent. Most very low value items being shipping to missionaries may pass through customs without having to pay any duties and taxes (see FAQ describing the gift allowances to each Country). However, if you put a higher dollar figure on or ship a higher dollar item then duties and taxes could very well be required. If this is the case, these duties and taxes will have to be paid by the recipient, this is just a necessary evil of international shipping. Please try not to send or ship high value items as the higher the value the more Duties and Taxes will be incurred.

For a list of these items, please click on this link.

It is a necessary part of shipping internationally. The "shipper" is you, and the "Consignee" is the missionary. This document is used to help customs know what is being sent and brought into the country of destination. This is why they need a brief description of the items and the approximate value of those items. It is best to be honest with your stated values. You can group like items together (ie: cookies, crackers and granola bars can all be listed as snacks).

With shipping packages internationally, space on the airplanes is very valuable. Most shipping companies charge a shipment based on the higher of the actual weight or the dimensional weight of a package. They go by the actual weight unless the package is large in relation to how heavy it is. To determine the dimensional weight of an International package simply multiply length x width x height of the package and then divide the number by 139. For example: 12" x 12" x 12" (box or package) = 1728/139=12.43 or rounding up to 13 (lbs.). So, if your item weighed more than 13 lbs., you will be charged for the actual weight shipped, however if it weighed less, then you will be charged for the 13 lbs. dimensional weight. Hint: You can save money if you ship a fairly light item in as small of a package as possible.

At the end of the online process, you will print up all the documents. Be sure to sign and date the Commercial Invoice (both copies) and then look up the closest DHL authorized shipping center (DASC) which can be found by clicking here or by going to: http://sbw.dhl-usa.com/Locations/USLocnsStart.asp?nav=DropOff or by simply calling DHL at 1-800-225-5345 and asking the representative where the closest drop off facility is. Do not attach the documents to the package, but instead take all the documents and the package to this facility and they will attach them to the package.

If you don't mind your parcel getting to its destination in a month or two, or to be "held up in customs", or to be held up somewhere, and perhaps never reach its destination, then we suggest you use the U.S. Postal Service. They do a fairly good job within the U.S. However, because they have to contract with the lowest bidding shipping contractor, there are never any guarantees that it will be there when you expect or to be able to track or trace where it is. If you have never lost a package you have spent a lot of time and effort putting together using the US Postal service abroad, consider yourself lucky.
In choosing DHL™, the #1 Express shipping company in the world, we are able to track and trace each package, and know that it will get to its destination well under a week and most of the time within 2 to 3 days. The price you pay for this service is far less than UPS™ or FedEx™ and most of the time less than the U.S. Postal service's Express Mail package service.
Also, DHL™ is not considered a U.S. company. Its headquarters are in Bonn Germany. Because of this, they are welcome in over 225 countries all over the world with open arms. They have over 170 countries with in-house Customs Brokers (more than any other carrier) that enable packages to be cleared through Customs while in the air, thus allowing them to deliver packages in such a quick time frame.

While this particular website and concept is tied to shipping to loved ones and missionaries all over the world (Internationally only), we won't be able to ship your companies items using this website or portal. HOWEVER, we are associated with a company that can offer DEEP discounts based on their grouped buying power. We can't guarantee it but 99 times out of 100 we can get your company huge savings in shipping internationally (Import and Export) as well as Domestic heavy freight such as Truckload and Less Than Truck Load freight (Over the road). Please click on this link to fill out a quick form and submit and we will have a representative contact you within 48 hours.

The easiest way to get an answer to a question is to click on the text that reads "Contact Us" in the bottom right-hand corner of our website. Simply submit your request, and one of our customer service representatives will respond within 24-48 hrs. If you have a question during the business hours of 8am until 5:00pm (Mountain Standard Time) feel free to give us a call at 702-720-1515. If we can't answer, please leave a message and we'll return your call as soon as we can. Email us also at info@globalmissionshipping.com

Over the past couple of years we've heard this several times. We've even gone so far as to talk to a few Mission Presidents and ask them why they are passing on this info. Many state that it was in an old memo that was distributed many years ago but has just continued to be passed out. Each of them told us that they just didn't have the time or really a reason to question it so it keeps getting passed out. Most people in the Church don't know that the Church is actually one of DHL's largest customers in the US. and is THE largest customer in the state of Utah. So, if the Church puts that much trust in DHL than why on earth wouldn't you? Finally, it is false that shipping USPS enables the recipient to pay any duties or taxes. In many countries, with USPS shipments, the Customs officials will inspect the package and declare a higher dollar amount and then require duties and taxes to be paid at the local post office before the missionary can pick up the package. It is true though that many USPS shipments do make it without extra duties and tax fees.

DHL requires both a general description of items being sent (what's in the package) as well as a line itemization of each thing. Why? They want to know what is being shipped to make sure that it is both permissible by law as well as something that will not harm their couriers, planes, stations, etc. If you are too vague on your description or have the package wrapped in Christmas or birthday paper, please know that DHL will physically inspect each package before they ship it out. You will be notified if the items that are actually being shipped don't match up with the written description. We are sorry for any inconvenience. Check out the items that are restricted to ship in the above FAQ.

Absolutely, while we are geared towards missionaries we can also ship your care packages to anyone you know living or working in a different country, this also includes service men and women working abroad. We would love to assist you too.

Yes! Send us an email with the shipment specifics (package weight and dimensions) and we can give you a quote. If agreeable, we can facilitate the shipping documents, send them to you or them and schedule a pickup or have the shipping person drop it off at the nearest DHL shipping facility. It's that easy! No more lugging around souvenirs or valuables from overseas for 2 yrs! Send it home! Packages containing items valued at under $200.00 coming into the U.S. are DUTY FREE!

We have great news! You no longer need to look up the address or worry that it is correct. Just start typing the name of the mission and the mission address will pop up for you to select. All you have to do is put the name of your missionary in!

We recommend going to the site: www.dutycalculator.com and filling out the information specific to your shipment. This will give you an idea of what if any duties or taxes would be due upon shipment receipt to the receiver of your package.

Yes, click here or copy and paste this to your browser: http://www.globalmissionshipping.com/BannedItems.php

Yes, click here or copy and paste this to your browser: http://www.globalmissionshipping.com/BannedItems.php Most countries have a gift allowance that if the package was under, it won't be subject to duties or taxes. Please note that these values could be subject to change as countries Import laws can change at any time. We have tried our best to give you the best and most up to date information possible. We can't be held liable if in case duties and taxes are charged.