The short version
Orders ship from our warehouse in China. Small parcels go by express courier and arrive in roughly one to two weeks; larger or heavier orders go by cargo and take several weeks. Import duties and taxes in your country are paid by you, the buyer. Batteries travel under lithium battery rules, which limit the courier options and the quantity per parcel. Nothing on this page is a promise of a delivery date; it is what usually happens, written so you can plan.
Courier or cargo
| Express courier | Cargo (air or sea freight) | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical use | Parcels up to about 20 kg, urgent parts, first orders | Bulk screens, housings, tools, mixed pallets |
| Transit | Roughly 5 to 12 working days door to door, plus customs | Air freight 2 to 4 weeks; sea freight 5 to 10 weeks, port to port, plus local delivery |
| Customs | Courier clears on your behalf and bills duties and a brokerage fee on delivery | You or your forwarder clear the shipment; commercial invoice and packing list required |
| Cost | Per kg, high | Per kg, much lower above roughly 20 to 30 kg |
| Tracking | Door to door | Milestone tracking; last mile through the forwarder |
| Batteries | Limited quantity per parcel; some destinations not served | Possible with dangerous goods paperwork on cargo lines that accept them |
A simple rule that works for most shops: under 15 kg use courier; over 30 kg use cargo; in between, ask us for both quotes. A mixed order can be split, with the urgent screens by courier and the tools and housings by cargo.
Customs and duties
- We ship with a commercial invoice that lists each item, its quantity and its value. We do not under-declare. A parcel seized for a false declaration costs both of us more than the duty.
- Duties and VAT or sales tax are set by your country and charged to you. Rates for phone parts vary from zero to over 20 percent; your local customs tariff is the source of truth.
- Couriers charge a brokerage or disbursement fee for clearing the parcel. It is usually a fixed amount or a percentage of the duty and is billed before delivery.
- Regular importers can hold an importer number or use a forwarder who clears cargo in bulk; for monthly volumes this is cheaper than per-parcel brokerage.
- Some countries require a specific document for lithium batteries or for used electronics (Original pulled screens count as used goods in some tariffs). Check before ordering if you are unsure, or ask us for the HS codes we use.
Lithium batteries
Phone batteries are regulated as dangerous goods in transport. The practical effects:
- Batteries shipped on their own (not inside equipment) move under UN3480 rules, with a state of charge limit of 30 percent, special labelling and a limit on the number of cells or packs per parcel. That is why a battery arrives partly charged and why a large battery order is split into several parcels or sent by cargo.
- Not every courier accepts stand-alone batteries to every country. If a destination is not served, we tell you before shipping and suggest an alternative route.
- Swollen or damaged batteries cannot be returned by post. Dispose of them locally through battery recycling.
- Bare cells and cells with a tag-on flex count as batteries. Battery flex cables and testers do not.
Battery listings under iPhone Parts and MacBook Batteries state the shipping restriction where one applies.
Consolidation
If you order several times in a week, we can hold the parcels and send them as one shipment: fewer brokerage fees, one tracking number, better per-kg rate. Tell us at checkout or by message, and give us a cut-off date. Parts from your order and parts you buy elsewhere in China can be consolidated by your forwarder; we deliver to any forwarder address in Shenzhen or Guangzhou.
Packaging
- Screens travel in individual foam or plastic trays, stacked in a rigid box with corner protection. iPad assemblies and large back housings go in double boxes.
- Batteries are packed with insulated terminals and a dangerous goods label on the outer box.
- Glass with OCA and frames are shipped flat in trays, never loose.
- Tools and equipment in the manufacturer’s box inside an outer carton.
Open the parcel on camera if the box is damaged. A claim with a photo of the outer box and the part is settled quickly; a claim without one is a discussion.
Realistic timelines
| Stage | Usual time | What can extend it |
|---|---|---|
| Processing and testing | 1 to 3 working days | Items reserved from a partner warehouse; batteries (extra packing) |
| Courier transit | 5 to 12 working days | Chinese public holidays (Chinese New Year, National Day week), weather, flight capacity in peak season |
| Customs | 0 to 5 working days | Random inspection, missing importer details, duty payment pending |
| Cargo | 2 to 10 weeks depending on mode | Port congestion, consolidation wait at the forwarder |
Chinese New Year deserves its own line: for about two weeks in late January or February, factories and most logistics stop. Order before mid-January if you need stock in February.
Tracking and contact
Every shipment has a tracking number sent by email when it leaves. If tracking stops moving for more than five working days, write to us; we open a trace with the carrier. For cargo we send the forwarder’s reference and the expected arrival window.
FAQ
Do your prices include duties?
No. Prices are for the goods and, where selected, shipping. Duties, taxes and brokerage are charged in your country and paid by you.
Can you mark the parcel as a gift or a lower value?
No. We declare the real value and item description on every shipment.
How many batteries can go in one courier parcel?
It depends on the courier and the destination. We pack to the limit that applies and split the rest; the order confirmation shows how many parcels to expect.
Which is cheaper for 50 screens?
Fifty iPhone screens weigh under 10 kg with packaging; courier is usually quicker and not much more expensive. Add housings or tools and cargo starts to win.
What happens if a parcel is lost?
We open a claim with the carrier and, once the loss is confirmed, resend or refund. We do not ask you to wait for the carrier’s internal process beyond the trace period.