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'Not sure where the best place is to post this question. I've not shipped internationally, and am pretty ignorant about how to do. Are there places to look, threads to read about how to do this? What risks, special packing. I know some in more remote locations do this all the time, but right now, it's something I've not done & don't know how to do well.
Mods, if needs to be in another forum, pls. move or let me know and I'll open the thread there.
The biggest problems with International shipping is the Insurance, Tracking, and Customs...
Many destinations don't offer Insurance through USPS and other companies are hugely expensive... Tracking is only offered through the other countries customs center with USPS
Now comes my personal biggest problem Customs...
I do mostly restores so I am sending their own razor back to them, there should be no duties, but many countries try and tack on duty charges regardless based on the value that you declare... That isn't really fair to the owner...
I have found my best recourse is to actually go to the little local Post Office where I know the Postmaster by her first name and she helps me every single time to figure out the safest and most economical way to ship.... I have tried to do it on the websites and it gets way to confusing way to fast for me...
Glen, Thank You!
Being fortunate enough to also live in a small town, the post office is alot more friendly, personal and helpful. I'll go there and ask the questions & see how much I can learn.
Thank You again, Glen. 'Sure appreciate your help.
The expense can be problematic too. If you choose regular Global Priority, the post office says this is a contracted service so if anything goes wrong it's on you. If you do Express and insure, the cost is way high. The customs can be a problem as a razor can sit there for weeks or like in Canada, it may get to the person in a week or 3 or 4. Some countries are quicker to process and some are not. Alternatively UPS and Fed-Ex are pretty pricey.
The toughest part is for the customers who pay for quicker or expedited shipping and don't understand that once the package leaves your hands, you are not in control of the delivery time.........lol
I usually indicate shaving supplies and repair on the customs forms.
Small town post offices rock!! I have a permanent place in line at ours.........;)
Have fun,
Lynn
Probably one of the most distasteful things I can do in life is going to the Post Office and wait in line for 30 minutes or more. I'll do anything to avoid it. Unfortunately to ship international you have to go there in person. As has been said insurance can be a problem. many classes of mail have really low limits depending where it is going. Of course customs is another issue because many countries derive a big chunk of money from Customs Duties. The U.S is really good in this area. Shipping Fedex or UPS International is really expensive and guarantees Customs Duty. Probably EMS is the fastest and safest way and is pricey. I don't envy anyone who does a lot of International Shipping.