Last updated: August 2026
This Shipping Rules & Acceptable Use Policy explains the rules that apply when using FLIPSHIP LTD, trading as FlipShip, to arrange or support shipments.
It is designed to help customers use FlipShip correctly and safely.
This Policy forms part of our Terms & Conditions and should also be read alongside our Prohibited & Restricted Goods Policy.
1. Who these rules apply to
These rules apply to all businesses using FlipShip services, including:
- Pay As You Go customers;
- FlipShip Membership customers;
- businesses using regulated-shipping support;
- businesses using non-regulated parcel services;
- businesses using B2C shipping support; and
- businesses using selected B2B or trade-shipping services.
Anyone preparing or submitting shipments through your FlipShip account must follow these rules.
You are responsible for ensuring that relevant employees, contractors, warehouses and fulfilment providers understand and follow them.
2. Use the correct shipping service
You must only use the shipping service that applies to the goods you are actually sending.
You must not:
- submit regulated goods as ordinary non-regulated parcels;
- use a service intended for a different product type;
- use an approval belonging to a different product;
- use an approval belonging to another business;
- use a label for a parcel other than the parcel for which it was created; or
- knowingly use an unsuitable courier service or route.
If you are unsure which service applies, contact FlipShip before arranging the shipment.
3. Products requiring prior review
Some products require review before they can be submitted through FlipShip.
These may include:
- safety matches;
- perfume and fragrance;
- reed diffusers;
- room sprays;
- aerosols;
- essential or fragrance oils;
- mixed gift sets;
- batteries or products containing batteries;
- other Dangerous Goods; and
- other products requiring special courier or transport checks.
Where prior review is required, you must not submit the product until FlipShip has confirmed that the relevant setup can be supported.
A product may be supportable through one courier, quantity or route but not another.
4. Follow the approved setup
Where FlipShip has reviewed a regulated or restricted product, you must ship it in accordance with the setup we have approved or confirmed.
Approval may relate to:
- the specific product;
- classification;
- formulation or contents;
- packaging;
- quantity per inner package;
- quantity per parcel;
- parcel weight;
- parcel dimensions;
- collection location;
- destination;
- courier service; and
- transport route.
You must not make a material change to an approved setup without telling FlipShip first.
5. Tell us when something changes
You must contact FlipShip before shipping if relevant information changes.
Examples include:
- product ingredients;
- product formulation;
- supplier or manufacturer;
- SDS or MSDS;
- transport classification;
- product size or volume;
- packaging;
- quantity;
- parcel weight;
- parcel dimensions;
- collection location;
- fulfilment location;
- destination; or
- intended shipping route.
An old approval should not be assumed to cover a changed product or shipping setup.
6. Accurate shipment information
All shipment information must be accurate.
This includes:
- sender details;
- collection address;
- recipient name;
- delivery address;
- postcode;
- telephone number where required;
- email address where required;
- parcel count;
- parcel weight;
- parcel dimensions;
- product description;
- quantities; and
- any customs information.
Do not deliberately estimate down parcel weights or dimensions to obtain a cheaper shipping rate.
If incorrect information results in a courier adjustment, surcharge or additional handling charge, that cost may be passed on to you.
7. Parcel preparation
You are responsible for ensuring that parcels are suitable for transport.
Goods should be:
- securely packed;
- protected against normal handling;
- prevented from moving excessively inside the outer packaging;
- protected against leakage or accidental opening;
- packed in suitable outer packaging;
- sealed properly; and
- prepared in accordance with any product-specific instructions supplied by FlipShip.
Do not submit:
- leaking parcels;
- damaged packaging;
- open or inadequately sealed cartons;
- parcels that are unstable or unsafe to handle;
- parcels exceeding an approved weight or size; or
- regulated goods packed differently from the setup reviewed by FlipShip.
8. Labels, marks and documentation
Shipping labels must be:
- printed clearly;
- attached securely;
- applied to the correct parcel;
- fully visible; and
- not obscured by tape or other labels where this affects readability.
Where regulated shipping requires additional marks, labels or documents, you must follow the instructions supplied for that shipment.
You must not:
- alter a shipping label;
- change shipment information after a label has been created without arranging the appropriate correction;
- reuse a label;
- photocopy a label for another parcel;
- use a cancelled label;
- place the same label on multiple parcels; or
- remove or obscure required regulated-shipping marks.
Dangerous-goods classification affects packaging, marking and labelling obligations, so these requirements should be followed exactly rather than treated as optional presentation choices.
9. Limited Quantity and other regulated shipments
A product qualifying for Limited Quantity or another regulatory relief is still a regulated product.
You must not assume that this means it can be shipped through any ordinary parcel service.
For example, UK guidance notes that Limited Quantity provisions reduce some requirements but still impose packaging and marking rules, and eligibility depends on the specific dangerous goods entry and quantity.
Where FlipShip confirms a Limited Quantity, Excepted Quantity or other regulated setup, you must follow the particular instructions provided for that service.
10. Different routes may have different rules
An approved road-shipping setup does not automatically mean the same product can travel by sea or air.
Different transport requirements apply to road, sea and air dangerous-goods movements.
This is particularly relevant for:
- island destinations;
- offshore destinations;
- ferry routes;
- international shipments;
- urgent air services; and
- routes involving more than one mode of transport.
Do not change the intended route or transport service without checking with FlipShip where the product is regulated.
11. Collection addresses
Shipments must only be collected from locations suitable for the service being used.
Where FlipShip has approved a particular collection or fulfilment address for regulated shipping, you must not move fulfilment to another location without telling us.
This may include moving fulfilment:
- to another shop;
- to another warehouse;
- to a third-party fulfilment provider;
- to a home address; or
- to a different business premises.
We may need to review the new setup before regulated shipping can continue.
12. Delivery destinations
You must use FlipShip services only for destinations supported by the selected service.
UK Mainland may be supported as standard for approved products and services.
Destinations such as:
- Northern Ireland;
- Isle of Man;
- Channel Islands;
- Isle of Wight;
- Scottish Highlands;
- Scottish Islands;
- other offshore or island locations; and
- international destinations
may require separate review.
This is particularly important for regulated products because ferry, sea and air movements may trigger additional requirements.
13. Mixed parcels and gift sets
You must tell FlipShip about everything contained in a parcel where the contents are relevant to the shipping review.
Do not hide a restricted or regulated item inside a mixed parcel.
If you sell a gift set, hamper or mixed-product box, you must provide information about the complete contents where requested.
Approval of one product does not automatically mean that every combination containing that product is approved.
14. Prohibited behaviour
You must not:
- knowingly ship prohibited goods;
- deliberately misdeclare a regulated product;
- conceal a restricted product;
- provide false product documentation;
- knowingly provide an incorrect classification;
- use an approval for a different product;
- use another customer's FlipShip account;
- allow another business to use your FlipShip account without permission;
- transfer or resell FlipShip shipping labels;
- share protected courier-account information;
- manipulate weights, dimensions or parcel information;
- interfere with shipping documentation;
- impersonate FlipShip when speaking to a courier; or
- attempt to bypass a courier, safety or compliance restriction.
More information about goods we will not support is available in our Prohibited & Restricted Goods Policy.
15. Courier rules still apply
FlipShip support does not remove the courier's right to apply its own:
- prohibited-goods rules;
- restricted-goods requirements;
- packaging rules;
- size and weight restrictions;
- service conditions;
- surcharges; or
- operational requirements.
Courier rules and service availability can change.
A courier may refuse, delay, return or hold a parcel if it does not meet its requirements.
Where this happens, FlipShip will provide reasonable support, but courier acceptance cannot be guaranteed.
16. Collections
You are responsible for having parcels ready when a collection has been booked.
Unless otherwise agreed, parcels should be:
- fully packed;
- sealed;
- correctly labelled;
- accessible to the driver; and
- ready within the expected collection window.
Repeated failed collections caused by parcels not being ready, incorrect collection information or customer unavailability may result in additional courier charges.
17. Failed deliveries and returns
You should provide accurate recipient information and, where appropriate, ensure the recipient is expecting the shipment.
Courier procedures may apply where:
- nobody is available to accept delivery;
- the address is incorrect;
- delivery is refused;
- access is unavailable;
- a shipment cannot be delivered; or
- the courier determines that the parcel cannot continue through its network.
Return, redelivery or other courier charges may be passed on to you where applicable.
18. Courier adjustments and surcharges
Courier pricing can be adjusted after a parcel has entered the network.
Additional charges may arise from matters such as:
- incorrect weights;
- incorrect dimensions;
- oversized parcels;
- remote destinations;
- offshore destinations;
- address corrections;
- additional handling;
- failed collection;
- returns;
- relabelling;
- storage;
- customs activity; or
- other courier-assessed surcharges.
Where a valid courier charge relates to your shipment, FlipShip may invoice or collect it after the original shipment was booked.
19. Customs information
Where international shipping is supported, you must provide accurate information required for customs purposes.
This may include:
- product description;
- quantity;
- value;
- commodity code;
- country of origin;
- recipient information; and
- other import or export information.
You must not deliberately undervalue goods or provide false customs information.
Customs authorities may delay, inspect, refuse or assess charges on shipments independently of FlipShip.
20. Incidents and damaged regulated parcels
If you become aware of a safety-related problem involving a regulated shipment, contact FlipShip promptly.
Examples include:
- leakage;
- fire;
- significant damage;
- accidental release;
- incorrect regulated-goods labelling;
- a parcel containing the wrong product; or
- notification from a courier concerning a Dangerous Goods issue.
Do not knowingly resend a damaged or unsafe regulated parcel without reviewing the situation first.
Certain dangerous-goods incidents can have formal reporting requirements depending on the transport mode, type of incident and quantities involved.
21. Account security
You are responsible for keeping your FlipShip account secure.
You should:
- use appropriate passwords;
- restrict access to authorised staff;
- remove access when a member of staff leaves or no longer requires it;
- protect any shipping credentials supplied to you; and
- tell us promptly if you suspect unauthorised access.
You must not knowingly allow another independent business to use your account without FlipShip's permission.
22. Reasonable use of support
FlipShip provides support to help customers use the service correctly.
We expect customers to communicate with our team reasonably and professionally.
You must not use our support channels to:
- harass or threaten staff;
- deliberately provide false information;
- repeatedly attempt to bypass a decision or restriction using different information;
- request assistance with unlawful shipments; or
- knowingly ask us to misrepresent information to a courier or authority.
We may restrict support where our staff are subject to abusive, threatening or fraudulent behaviour.
23. If these rules are breached
If we reasonably believe these rules have been breached, FlipShip may:
- request further information;
- require a product or setup to be reviewed again;
- refuse a shipment;
- cancel a shipping label where possible;
- pause shipment processing;
- restrict account features;
- suspend your account;
- terminate services;
- refuse future regulated-shipping support;
- recover applicable additional costs; or
- notify a courier or relevant authority where necessary.
Immediate action may be taken where there is a safety, legal, fraud or courier-account risk.
24. Costs caused by misuse
You are responsible for reasonable charges and costs properly arising from your:
- unauthorised shipment;
- deliberate misdeclaration;
- incorrect parcel information;
- prohibited goods;
- failure to follow an approved setup; or
- other breach of these shipping rules.
This may include applicable:
- courier charges;
- return charges;
- storage charges;
- disposal charges;
- relabelling costs;
- surcharges; and
- reasonable additional administration costs.
This does not affect any liability provisions contained in our Terms & Conditions.
25. Relationship with our other policies
This Shipping Rules & Acceptable Use Policy should be read alongside our:
- Terms & Conditions;
- Prohibited & Restricted Goods Policy;
- Privacy Policy; and
- any product-specific or shipping-specific instructions we provide to you.
If this Policy conflicts with our Terms & Conditions, the Terms & Conditions take priority unless we expressly agree otherwise in writing.
Where FlipShip has given you specific written instructions for an approved regulated shipping setup, those instructions should be followed for that setup.
26. Changes to these rules
We may update these rules from time to time to reflect changes to:
- FlipShip services;
- courier requirements;
- shipping routes;
- product restrictions;
- transport requirements;
- technology; or
- operational processes.
The latest version will be published on our website.
The Last updated date will show when the Policy was most recently revised.
Where a change materially affects an active shipping setup, we will take reasonable steps to notify affected customers where appropriate.
27. Need help before shipping?
If you are unsure whether a product, parcel, quantity or destination can be supported, do not guess.
For a product that has not yet been reviewed, submit a Free Product Review.
For an existing approved setup or shipment question, contact us before sending the parcel.
28. Contact us
For questions about these Shipping Rules, contact:
FLIPSHIP LTD
Trading as:
FlipShip
Company number:
17372844
Registered office:
4 Swallow Close
Milford
Godalming
England
GU8 5DJ
Email:
info@flip-ship.com
Website:
www.flip-ship.com