Send and forward parcels via API

Turn received parcels into outbound shipments with one request. Get a quote, pick a carrier, and we pack and ship. You get tracking back as soon as the label is printed.

Contact sales for API access€15 per parcel plus shipping

Endpoints

POST/quotesGet carrier options for items and destination
POST/shipmentsBook a shipment from a quote
GET/shipments/{id}Status and tracking
DELETE/shipments/{id}Cancel before it's packed

Consolidate two parcels and ship to Zurich

curl -X POST https://api.germanmailbox.com/v1/shipments \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer gm_live_..." \
  -H "Idempotency-Key: 6b1e0c7a-..." \
  -d '{
    "items": ["itm_8f2k1x", "itm_2m9qa7"],
    "quote_id": "qt_dhl_express_ch",
    "to": {
      "name": "Anna Keller",
      "line1": "Bahnhofstrasse 12",
      "postal_code": "8001",
      "city": "Zurich",
      "country": "CH"
    },
    "customs": { "contents": "gift", "value_eur": 120 }
  }'

{ "id": "shp_41xz", "status": "packing", "tracking": null }

Beta: rough edges you should know about

Packing is done by hand. Shipments booked before 14:00 CET usually leave the same day, otherwise the next business day.
Final shipping cost can differ from the quote if the packed box is heavier or bigger than estimated. You get a shipment.repriced webhook when this happens.
You can only cancel shipments while the status is packing.
Lithium batteries, liquids and other dangerous goods are rejected manually. There is no automatic check yet.

API access is invite-only

We onboard API customers individually so we can set up your addresses, webhooks and volume pricing. Tell sales what you want to automate and we'll get you an API key.

Contact sales on WhatsApp API overview

Quote first, then ship

POST /quotes returns carrier options with price and estimated delivery time for any destination. Pass the quote ID to POST /shipments to book it. Quotes are valid for 24 hours.

Consolidation

Pass several item IDs in one shipment and we combine them into a single box. This usually saves a lot on international shipping. You pay one handling fee per incoming parcel.

Billing

Shipping costs and handling fees are charged to the payment method on file and listed per shipment in GET /invoices. High-volume customers can be invoiced monthly. Talk to sales.

Frequently asked questions

Which carriers do you support?

DHL, DHL Express, UPS and DPD. Other carriers can be added for volume customers.

Can I ship things that weren't delivered to you first?

Not via the API yet. Every shipment has to contain items we have received.

Ready to go digital with your German mail?

Contact sales for API access

Need instructions? Contact support on WhatsApp. WhatsApp: +49 159 0104 5767