international shipping

[wizjp]

hi,
I need some help from those of you who order internationally. I have had a few customers over the years who haven't received their orders and there is no way to track them. I have sent them airmail, global priority and surface post. What is the easiest and best way to send a package? When I fill out the customs form, what should I mark? I have been marking gift, because I was told that that is the best way to send them. But I am wondering if that is a kind of red flag for customs. I feel bad that they didn't get their order, so I send another one, but I can't keep doing that, so any help in that area would be greatly appreciated. thanks
jenny

 

[Revanus D]

OK, for international shipping from the US, http://ircalc.usps.gov/default.asp?Mode=Intl_Single&CID=10013 use Global Express Mail™ (EMS) "Fast and economical to over 190 countries. Starts at $15.50 3-5 days Tracking, Insurance, Return Receipt."
I'm assuming you're only sending small orders, don't mark them as gift, mark their value. The "gift" need is only when it starts approaching the tax/duty limits of the country you are sending to, in Australia it is about $600US, and I assume you're not sending orders that large. I doubt you would have any problem in any country for an order of less than $100US for the goods (shipping can take the order over the customs limit).

Don't use surface mail, it's just way too slow at the moment, actually with various security high alerts around teh world at the moment everything is taking much longer than stated. USPS is also hopeless at giving estimates for international shipping, whatever they quote you add 2-4 weeks to what you quote to your client. eg US- Australia surface/sea post USPS said 5 weeks, from past experience I knew it was 8 weeks, recent high security alerts meant it was actually 10 weeks!

EMS can be cheaper than airmail for parcels (depends on weight), and you get tracking and insurance. Or you can always got the UPS/FedEX option which is usually about twice as expensive as USPS EMS, and a bit faster.

 

[NecropolisXR]

Agreed... I too like Global Express. I have never had a problem with items not "getting there".

I have used it for special documents along with small and large boxes with items contained. I only have familiararity with sending to Germany though.

Here is another link for it (same stuff, just a different link):
http://www.usps.com/global/globalexpressmail.htm

 

[Radical Babez]

I ship internationally all the time. There are certain countries I will not ship to, other require global express or global priority. (then at least you have a tracking # with global express). There are a few countries I still ship to via airmail (ie. netherlands, UK). The asian countries, require global express (singapore, japan, china). Most others are at least global priority.

I mark my packages other, personally.

If your address form is in a pouch (like w/global express) make sure you write on the box the to and from address.

I've only ever had one package go missing (and have my doubts about that).

Is it a particular country you are having an issue with?

Also, many times packages are getting caught in customs. Although the postal website may say 4-6 days, often it is 2 weeks or more. If a customer complains that they didn't get their package, I require (and my insurance carrier) 35 days before making a claim. Yes it is a long wait, but usually week 2 or 3 the package arrives.

How long are you waiting before you consider a package "lost"?

Hope this info helps.

 

[hownwhy]

As much as we complain about the good old US Postal Service.....it's actually pretty darn good compared to foreign ones. My sister has lived in Ireland, Italy, Greece, Israel, and Switzerland and her in-laws are in France. Mail leaves a lot to be desired! When she was in Italy, we had to send her Christmas packages by September/October because the people who work for the mail system would routinely rummage through the mail to do their own Christmas shopping. She did not receive many things there. Many of the mail systems are corrupt and there is a lot of stealing. Additionally, it takes a long time....even if the package does arrive without having been tampered with. It is so inconsistent. Can mail 4 boxes at the same time and they all arrive at different times, with big gaps of time in between. I try to avoid foreign mail if at all possible! So glad sis lives in Colorado now......out in the middle of nowhere and mail is a little slower than the norm, but at least it all gets there! No more Christmas cards arriving in time for Mother's Day!

 

[chris w]

hi,
Thank you all for your replies. I was emailed today and told it arrived. I have only had two other go missing, and they were both to the UK. One of them I even went through the USPS and they traced it all the way to her country. She hasn't e-mailed me back to tell me it never arrived. i had told her to wait at least 2 months because of customs, so she must have gotten it. I can't get a response when I e-mail her to ask. So I don't know. I have sent them to Canada, S. America, Ireland, Iceland, England, Australia, Scotland, Switzerland, Japan, Mexico, and Africa. So I am very grateful that I haven't had any other ones go missing. I usually send them global priority, depending on how many are ordered, so they get there faster. I will have to look into global express. Thanks again for all of the help.
Jenny