Thread: Advice on shipping

I know I am new here but I have some great advice for you when shipping your razors. I have shipped every legally allowable gun part, knives, scuba equipment, computer parts, smoking pipes, lots of different crap.

razors are fairly delicate, pack them in a BOX, you can get them free from the post office, and with the cheap prices on priority mail ship them that way. always get insurance. I don't even offer people options on shipping unless they specifically ask for crappier shipping I always do UPS or USPS priority mail. a box, with bubble wrap or other padding. padded envelopes do not offer enough protection!!!

even with great precautions s*#t happens, however thats no reason not be cautious to begin with

Red

I can only agree with you.

OTOH I have shipped about 40 hones around the globe up to now and all of them arrived safe and sound.I have recieved an even larger number of shaving related items form around the globe and they too arrived safe and sound with no exception. And I have received stuff from Bulgaria, shipped to Estland.

Just pack them well, make sure the address label is legible and the address is correct. I never describe an item as antique as that might attract the attention of thieving postmen. Just put "razor" or "sharpening stone" on the label.

Originally Posted by Kees

And I have received stuff from Bulgaria, shipped to Estland.

As your junior representative from Bulgaria, I'm very glad to hear that the iron curtain remains porous

As a matter of fact while I was living in Europe I found that the mail from bulgaria was a whole lot faster than mail whithin europe (Germany, Italy) - 1 week vs. 2-3. Now Bulgaria is part of EU, so this discrepancy should be rectified promptly.

Originally Posted by gugi

... Now Bulgaria is part of EU, so this discrepancy should be rectified promptly.

At least the Irish are looking out for Bulgaria's postal interests.

Originally Posted by Big Red

I always do UPS or USPS priority mail. a box

If you ship internationally, please avoid UPS. They ask astronomical brokeage fees. And I mean minimum 20$ whatever you buy. Last time I had to pay 42$ for a package that worth 110$.

Never had problem with USPS.

UPS and Fed-Ex are good abput paying claims if they lose a package...


DHL and USPS are not. For that matter, It's less painful to pull teeth than get a claim paid by either of these companies.

I generally use boxes that are bigger than I actually need just so they don't get lost so easily.

Originally Posted by cybrok

If you ship internationally, please avoid UPS. They ask astronomical brokeage fees. And I mean minimum 20$ whatever you buy. Last time I had to pay 42$ for a package that worth 110$.

Never had problem with USPS.

Just a question from a non-native speaker. I presume you mean brokerage fee. I just wonder why one would have to pay such a fee? What's there to be brokered by UPS?

And more in general: how can I avoid UPS (on behalf of the adressee) when I send sth from the Nehterlands?

"Brokerage fees" is how UPS describes their "service" of collecting any taxes or duties owing on international shipments. They are infamous for overcharging. Often the brokerage charges are higher than the shipping (and that's not including the taxes).

UPS is okay for domestic shipments, but should be avoided cross-border if there's any other option.

The Post Office will sometimes collect taxes too (they don't usually bother on lower-value items). When they do so collect the taxes, they charge a flat $5 fee for brokerage. Yes, I'm a big fan of the post office!

So do you guys (in U.S.A. and Canada) have to pay taxes etc. on stuff that is sent to you from e.g. Europe?

Originally Posted by RetroGrouch

"Brokerage fees" is how UPS describes their "service" of collecting any taxes or duties owing on international shipments. They are infamous for overcharging. Often the brokerage charges are higher than the shipping (and that's not including the taxes).

UPS is okay for domestic shipments, but should be avoided cross-border if there's any other option.

The Post Office will sometimes collect taxes too (they don't usually bother on lower-value items). When they do so collect the taxes, they charge a flat $5 fee for brokerage. Yes, I'm a big fan of the post office!

In Canada, we do. But again, if it's a fairly low value item (under $100 or so) and it's sent by the Post Office, taxes and duties won't normally be collected.

If it's sent by UPS, they'll collect taxes for sure and charge you through the nose for doing so.

Recent example:

A item valued at $100 was shipped to me by UPS. The shipping cost the seller $22.

Upon delivery, UPS made me pay $52.00. Of the $52.00, $12 was for the taxes, and $40 was for "brokerage fees".

If the seller had sent the package by Post Office, It's unlikely I'd have had to pay anything. Worst case: The $12 in taxes, plus their flat $5 fee.