International shipping?

[Rachels]

What's a good way to ship stuff internationally? UPS wanted over a hundred bucks to send a small box to Germany. Eyeroll. I know there has to be a better way.

-Rachel
Mama to Abigail Rose
5/18/02
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_amethyst_36m.gif
Nursed for three years!

and Ethan James
10/19/05
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/bf.jpg


"When you know better, you do better."
Maya

[Sillygirl]

Have you checked the post office airmail rates? I sent a sizeable package to Kiribati today (12" x 15" x 10" and probably 10 lbs) and it cost $65. Kiribati is a LONG way away so I though that actually wasn't a bad deal. I'll bet to someplace like Germany, with a smaller box, you would pay around $30.

[bostonsmama]

Same here. My brother is in Japan (and NOT in the military, as those mail rates would be just the cost of shipping to a California postal code) and when we ship him stuff, we use the airmail envelopes and boxes. There are weight restrictions. I think it was $7 to send a deoderant stick from the east coast and $60 to send a couple tubes of toothpaste, granola bars and computer software. Not cheap, but NOT $100! Also, most of these couriers offer deep discounts (or lower rates at least) for packages going to commerical/business addresses. IF you send UPS, FEdEx, or DHL (I'd check them, too), they give substantially lower rates for business addresses that receive packages from them often.

HTH!
Larissa
who's gettin in the holiday mood

"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them." -
James Baldwin

[kozachka]

I've shipped from CA to Netherlands and UK using USPS without any problems. Most of the time I paid in the $10-$15 range for a small box. You can estimate the cost of shipping on their website to save yourself a trip to the post office.

[jamsmu]

usps global priorityhas been really reasonable for me

[kaylinsmommy2]

Wow, $100? That's a lot. I also shipped through USPS to Denmark quite a few times (SIL was there as an exchange student) - always less than $20 for small to med sized (but light) boxes. I don't remember any specifics, but it wasn't so to deter me from sending more than one care package.
Caroline
Kaylin 6/5/04

http://b2.lilypie.com/9KMlm7/.png[/img][/url]

[Elena]

USPS is your best option. We ship internationally quite a lot so I know the prices of all the major carriers.

Here is the page to estimate your shipping charges:

http://ircalc.usps.gov/

HTH

[s7714]

Ditto all the PPs about USPS. The few times I've tried UPS or FedEx for int'l shipping I've had bad results. The USPS and regular postal systems in other countries have never given me a problem and have always had the best rates.

Jennifer
Mommy to
Annalia 3/03
Sophia 6/05

When raising kids the days are oh so long, but the years are short.--John Leguizamo