Packlink tracking

What is Packlink?

Packlink is an online shipping comparison and booking platform founded in Madrid, Spain, in 2011. Rather than operating its own fleet or delivery infrastructure, the company works as an intermediary between senders and carriers. It has negotiated bulk rate agreements with more than 80 carrier partners globally and makes those discounted rates available through a unified online interface to individuals, small businesses, and e-commerce merchants. The platform covers over 300 distinct shipping services across its five active European markets.

The company was co-founded by Ben Askew-Renaut, who serves as CEO, and Javier Bravo. Askew-Renaut had previously founded and sold a food distribution business before identifying a structural gap in the European shipping market. Individual senders and small businesses were paying full retail rates with no practical way to compare carrier options, while large companies with volume agreements benefited from significantly lower prices. Packlink was built to close that gap by pooling demand across its user base and passing on wholesale rates.

The company launched first in Spain and quickly became the country's largest shipping marketplace. From there, Packlink expanded into Italy, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom over the following years, building localized platform versions and carrier partnerships in each market. To fund this expansion, Packlink raised several rounds of venture capital, including a Series B of $9 million in June 2014 led by Accel Partners and a Series C of $12.6 million in September 2015 led by Eight Roads Ventures. Total pre-acquisition funding reached approximately $21 to $25 million.

On December 20, 2021, Packlink was acquired by Auctane, a US-based shipping software group previously known as Stamps.com and backed by private equity firm Thoma Bravo. Auctane's portfolio also includes ShipStation, ShipEngine, MetaPack, Endicia, and ShippingEasy, among others. At the time of the acquisition, Packlink described itself as Europe's leading multi-carrier SMB shipping company and served well over 200,000 online merchants across Europe through its Packlink PRO product.

• Founded: 2011, in Madrid, Spain
• Co-founders: Ben Askew-Renaut (CEO) and Javier Bravo
• Headquarters: Madrid, Spain
• Parent company: Auctane, acquired on December 20, 2021, backed by private equity firm Thoma Bravo
• Carrier partners: More than 80 carriers globally, covering over 300 shipping services
• Key investors (pre-acquisition): Accel Partners, Eight Roads Ventures, Active Venture Partners, and 42CAP
• Total funding raised: Approximately $21 to $25 million across multiple venture rounds
• Key partnerships: eBay (eBay Delivery powered by Packlink in the UK), PayPal, and Google Cloud
• Active markets: Spain, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy

Which countries does Packlink deliver to?

Packlink maintains active platform operations in five European markets where the full comparison and booking experience is available with localized pricing and carrier networks. Those markets are Spain, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy. Spain was the company's original domestic market and remains its largest, while the United Kingdom has grown into a significant market through the eBay partnership. Each country-specific version of the platform connects to its own selection of regional and international carriers.

In terms of delivery destinations, Packlink covers more than 30 countries internationally. European coverage is extensive and includes Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland France, Germany, Gibraltar, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland Ireland Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland Turkey, and Ukraine.

Beyond Europe, Packlink also facilitates shipments to a range of destinations outside the continent. Available international routes include the United States, Canada, Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and Israel. The platform notes that it is continuously adding new destinations to its network. Transit times and service options vary depending on the origin country and destination, with intra-European shipments generally benefiting from more carrier choices and shorter delivery windows than intercontinental routes.

• Platform operating markets: Spain, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy
• Total international destinations: More than 30 countries worldwide
• European coverage: All major EU member states plus Andorra, Armenia, Belarus, Gibraltar, Iceland Macedonia, Norway, Russia, Switzerland Turkey, and Ukraine
• Americas: United States and Canada
• Asia-Pacific: Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and the Philippines
• Middle East and Africa: United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and Israel

What are the Packlink services and delivery times?

Packlink presents all available shipping options through a single comparison interface, sorted by price and delivery time. The platform does not operate its own delivery network. Instead, it aggregates services from more than 80 carrier partners and applies its negotiated rates to generate quotes. The range of service categories covers standard domestic delivery, express options, economy shipping, international routes, drop-off delivery, and freight services for oversized or pallet-sized shipments. All quoted transit times are estimates unless a guaranteed service has been explicitly selected at booking.

For domestic shipments within the United Kingdom, standard services typically deliver within 3 working days, with faster options through carriers such as DPD and UPS offering next-day or same-day delivery subject to collection cut-off times. Economy services take between 5 and 7 working days and are better suited to non-urgent parcels where price is the primary consideration.

For international shipments within Europe, standard services generally deliver in 3 to 7 working days. The GlobalPost Economy Tracked service, which is available for international routes, quotes 7 to 10 working days to European destinations and 8 to 11 working days to the rest of the world. Intercontinental destinations such as the United States and Australia may require longer transit times depending on the carrier and route, and delays due to customs clearance can extend these windows unpredictably.

Packlink PRO, the platform's free B2B product, extends access to all service tiers with additional tools designed for online merchants. It automates the import of orders from connected storefronts, supports bulk label printing, and provides a centralized tracking dashboard for managing high shipment volumes. At the time of Packlink's acquisition by Auctane, the PRO platform served over 200,000 online merchants and was integrated with Amazon, eBay, Shopify, WooCommerce, PrestaShop, Magento, Wix, and Shopware.

• Standard domestic delivery (UK): Approximately 3 working days, with carriers such as Evri and DPD
• Express delivery: Next-day or same-day options available through carriers including UPS and DHL, subject to collection cut-off times
• Economy domestic delivery: 5 to 7 working days, for non-urgent shipments at reduced prices
• International standard (within Europe): Approximately 3 to 7 working days depending on origin and destination
• GlobalPost Economy Tracked: 7 to 10 working days to European destinations, 8 to 11 working days to the rest of the world
• Drop-off delivery: Available across service tiers, typically priced lower than home collection services
• Pallet and freight delivery: Available for oversized shipments exceeding standard parcel limits, aimed primarily at business customers

What are the Packlink rates and maximum dimensions accepted?

Packlink does not apply fixed tariffs. Pricing is calculated dynamically for each shipment based on the parcel's actual weight, its volumetric weight derived from its dimensions, the origin and destination, and the carrier and service tier selected. The platform automatically computes both weights and applies whichever is higher as the chargeable weight, in line with the formula used by the carrier in question. If the declared weight or dimensions are found to differ from actuals when the parcel reaches the carrier's facility, Packlink reserves the right to charge an additional handling fee that includes the carrier's own surcharge.

For users of the consumer and SMB platform, the pricing model is strictly pay-per-shipment, with no monthly fees, contracts, or minimum shipment volumes required, and Packlink PRO, the business-oriented product, is also free to access, with merchants paying only for the shipping labels they purchase. Both products advertise savings of up to 50% on domestic shipments and up to 70% on international shipments compared to booking directly with carriers, based on the negotiated bulk rates Packlink holds with its carrier partners.

Weight and dimension limits vary by carrier and by service. As an example, Evri, one of the UK carriers available through the platform, accepts parcels up to 15 kg with a maximum length of 120 cm and a maximum combined volume of 245 cm. The platform's quoting tool automatically filters out services for which the entered parcel dimensions or weight exceed the carrier's limits, so only compatible options are displayed. Poorly packaged or oversized items may attract additional surcharges or be rejected from certain services.

• Pricing model: Dynamic per-shipment calculation based on actual weight, volumetric weight, origin, destination, and selected carrier
• Consumer/SMB platform fees: Pay-per-shipment, no monthly fees, no minimum volumes, no contracts required
• Packlink PRO fees: Free platform access, payment only for labels purchased
• Advertised savings: Up to 50% on domestic shipments and up to 70% on international shipments versus direct carrier rates
• Maximum weight (Evri, UK): 15 kg per parcel
• Maximum length (Evri, UK): 120 cm
• Maximum combined volume (Evri, UK): 245 cm

What are the Packlink delivery options?

Packlink supports several delivery and reception modalities, with availability depending on the carrier and the service selected at booking. The most standard option is home collection combined with home delivery, where a courier visits the sender's address to collect the parcel and delivers it directly to the recipient's registered address. This is the default arrangement for most services on the platform and is available for nearly all carrier options, though it is priced higher than alternatives that involve depositing the parcel at a carrier point.

Drop-off points are an alternative that reduces the cost of sending. The sender brings the parcel to a designated location, which can be a carrier's own service depot, a ParcelShop, a post office, or a participating local retailer. The platform includes a location search tool where the sender enters a postcode to find the nearest compatible drop-off point for the chosen carrier. On the reception side, pick-up points allow recipients to collect parcels that could not be delivered to their address, or for which a pick-up point delivery was selected at the time of booking. For carriers that support it, such as InPost, automated parcel lockers provide 24-hour access for both drop-off and collection.

If the recipient is absent at the time of a home delivery attempt, the outcome depends on the specific carrier. The parcel may be left in a safe place if the carrier judges this appropriate, a redelivery attempt may be made on a following working day, or the item may be held at a local depot or designated pick-up point for the recipient to collect. If no delivery can ultimately be completed, the parcel is returned to the sender's address, and the tracking system will show a "Returned to Sender" status.

• Home collection: Courier collects from the sender's address at the scheduled time, available for nearly all services
• Home delivery: Default delivery method, parcel brought directly to the recipient's address
• Drop-off at a carrier point: Sender deposits the parcel at a depot, ParcelShop, post office, or local retailer, typically cheaper than home collection
• Pick-up point collection: Recipient collects the parcel at a designated point, used when home delivery is unavailable or when selected at booking
• Locker delivery: Available through carriers such as InPost, with 24-hour access to automated parcel locker networks for drop-off or collection

What should I do if my Packlink parcel is lost or damaged?

Packlink provides compensation for parcels that are lost, arrive damaged, or are delivered with missing contents, provided that a claim is submitted within the applicable deadline and the required documentation is supplied. The level of standard coverage included by default depends on the carrier selected, with Evri, InPost, and Yodel services covering up to $25 and UPS and DPD services rising to $60. For international shipments governed by road or air transport conventions, coverage is expressed per kilogram at a rate of 8.33 SDR per kilogram for road transport and 17 SDR per kilogram for air transport.

Optional enhanced protection can be added at the time of booking by declaring the parcel's value, raising the coverage ceiling to $5,000. Certain categories of goods are excluded from compensation regardless of whether additional protection was purchased. These include glass objects such as windows, aquariums, mirrors, urns, vases, and glass-framed items, all types of keys including mechanical, electronic, magnetic, smart, and RFID keys, and electronics that were not packaged in accordance with Packlink's official Packaging Guide.

Claims are filed through the Packlink Help Center by selecting "Contact Support" and navigating to the Claims category. The submission must be made using the same email address used when placing the original order. The average resolution time is 30 calendar days. If the invoice provided as proof of value is more than 60 days old, a depreciation deduction will be applied. For cancellations, Packlink requires approximately 96 hours to approve the request and process the refund. Card payments are returned within 3 to 7 working days, while PayPal refunds are credited immediately.

• Standard coverage (Evri, InPost, Yodel): Up to $25 per shipment, included by default
• Standard coverage (UPS, DPD): Up to $60 per shipment, included by default
• Enhanced protection: Up to $5,000, purchased at booking by declaring parcel value
• Damage claims deadline: Within 7 days of the delivery date
• Loss or delay claims deadline: Within 30 calendar days of the collection or drop-off date
• International air transport claims deadline: Within 14 calendar days from the day following delivery
• Required documentation for damage claims: Photos of the damaged goods, external packaging with shipping label visible, internal packaging, and a purchase invoice or proof of value
• Required documentation for loss claims: Delivery confirmation document and a commercial invoice or purchase receipt
• Average resolution time: 30 calendar days
• Support hours: Monday through Friday 08:00 to 20:00, Saturday 09:00 to 18:00, excluding bank holidays

Does Packlink handle international shipments and customs formalities?

Packlink facilitates international shipments to destinations across Europe and further abroad, including non-EU countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates. For any shipment leaving the European Union, a customs invoice is required. Packlink provides downloadable templates for customs invoices and inventory lists. All customs documents must be completed digitally, as handwritten invoices are not accepted by customs authorities. Completed documents must be placed in an envelope labeled "Customs Documents" and affixed to the side of the parcel with sufficient tape.

An EORI number, the Economic Operators Registration and Identification identifier, is mandatory for the sender when exporting commercially to non-EU countries. Without a valid EORI number, the package may be held at customs or returned to the sender. The personal ID or tax ID number of both the sender and the recipient must also appear on the customs invoice. Harmonized System commodity codes, known as HS codes, must be used to classify the goods being shipped. Any shipment missing this information will be blocked at customs.

Packlink PRO users can configure DAP, or Delivered At Place, Incoterms as the default arrangement for their shipments, which places responsibility for import duties and taxes on the recipient. Customs inspection and clearance time is excluded from all quoted transit times and can add unpredictable delays to international deliveries. When goods are held in customs due to missing or incorrect documentation, the shipment shows an "Incident" status in the tracking system, and Packlink's customer service team can assist in supplying any additional documents required by customs authorities.

The platform maintains a list of items that cannot be shipped under any circumstances. Prohibited categories include alcohol and derivatives, live animals, antiques and art, biological samples, dangerous goods such as perfumes, lighters, paint, chemical products, batteries, radioactive materials, and flammable or corrosive substances. Also prohibited are funerary items, jewelry and precious metals, all medicines, money and negotiable instruments, narcotics, perishable goods and plants, tobacco products including e-cigarettes, power generators, motor vehicles and mechanical parts, and goods prohibited by the regulations of the origin or destination country. Shipping a prohibited item results in the carrier holding the shipment at a depot at the sender's cost, with potential additional storage and clearance charges.

• Customs invoice: Required for all shipments outside the EU, must be completed digitally using Packlink's downloadable templates
• EORI number: Mandatory for the sender for commercial shipments with non-EU countries
• Personal or tax ID: Both sender and recipient IDs must appear on the customs invoice
• HS codes: Harmonized System commodity codes required to classify goods on all customs documentation
• Incoterms (Packlink PRO): DAP can be set as default, placing import duty and tax responsibility on the recipient
• Customs clearance delays: Excluded from all quoted transit times and can add unpredictable delays to international deliveries

Understanding tracking statuses

When tracking a Packlink shipment, the user enters the 19-character alphanumeric reference number assigned at the time of booking into the "Track shipment" tab on the platform. Packlink aggregates tracking updates from its carrier partners, including DPD, DHL, UPS, Evri, and others, and displays them in a unified interface. Shipments can also be tracked directly on the relevant carrier's website using the carrier's own tracking number. The statuses below describe what may appear throughout the parcel's journey from label generation to final delivery or return.