Shipping Internationally From The U.S. Without Spending A Fortune

[chipdale123]

I just sent out two packages to the UK today, one had one pin in it (a Beloved Tales) and it was $6.55. Then the second one had two pins (two regular size LE pins from the park), and the price spiked up to $12.95!!! Ain't nobody got time to pay that much for shipping!!

 

[miyuki]

I vote for updating the #1 OP with the new info. and keeping this thread active cause I like all the contents in one place.
4 pages isn't long. A new boiled-down version would be missing context & inputs submitted from various DPF members.

>so long and convoluted...new thread with a boiled-down version of the various issues

 

[Jazzy B Bunny]

I just sent out two packages to the UK today, one had one pin in it (a Beloved Tales) and it was $6.55. Then the second one had two pins (two regular size LE pins from the park), and the price spiked up to $12.95!!! Ain't nobody got time to pay that much for shipping!!

:eek2: Well I was worried that the post office had put the wrong postage on and charged me too little. Thankfully my main packet I sent last week arrived to its destination! Thankfully. Was worried about it! I posted 1 regular sized pin to Canada on Monday and it cost £3.50 again!

 

[Vixy]

I recently traded with a DPF member in Italy, who requested that I send in a regular envelope to avoid customs fees. What we both did: wrap pin in a single piece of bubble wrap, wrap that in a white piece of paper, put in regular letter envelope. I sent it with regular international postage and added the amount for non-machinable (I have a postage meter at work that pulls up the latest rates for me). No customs form; my postman just picked it up.

I received my pin from him already; last I heard he hadn't received mine yet, but it hasn't been returned to me either, so we'll see. This obviously would only work with one pin, and I would only do this if the person I'm trading with wanted to, because of the lack of bubble mailer.

I just wanted to follow up on this post of mine; I heard from the person I traded with today, and my pin arrived in Italy just fine. So that's another option, if you're only trading a single pin; if you do it this way you don't even need to take it to the counter; you just drop it in the mail. I would just make sure to communicate with the other person first and make sure it's okay with them.

 

[suzanneb]

Frustrated ONCE AGAIN! Small pin (less than1/2 oz) going to France. I make sure it is flexible both length & widthwise. It has even thickness & less than 3/4 " thick. Can't camouflage that a small solid pin is inside. Supervisor feels it & says it needs to be "rigid all over", thus creating a "Catch 22", b/c it is also supposed to be flexible!?! I give up. Meanwhile, I've received bubble LBEs from 2 different FL traders that were accepted as large envelopes at the lower rate. Gee whiz & a lot stronger thoughts totally frustrated

 

[Bryana]

Changing my comment for now as I just re read one of imp's posts and am goi g to research it further.

 

[imp]

I'm putting together something that will try to incorporate the various issues raised in this thread. It might come in instalments, because I also plan to cover some of the customs issues.

If anyone has additional questions or concerns that should be addressed, or info that I should include, please let me know.

 

[dawny]

yeh my input. I literally got in a heated argument with my postal lady. She said ANY padded envelope is considered a package even tough their own site states otherwise. Next time I wrapped pins individually and put in a reg envelope that can bend, was under thickness yada yada and she was still PISSED. She also told me that now my pins would be going through the press machine which means the pins can get damaged. So last week 2 packages to France both with 5 pins and both $16 to ship. That's the fact jack.

 

[imp]

yeh my input. I literally got in a heated argument with my postal lady. She said ANY padded envelope is considered a package even tough their own site states otherwise. Next time I wrapped pins individually and put in a reg envelope that can bend, was under thickness yada yada and she was still PISSED. She also told me that now my pins would be going through the press machine which means the pins can get damaged. So last week 2 packages to France both with 5 pins and both $16 to ship. That's the fact jack.

Unfortunately stupid and stubborn is a nasty combination, and I just don't have a cure for that. Some offices/clerks are going to see reason, and some aren't. For those who, like me, relish a fight with the bureaucrats, I say go for it!, but I get that some people just don't want that added hassle in their lives if their local office gives them grief.

BTW: You could prominently mark the regular envelope, presumably with enough bubble wrap to make up for the lack of a bubble envelope, as "non-machinable" - it's only a $0.20 surcharge for a regular letter. (I'd cover the envelope with packing tape as well, so it doesn't tear.)