AT A GLANCE
Key points
- Describe each actual item, with its quantity and confirmed details, rather than relying on a broad category name.
- Keep purchase amounts and currencies traceable to the original records; do not substitute the spreadsheet's USD display estimate.
- Ask who prepares and submits the formal documents, and which requirements apply to the chosen destination and service.
Prepare the information behind your Lovegobuy parcel before submitting it for international delivery. The aim is to connect each actual item with its purchase record and the description supplied to the party handling shipping.
This guide covers documents and item information. The EU import-cost article answers the separate question of which charges a route includes.
Distinguish the records you hold
An order confirmation identifies what you bought. A packing list identifies the contents of a parcel. A carrier’s transport document identifies the shipment. These records can support one another without serving the same purpose.
DHL Express’s UK explanation distinguishes a commercial invoice from an air waybill: the invoice supplies goods and transaction information for customs, while the waybill records transport details.
Ask the agent which records you should provide and who creates the formal paperwork. The process for your parcel should determine your next action, rather than a form downloaded for an unrelated service.
Describe what is in the parcel
The same DHL guidance calls for descriptions identifying the item, its material and purpose. A general term such as “sample” does not supply those details.
Use information confirmed for the selected item. Do not infer fibre composition, origin or a classification code from its appearance. If the seller’s description is incomplete, request the missing information before passing it on as fact.
This editorial worksheet helps organize the inputs:
| Field | Record or check |
|---|---|
| Item | Specific product type and selected option |
| Material and use | Confirmed composition and intended purpose |
| Quantity | Number actually included in this parcel |
| Amount and currency | Purchase record and any explained adjustment |
| Source record | Order reference and original item listing |
| Origin or classification | Information requested by the responsible agent or carrier; identify anything unresolved |
The worksheet is a preparation aid, not an official declaration or a complete list of requirements for every destination.
Keep amounts tied to the purchase
Save the original order confirmation and payment record. If a discount, refund or changed quantity affects the purchase, retain the adjustment so the figures can be explained.
For a fictional example, a record might show two T-shirts at CNY 80 each, for a CNY 160 item subtotal. Keep the actual supporting record and any separately recorded delivery charge. These numbers illustrate organizing evidence; they are not recommended declaration values.
The approximate USD amount on this site’s product cards is a browsing reference. It is not proof of what you paid or the conversion required on a customs document.
Confirm the requirements for the service
DHL Express’s US document FAQ lists commodity information such as quantity, origin, weight and value, while explaining that required paperwork depends on the goods, destination and service.
Use that distinction when asking the agent about your parcel:
For [parcel reference], going to [destination] on [route], which item and purchase records do you need from me? Who prepares and submits the invoice or declaration? Please identify any missing product information and the official channel for sending supporting documents.
Confirm a request for sensitive records through a known official channel. The delivery-message verification guide covers unexpected links and payment requests.
Reconcile changes and keep a copy
Compare the final item list with the parcel after any removal, replacement or split. Tell the document preparer about a change so the records can be reconciled. Keep a dated copy of the information provided and the reply identifying anything still missing.
If asked for more information during clearance, respond to the specific request with the relevant record. An order screenshot, material description and payment record answer different questions; do not send unrelated documents in place of the requested evidence.
Document preparation also does not confirm transport eligibility. Use the shipping-restrictions checklist before committing goods to a service.
Common questions
Is a screenshot of the spreadsheet a customs invoice?
A directory screenshot records what was displayed during browsing. It does not replace the actual purchase record or establish that a formal shipping document meets the selected service's requirements.
Should I create the commercial invoice myself?
Confirm responsibility with the agent or carrier first. Your role may be to provide accurate purchase information while the relevant shipper prepares the formal document. Do not assume the same workflow for every route.
Can I use one fixed declaration amount per kilogram?
Parcel weight alone does not establish the transaction value of its contents. Retain the actual purchase records and ask the responsible party how to provide the information required for that shipment.
Sources & scope
Each source applies to the policy, payment method, service or destination described below. Check the current terms and the records for your own order, parcel or payment.
- DHL Express UK — customs clearance documents
Read on 27 October 2026. Explains invoices, air waybills and descriptions identifying the goods, materials and purpose. Used as a carrier example, not as instructions for a Lovegobuy account interface.
- DHL Express US — documents needed for shipping
Read on 27 October 2026. Lists commodity details and explains that paperwork varies with goods, destination, value and service. It does not establish a universal form or require every buyer to issue a commercial invoice.
Calculations, checklists and message templates identified as examples are editorial illustrations. Suggest a correction.