Order twenty devices and the tracking emails may arrive three at a time. That is normal, and it usually surprises first-time trade buyers. This guide explains why larger vape orders are split into several parcels, how the shipping charge works when they are, what to check when the boxes land, and how partial stock is handled.
It is written for both sides of the same question: a consumer buying a year's supply in one go, and a shop or reseller ordering at trade volume.
Why one order becomes several parcels
Three separate constraints push an order across more than one parcel.
Carrier weight and size limits. Every carrier caps the weight and the dimensions of a single parcel. Once a consignment exceeds that, the only way to move it is to split it. A box of disposable devices is bulky relative to its value, so a trade quantity hits the limit quickly.
Battery and freight rules. Devices with lithium batteries are subject to transport rules on how cells are packed, how many may travel together and how they must be declared. Those rules apply equally to a road courier and to any air leg in the route, so a mixed order can be split by product type rather than by weight. Our vape battery safety guide covers the consumer side of the same rules.
Liquid volume and packaging. Nicotine-containing e-liquid carries volume limits and packaging requirements under the TPD, and larger refill orders are packed accordingly. If you want to see the limits we apply on a per-product basis, the shipping page sets them out in a table: 20 mg/ml nicotine, 10 ml for nicotine-containing refills, 2 ml per disposable or cartridge.
How the shipping charge works when an order splits
This is the part that generates the most questions, so it is worth being precise. For trade orders, the per-shipment rate applies once per consignment, not per parcel. In practice:
| Destination | Retail shipping | Trade shipping |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | €5.99 | €15.99 per shipment |
| Neighbouring EU (BE, FR, DK, CZ) | €5.99 | €19.90 per shipment |
| Rest of the EU | €5.99 | €25.99 per shipment |
| Free shipping | From €100 order value | From €750 net order value |
So a trade order that leaves as three parcels is charged as one shipment. What you do not want is to place three separate orders on the same day to work around a stock limit — that creates three consignments and three charges, and it also loses you the free-shipping threshold.
Retail orders are charged a flat €5.99 per order, and shipping is free above €100, which means splitting on the retail side never adds cost.
What happens when part of an order is out of stock
Large orders are more likely to hit a gap, because a single flavour or strength can sell out while the rest of the range stays available. Our approach is stated on the shipping page and is deliberately conservative: we contact you before despatching. Then you choose — wait for the full order, or take the available items now and have the remainder held or refunded.
We do not silently substitute flavours, and we do not ship two-thirds of an order and hope the rest follows without telling you. If you are buying for a shop and need a complete range to display, say so when you order and we will hold the consignment rather than part-ship it.
Age verification and the delivery address
Splitting an order does not weaken the age check. Every parcel in the consignment is delivered under the same terms: nicotine products may only be handed to an adult, and on flagged or first orders the carrier may ask for photo ID at the door.
Two consequences for multi-parcel orders:
- Someone has to be at the address for each delivery. Deliveries cannot be left with a neighbour or in a parcel locker when ID verification applies, so a trade order for a shop should go to the shop during opening hours rather than to a home address.
- A refused parcel comes back. If age verification cannot be completed, the parcel returns to us and we refund the goods value less the return cost. On a split consignment that can mean part of the order arrives normally while one parcel travels back.
For the consumer version of these rules — who may receive a parcel and what happens if nobody is in — see the delivery age check and what happens if you miss a delivery.
Checking a split consignment on arrival
When several parcels arrive over a couple of days, it helps to work from the paperwork rather than from memory:
- Each parcel carries its own tracking number, and the despatch email lists them. Keep the list until the last box lands.
- Count devices against the packing note per parcel, not against the order total. If a parcel shows fewer units than its note, that is a parcel-level claim and needs raising within a few days.
- Photograph any box that arrives visibly damaged before opening it. Carriers require this for a damage claim, and it is the difference between a claim being processed and refused. The rights on damaged parcels are set out in damaged parcel rights.
- If a parcel is late while the others have arrived, treat it as an in-transit parcel rather than a lost one, and check the tracking before contacting us — the tracking guide explains the statuses.
Planning a large order so it arrives in one go
If a single delivery is important — a shop opening, a restock deadline — a few things reduce the chance of a split:
- Order the bulky and the heavy separately from the rest. Mixing refill bottles with device cartons is the most common reason a consignment splits by packaging type.
- Check stock before a big run. The EU warehouse range reflects what is held in Berlin; high-capacity devices move fastest.
- Use trade terms for trade volumes. The €750 net threshold exists for a reason, and trade orders also get a fixed per-shipment rate that does not multiply when the order splits. Our wholesale page explains how to open a trade account and what documentation is needed.
- Tell us the deadline. If you need everything before a fixed date, say so in the order notes. We will tell you honestly whether we can meet it rather than part-ship and hope.
For smaller orders, none of this usually applies: one parcel, flat €5.99, tracked, three to five working days within the EU. Examples of what fits comfortably in a single parcel include the BANG Leader 32,000 and the Vapsolo Super 15,000, both 2% devices from the disposable range.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my order arrive in more than one parcel?
Usually a carrier weight or size limit, a split by product type for battery transport rules, or packaging requirements for liquid volume. The consignment is one order with several tracking numbers.
Am I charged extra for each parcel?
No, not on a trade consignment — the per-shipment rate applies once per consignment. Retail orders are a flat €5.99 per order regardless of how many parcels the order is split into.
What if only part of my order is in stock?
We contact you before despatching. You can wait for the full order, or take the available items and have the remainder held or refunded — your choice.
Can the courier leave part of the order with a neighbour?
Not where age verification applies. Nicotine products must be handed to an adult, so parcels are not left with neighbours or in lockers on those deliveries.
Does splitting an order affect the 14-day return window?
No. The withdrawal period runs from the day you receive the goods, and on a split consignment each parcel is assessed on its own delivery date. See returns and warranty for the detail.
How do I know which parcels belong to my order?
The despatch email lists every tracking number in the consignment. Keep it until the last parcel arrives, and raise any discrepancy per parcel against the packing note.
