When returning found items via shipment, shipping restrictions apply. For safety, security, and legal reasons, most international shipping providers do not accept certain types of items.
As a result, not all found items are eligible for shipment through iLost.
Items that cannot be shipped
The following items are generally not accepted by shipping carriers:
High-value items (e.g. artwork, antiques, gemstones, precious metals)
Perishable goods
Foodstuffs (unless properly packaged and transported without conditioning)
Cash and valuables, including:
Money and coins
Debit or credit cards
Phone cards
Securities
Official documents (e.g. passports)
Livestock
Human organs or human remains (including ashes)
Animals and hunting trophies
Unaccompanied baggage
Plants (excluding bulbs)
Manure
Prohibited items, such as firearms, explosives, or military goods
Narcotics or drugs
Hazardous substances, including chemicals, paint, fireworks, batteries, or accumulators
Defective or damaged items that could pose a risk to people, goods, or equipment
Illegal goods, including counterfeit products
Items prohibited by law in the country of origin, transit, or destination
Items requiring special permits, facilities, or safety measures
Items that could be perceived as offensive or politically sensitive, unless packaged discreetly and without provocative labeling
Identification and travel documents
Identification and travel documents are not accepted by all carriers.
Please refer to the dedicated Help Center article for more information about carrier-specific restrictions.
Check the contents of found items
Before packing and shipping a found item, you must always check its contents against the list of non-shippable goods above.
If you identify any non-shippable items:
Contact the owner via the chat function.
Inform them of the restriction.
The owner can choose to:
Have only the eligible items shipped, or
Collect the item(s) in person.
If necessary, the owner can cancel a booked shipment by contacting iLost Support.
Important
Checking the contents of found items and following the correct process is the responsibility of your organization. If steps are not followed correctly and costs are incurred as a result, iLost may charge these costs to your organization.
Large items not eligible for shipment
iLost does not support parcel shipment for large or oversized found items.
For these items, the shipping option will not be available during the return process.
Examples include:
Bicycles
Wheelchairs
Surfboards
Other oversized items
These items must be collected in person or handled outside the standard shipping flow.