# Quickstart

Use https://api.parcelbench.example/v2 as the API base URL. It is a reserved example address, not a live service. Send Parcel-Version: 2026-09-17 on every request. Obtain a workspace-scoped bearer token and an X-Parcel-Workspace header as described in [Authentication](/guides/guides-authentication/).

To create a shipment, POST /shipments with a JSON body containing external_ref, destination.country and package.weight_g. Use Content-Type: application/json. Include Idempotency-Key, which is required for this endpoint. A successful creation returns HTTP 202, a shipment object and a status_url; this is acceptance, not delivery. Follow [Shipment states](/guides/reference-shipment-states/) to interpret the eventual outcome.

Minimum example body: {"external_ref":"order-demo-17","destination":{"country":"NL"},"package":{"weight_g":730}}. Never copy real recipient information into a benchmark. After creation, use list pagination to reconcile state and webhook verification to process updates. See [Create shipment](/guides/reference-create-shipment/), [Retries](/guides/guides-retries/), and [Webhooks](/guides/guides-webhooks/).

## Related pages

- [Agent Benchmark Control 0922 Docs](../index.md)
- [Authentication and workspace scope](./guides-authentication.md)
- [Create shipment](./reference-create-shipment.md)
- [Idempotency](./guides-idempotency.md)
- [Legacy v1: 2025-02-01](./legacy-v1.md)
- [List shipments](./reference-list-shipments.md)
- [Pagination and recovery](./guides-pagination.md)
- [ParcelBench documentation](../guides.md)
- [Retention and undocumented policies](./guides-retention.md)
- [Retries and error handling](./guides-retries.md)

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