**Short answer:** You can ask us to repack a package or to remove any item from it by sending a special request from your account. It costs **$10**. Repacking into a smaller box can lower your shipping price, because couriers charge by size as well as weight.

## Why repack?

Stores often ship small items in large boxes, with plenty of empty space and filler. Couriers bill the **higher** of a package's actual weight and its dimensional (size-based) weight, so an oversized box can cost you more than the item itself would.

Repacking puts your items into a better-fitting box, which can reduce the dimensional weight and the price of your shipment. See "Why your shipping quote is higher than expected, and how to lower it" for more ways to save.

Keep in mind that a repack means we open the original box and move your items into a new one, which can mark up the original packaging and remove things like inserts or warranty cards. That's usually not an issue, but if you're shipping sneakers or other boxed collectibles and want the original box left untouched, tell support before you ship. We treat that as a special request that needs extra handling time, and any related fee depends on that handling time.

## Why remove an item?

You might want to take something out of a package before it ships, for example:

- An item you've changed your mind about.
- A bulky item that pushes up the size of the box.
- Extra items you'd rather keep out of this shipment.

Item removal is available for any item in the package.

## How to request it

1. **Wait until the package is in your account.** We email you once it's logged.
2. **Send a special request** from your account for the package, and tell us what you need: a repack, the removal of specific items, or both.
3. **Our team handles the request** and updates your package.
4. **Check your package** before you ship, then create your shipment as usual.

Make your request before you create the shipment, so the package is ready when you check out.

## What it costs

| Service | How to request | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Repacking | Special request | $10 |
| Item removal | Special request | $10 |

If you're combining several packages into one box, that's consolidation, which has its own per-package fee on the Free and Premium plans and takes 2 business days. See "Consolidating packages: how to request it, how long it takes and what it costs".

## If our team flagged an item

Items that we can't ship, such as perfume, other flammable products or loose batteries, are handled differently. If our team flags one in your package, we review it and contact you with your options, and removing a flagged item is free. See "Restricted and prohibited items: what we can ship and what happens if a package is flagged".

## Common questions

**Will repacking always lower my shipping price?**
Not always. It helps most when a small item came in a large box. If your items already fit their box well, a repack may not change the billable weight much.

**Can you remove an item that isn't restricted?**
Yes. Item removal is available for any item, not only restricted ones.

**Is removing a restricted item also $10?**
No. If our team flagged the item, removing it is free. See the restricted items article linked above.

**Can I ask for a smaller box after I've paid for my shipment?**
Contact our support team as soon as possible, and we'll check whether the package can still be repacked.

## Still need help?

Our support team is available on weekdays from 09:00 to 17:00 ET at support@forwardme.com.