TUPS — The Universe Phoenix ServicesTUPSPhoenix Logistics

Policy

Logistics policy

How we measure, price, pack, protect and deliver your shipments. These rules apply to all personal freight unless your business account specifies otherwise.

Standard & oversized criteria

Most parcels ship under standard handling. A parcel is treated as oversized when it meets any one of the following thresholds:

  • Actual weight over 30 kg
  • Combined dimensions (L + W + H) over 150 cm
  • Any single side longer than 80 cm

Oversized parcels attract a minimum handling surcharge of $30.00 per parcel, as larger items require special handling and take up disproportionate freight capacity.

Chargeable weight

Freight is billed on chargeable weight, which is the greater of a parcel's actual (scale) weight and its volumetric weight:

volumetric kg = (L × W × H in cm) ÷ divisor
chargeable kg = max(actual, volumetric), rounded to 0.1 kg

The divisor depends on the lane:

  • Domestic Australia: ÷ 4,000
  • Australia ⇄ Vietnam (air & sea): ÷ 6,000
  • Domestic Vietnam: ÷ 5,000

Packing standards

Goods must be packed to survive multi-leg international transit. We may refuse or re-pack (at cost) items that do not meet these standards:

  • Use a sturdy box of at least 3 layers of cardboard.
  • Wrap fragile items in 2–3 layers of bubble wrap.
  • Declare all batteries and electronics in advance.
  • Seal liquids separately so leaks cannot reach other goods.
  • Fill all voids so contents cannot shift in transit.
  • Seal the box securely with tape on all seams.

Surcharges

The following surcharges may be added to a quote:

  • Oversized handling — minimum $30.00 per oversized parcel.
  • Valuable goods — items declared over $100.00 per unit attract 10% of declared value, with per-unit minimums (e.g. smartphone $50.00, laptop $110.00, luxury/watch $30.00).
  • Door pickup & delivery — origin pickup and destination door delivery are charged per the published rate schedule.
  • GST — 10% applies to domestic Australian services; international freight is GST-free.

See the rates & policy summary for the full surcharge tables.

TUPS responsibilities

  • Provide accurate quotes from our published rate schedule.
  • Handle freight documentation and customs clearance on the sender's behalf.
  • Transport goods by the booked mode (air or sea) within the stated transit windows.
  • Maintain phase-level tracking from receipt to delivery.
  • Honour the compensation policy for loss or damage in our custody.
  • Notify customers promptly of delays, customs holds or exceptions.

Customer responsibilities

  • Pack goods to the packing standard above.
  • Declare contents, value, batteries and any restricted items accurately.
  • Ensure goods are legal to export and import on the chosen route.
  • Provide correct sender and recipient details, including contact numbers.
  • Pay freight charges, surcharges and any applicable duties or taxes.
  • Raise claims within the stated time limits (see Compensation).

Compensation

Where goods are lost or damaged in our custody, compensation is handled as follows:

  • Insured shipments — compensated up to 100% of the declared value.
  • Uninsured shipments — capped at $30.00 per kg or $600.00 per shipment, whichever is lower.
  • Claim windows — senders must lodge claims within 24 hours of delivery; business sellers within 36 hours.

Returns & refunds

  • Approved refunds are processed within 5–10 business days.
  • Cancellation of an unprocessed order is refundable, less a 5% administration fee plus any third-party pickup minimums already incurred.
  • Orders already in transit or cleared through customs cannot be cancelled for a freight refund.

Transit times

Transit times are indicative and exclude customs delays outside our control:

  • Australian regional pickup to our Sydney warehouse: 2–10 days.
  • Sydney warehouse to Hanoi (HAN) or Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) by air: ~3 days airport-to-airport.
  • Vietnam warehouse to the door: 1–4 days.
  • Sea freight follows the published sailing schedule, confirmed at booking.
Questions?

Talk to our team about your shipment or a business account.