Our Special Delivery Options for Large and Bulky Items
At BaobabMart, we know that buying large and bulky items across borders comes with its own set of problems: high freight quotes, unclear customs charges, and no straight answer on when the thing will actually arrive.
Since moving to a multi-warehouse, multi-carrier network, we’ve been able to solve most of those problems before you ever reach checkout. This guide covers everything you need to know about our special delivery options for large and bulky items at BaobabMart.
What counts as a large or bulky item
An item is handled on our special delivery service when it meets any of the following:
- Weight above 20 kg per item, or a total order weight above 30 kg
- Length of any single side above 120 cm
- Combined dimensions (length + girth) above 300 cm
- Fragile or irregular shape requiring crating, such as carved masks, pottery, sculptures and framed art
- Bulk quantities of otherwise standard products, such as multi-sack orders of grains, spices, seeds or dried fish
Typical items include home and living equipment (cookware, mats, furniture), art and craft pieces, timber and wood products, musical instruments, and wholesale food orders.
The four delivery options
| Option | Best for | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Warehouse courier delivery | Bulky items already stocked in our UK, Belgium or US warehouse | The item ships domestically on a heavy-parcel or pallet service and arrives at your door. Fastest and cheapest route, and no import charges to pay on arrival. |
| International express freight | Urgent single bulky items not held in a regional warehouse | Direct air express from Cameroon with DHL or FedEx, door to door, fully tracked. |
| Airport freight | Large consignments and bulk quantities where speed matters more than doorstep convenience | We fly your consignment to a designated airport in your country, and you collect it there. Typically 2–5 working days. Doorstep onward delivery can be arranged at extra cost. |
| Sea freight / consolidated container | Very heavy, very large or high-volume orders where cost matters more than speed | Your goods travel by sea, either alone or consolidated with other shipments. The lowest cost per kilo we offer, with longer transit times quoted case by case. |
The options available to you depend on the specific item and your destination country. We confirm which apply when we quote your order.
How we keep bulky shipping affordable
1. We stock bulky lines in our regional warehouses. Our warehouses in the United Kingdom, Belgium and the United States hold stock that has already been imported and customs-cleared in bulk.
When your item ships from one of them, it travels as a domestic delivery, one short leg instead of an intercontinental one. That is where the biggest savings come from, and it is why bulky shipping costs a fraction of what it did under our old express-only model.
2. We ship with five carriers, not one. We hold accounts with DHL, FedEx, UPS, USPS and Royal Mail, alongside dedicated air and sea freight partners.
For every bulky consignment, we compare rates across them and route your item on whichever gives the best combination of price, speed and handling for its weight and shape. Heavy parcels frequently go to FedEx or UPS; UK final-mile goes to Royal Mail or a pallet carrier.
3. We consolidate. If you order several bulky items, we combine them into one consignment wherever possible rather than shipping each separately. Multi-item and wholesale orders qualify for bulk freight rates; see our Bulk Purchase page.
Customs duties on bulky items
This depends entirely on where your item ships from, so please read this section carefully.
Shipping from our UK, Belgium or US warehouse. Import duty and clearance have already been paid by us at the point of bulk import. Nothing further is due from you on delivery, and the price you see is the price you pay.
Shipping directly from Cameroon, by air express, airport freight or sea. Your country may charge customs duties, import VAT, inspection fees and carrier handling charges. These are set by your government, are not collected by BaobabMart, and are payable by the recipient. Where duties apply, we tell you before you commit, and we can usually estimate the amount for your country on request.
For high-value bulky consignments, we can also arrange Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) terms, where we prepay the duties and include them in your quote. Ask our team when requesting your quote.
Ordering a large or bulky item
Orders up to 49 kg can be placed directly on the website with live shipping rates shown at checkout.
For consignments above 50 kg, or any item outside standard carrier dimension limits, freight is quoted individually:
- Send us the details: the products, quantities and your full delivery address- through our Bulk Purchase page or the Help Center.
- We quote: usually within 1–2 working days, with the delivery option, total freight cost, duty position and estimated transit time set out clearly.
- You approve and pay: nothing ships until you have accepted the quote in writing.
- We pack, crate and dispatch: fragile pieces are crated or foam-packed, and you receive tracking on dispatch.
Delivery times for bulky items
Bulky consignments generally take longer than standard parcels because of the extra handling, palletising and freight booking involved.
| Route | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|
| Warehouse courier delivery (UK, EU, US domestic) | 2–7 working days |
| International express freight from Cameroon | 5–10 working days |
| Airport freight | 2–5 working days to the airport, plus collection |
| Sea freight | Quoted per consignment |
Exact estimates are confirmed in your quote. For standard-parcel timings by country, see our Shipping Costs and Delivery Times guide.
Preparing for your delivery
A few things worth knowing before a bulky consignment arrives:
- Check access. Measure doorways, stairwells, lifts and driveways against the dimensions in your quote. Restricted access is the single most common cause of failed bulky deliveries.
- Be available. Bulky deliveries require someone present to receive and sign. Give us a working mobile number so the carrier can arrange a slot.
- Arrange help if needed. Our carriers deliver to your door or to the kerbside depending on the service booked. They do not carry items upstairs, unpack, assemble or install unless that has been agreed and priced in advance.
- Inspect before signing. Check the crate or packaging for visible damage in front of the driver. Note any damage on the delivery record and photograph it — this makes a carrier claim straightforward. Report damage to us within 7 days of delivery.
Tracking
Every bulky consignment is tracked, whichever route it takes. You receive the carrier name and tracking number by email on dispatch, and can follow it on our Track My Order page or the carrier’s own site. For airport and sea freight, our team also updates you at each milestone — departure, arrival in country, and clearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know what customs duties I’ll pay? If your item ships from our UK, EU, or US warehouse, you pay none. If it ships directly from Cameroon, your quote states the position, and we can estimate the likely charge for your country on request.
Is there a discount for ordering several large items? Yes. Multiple bulky items are consolidated into a single consignment and quoted at bulk freight rates, which are substantially lower per kilo than shipping each item separately.
What’s the fastest option for a large item? Warehouse courier delivery, if the item is in regional stock. If it isn’t, international express freight with DHL or FedEx is the quickest door-to-door route, followed by airport freight.
Can I collect from your warehouse? Collection can be arranged from our UK and Cameroon facilities by prior appointment. Contact support before placing your order.
Do you deliver bulky items everywhere? Special delivery availability depends on the item and the destination country; some products face import restrictions, and some remote destinations are freight-only. We will tell you at the quote stage if your address is affected.
Can I return a bulky item? Yes, subject to our Refund and Returns Policy. Return freight on bulky items is significant, so please check dimensions and specifications carefully before ordering, and contact us if you are unsure.
Contacting us
- Ticket: create one on our support page
- Live chat: available on our website
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +44 7418 370155 (UK) / +237 651 598 005 (Cameroon), Monday to Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Large and bulky doesn’t have to mean difficult or expensive. Between regional warehouse stock, five carrier partners and dedicated freight routes, we can almost always find a way to get a heavy item to you at a sensible price and tell you exactly what it will cost before you commit.
Thank you for choosing BaobabMart. We look forward to delivering your large and bulky items with care and Efficiency!