Shipping from the US to the rest of the world.

Off-topic Chatter
1

Any time I sell something, I always restrict the sale to within the US. I do this because AFAIK in order to ship internationally a trip to the post office (during business hours) is required. Has this changed? I don't mind filling out the forms and even dropping it off at the P.O., but I'm not taking what will essentially be an hour to ship a $20 light.

I've seen people on here get annoyed when a sale is U.S. only, and I understand, but if there isn't a convenient (and reasonably priced) way to send "budget" things, I don't have much choice. So if someone could enlighten me to the shipping options, I'd greatly appreciate it. The USPS website hasn't helped me a bit.

2

Good question! I have someone from Australia who wishes to buy a micromag from me but i have no idea how much shipping to there from the states will cost. Any ideas?

3

Ive had a number of my torches (D10s) sent to me (australia) via USPS first class intl, with boxed versions costing $8, while unboxed ones costing $2-4 in a bubble mailer. Thats the price on the shipping label anyway, and the price quoted deep in the USPS website.

All torches and parts to date sent USPS first class from private sellers in the US have all arrived in 2-3 weeks (much the same as HK) and most have arrived uneventfully. There was one order from a store in the US that never arrived, a $58 novatac storm, but I don't know the shipping method that was used. Customer service was very good however from the store.

Ive generally not had any issued with USPS to australia, and they ship for about 1/4 the cost of sending stuff to the US if you keep it budget.

EDIT* Appears I have answered your question, before I even saw it (was just a matter of taking longer to write the post than you did)

4

Thanks, okwchin!

5

I don't know about a better shipping method (I'm not from the US...) but if your sells volume is high enough I believe you could send several orders in a set day or two every week, no need to run to the PO for every sell.

Buyers will surely understand, and it won't add much to the wait for international shipment.

To Israel I've had several orders delivered within a week from shipping, and one delayed "very long" (probably at local customs) and arrived in just under three weeks.

6

IF I remember well, I received 1 or 2 package from USA to France shipped with USPS First Class Mail (or priority international) with a label printed from USPS website. I'm quite sure that this label included a custom declaration because I don't remember the usual green label for customs declaration that usually need to be added.

EDIT: It seems that an account is needed.

Create a USPS.com Account to...

  • print shipping labels.

  • request a Carrier Pickup.

  • buy stamps and shop.

  • manage PO boxes.

  • print custom forms online.

  • file domestic claims.

7

It used to be even easier than it is now...

1. shipping international any way besides just firstclass small package is insanely expensive .

2. unless you use one of the 2 insanely expensive ways ,the package can't be insured .

3. the two ways you don't want to ship usps are priority or usps global express.

for example a 12 oz package to germany a light and a pack of eneloops shipped usps first class either large envelope or small package is about 9~10$.

the light alone much lighter is about 5.50$....prices get a bit cheaper over 10 ounces ..I think a pound /16 oz to germany is 12$

we are talking small packages or large envelopes to a certain spec. as per usps site .

you need to have the person tell you that they don't want insurance so they accept liability if the item is lost in the mail ..chances that it will be recovered is slim to none ....You have a better chance of being hit with a seagull in the sahara . they need to trust you enough to send you money via paypal GIFT which means they can't slap a paypal dispute against you and jerk you around .We're all friends here and My opinion is if they don't or won't trust you than they should go buy it from someone else .yes you have to go to the post office to physically send it and people need to realize exactly what that means .time, effort,gas etc .. it's a pain , not a huge pain but certainly not easy like having the mailman pick it up as he's dropping off mail ...My last packages went out a little late this last week because I had 3lights to send and wanted to do them all at once .( kill 3 birds ...one stone)

4. The same package sent priority would have been 35$ and 1$ for insurance .

5. Sent global express it would have been 50$.. but hey .. the insurance is free ,

So avoid those options ... hiding somewhere near the bottom of the usps website is first class mailing options that's what you want and generally i only use small packages the last one in the list ..

my kitchen scale is grams so i need the conversion chart ,or you can use google ..i have nice small strong boxes and good tape with nylon thread in it to reduce chances of something accidentally getting lost in the mail ..spend a little extra on packaging for peace of mind .

here's the two sites I use :

http://curezone.com/conversions.asp convert weight to ounces first because the usps is too stupid to be able to do that for you.....lets say the package is 7 ounces .

Go to usps... http://postcalc.usps.gov/

1. select country... by changing it from domestic mail ..to whatever counrty you're sending your package ..I'm choosing Bermuda .

2.ignore the expensive looking stuff and go to the bottom and "choose shape"...it's a package .

check package and option 3 pops up.

3. enter weight ......type in ... 7 ounces

hit continue ...

New window pops up with mailing options * This is where they are getting SNEAKY **

you need to click on the Display All Options button

the option you want is ..1st class mail international option

$6.58 ...easy huh ? (Bermuda is lovely this time of the year :)

Go to post office and before getting in line get a customs form and fill it out .. wait in line and pay the lady .and you're done .

*ask the person you're sending something to what the limit is in his country before he has to pay duty and keep the value of the packages under that ...not a problem with budget lights :)

8

This is the whole part I refuse to do to send something. I don’t understand why I fill out everything myself but I’m required to hand it over to a person behind the counter to put it in the same bin I could have put it in myself at my convenience like I do with domestic shipping (or just drop it in my mailbox).

9

Thanks for the tip Boaz, I have had to turn down more sales of P60 drop ins because the lady at the post office always tells me its going to be $35-50 dollars to ship my $25 dollar drop in.

10

I think it’s because it’s a privately owned company now they want to “sell” you their premium services … If i were you and wanted to ship overseas i’d tell the people that you only ship out once a week and go to the postoffice just once …people are used to waiting for china /dx you’d still be a fast shipper .

11

Lets see how much info I can cram in here lol. If you want to ship cheap international it has to be light weight and use first class shipping. First class shipping requires filling out the customs form and writing a shipping label out.

If you want to do any shipping online you need to use priority. Priority international starts out at $13.25(canada and mexico are a couple $ cheaper) . They have 2 flat rate envelopes both are $13.25 and can only be use if the item is under 4lbs?? check to make sure. They have the standard cardboard one and a *new* bubble wrap padded one. You can only the padded ones online, your local post office will not have them.

The post office will send you free shipping supplies and you can order them as soon as you set up an account. https://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10052&categoryId=10000033&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=10000002&top=&sort=&viewAll=Y Inside this padded envolope you can place this box full. https://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10052&productId=10000248&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=10000002&top_category=10000002&categoryId=10000033&top=&currentPage=0&sort=&viewAll=Y&rn=CategoriesDisplay&WT.ac=10000248

Its the best way to go in my opinion and If I can I always use the new padded envelopes. The inner box should also be addressed.

12

well, everytime I ship something, I’ll have to go to postoffice to ship it. Domestic or international.
Domestic shipping here is usually more expensive than the price you pay in US to get intl. shipping.

13

Its exe to send anything from Australia overseas. All based on weight and you have to fill out forms.

14

BTW: are you still making those dropins? :slight_smile:

15

Yes sir

16

To answer the OP, I'm don't think it's possible to print out prepaid First Class Intl. labels, and First Class Mail is what most of us here would prefer since everything else is significantly more expensive.