The costs of international postage are crazy

[Kiwi cop]

One of the issues of living down under is that the costs of international postage, particularly from the US, can be high. This makes purchasing items over the internet sometimes not worth the advantages of waiting until the local distributor can get them into the country (usually at least 6 weeks from order).

As I explained elsewhere (Reloading the .32 ACP) last night I had an issue develop with one of my Lee Auto Drum powder dispensers. This morning I had another look at the problem and then hit the 'net to see if there were any spare parts available. The local distributors didn't have any parts listed (not uncommon) so I looked in the US.

Lee Precision lists a plastic mold kit for the Auto Drum. The good news is that it is only US $5. The better news is that they give a second one free.

I don't mind paying the additional US$15 overseas handling fee (there is some paperwork involved), but the only mail option is international first class at US$64/NZ$100!!!!

The place I get most of my reloading and replacement parts from in the US also does not list the parts package.

I will try the main local importer tomorrow (Monday) by phone to see if they have or can get the kit. Baring that it will be cheaper for me to buy a whole new auto drum

 

[old bear]

I had no idea international shipping/post was so expensive. At those prices you may want to stock up, as you can.

 

[Onomea]

Kiwi, you need to strategically place a kid in the US — say, for college or work — and then have all your US goodies shipped to the kid to lug back when he/she comes home to visit...

 

[Kiwi cop]

Kiwi, you need to strategically place a kid in the US — say, for college or work — and then have all your US goodies shipped to the kid to lug back when he/she comes home to visit...

Yep,

Did that in October/November. Me

Cost me the better part of NZ$500 in excess baggage

Unfortunately I didn't predict this one.

 

[pawngal]

Lee Precision lists a plastic mold kit for the Auto Drum. The good news is that it is only US $5. The better news is that they give a second one free.

I don't mind paying the additional US$15 overseas handling fee (there is some paperwork involved), but the only mail option is international first class at US$64/NZ$100!!!!

What is the weight of the Item? The weight limit on international first class is 4 pounds And even 4 pounds is less than that.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

This is not new. I've been retired 3 years now, and before that I had regular customers in Australia and New Zealand. In many cases these customers were members of shooting clubs, and I recommended that they consult other members and combine orders to avoid excessive delivery costs. Last order I remember sending to Oz consisted of 5 or 6 holsters, couple of belts, and a pouch or two (totaling perhaps 3 lbs), and the postage was $78.00-US. That might be compared to 5 or 6 individual customers each paying $25.00 or more each.

Another factor that kicks in on international orders is the customs fees or import duties. Many customers in Europe did not mind paying $15.00-US for a holster delivery, but found out that their loving governments expected another $20.00 or more when the parcel arrived! Italy seemed to be especially aggressive in collecting import taxes, and Germany was not shy about getting its "fair share" of international commerce.

I remember customers in several countries requesting discretion on the customs declaration forms because their governments were not particularly friendly toward gun owners; I used the term "leather goods" frequently rather than describing a "pistol holster" or other gun-related terminology.

Couple of customers in Japan (where practically no one is allowed firearms) were "collectors" of "American artifacts".

Then there was the customer in Israel who paid his order in US cash and requested delivery to a post office box address with no name on the parcel, and no maker's marks on his holster. Hmmmm.............?

South Africa was a regular source of orders, also with some unusual requests for customs declarations.

UK customers were also frequently "collectors".

Those of us here in the United States are currently complaining about the new "internet sales taxes", but we should be counting our blessings as we are still able to get just about anything we want without a lot of government interference.

 

[DWalt]

What ever happened to USPS first class international small parcel? It's been some years since I shipped anything out of the country, but that's how I did it. I think maximum weight was 4 pounds, and it wasn't that expensive. Might be different depending on what country you sent to. Most of my sales were to the various European countries.

 

[rwsmith]

My wife told me years ago...

Missus Smiff, the postal lady, told me that the postage rates in the US were CHEAP compared to those worldwide.

 

[Valmet]

Hell, the cost of national postage is expensive, I can’t imagine international...

 

[Kiwi cop]

What ever happened to USPS first class international small parcel? It's been some years since I shipped anything out of the country, but that's how I did it. I think maximum weight was 4 pounds, and it wasn't that expensive. Might be different depending on what country you sent to. Most of my sales were to the various European countries.

I sent a parcel of shooting goodies home from St Louis. Just under US$100 for a 12"X 8"X 5" box with a max weight of 20 Ib's. When I filled in the customs declaration I was reasonably honest, 3 X holsters, some magazine loaders, a couple of undersized sizing dies. Came to about US $340.

A week after I got home I queried where the parcel was. It was sitting in Customs in Auckland. They wanted another NZ$145 for clearance fees (opening the box) and import duty/taxes.

As it was we ended up paying for an additional two suitcases home and I could have gotten them in the suitcases no problem.

As for customs, coming through Auckland migration I declared some Wilson Combat 1911 magazines and a few other items I had import permits for. Customs not only didn't want to know they refused to sign my import permits.

 

[Texas Star]

I had an Austrian friend who reads English well. She could get David Lindsey's detective books there in German, but wanted to read them in English.

So, I sent her a couple of paperback books. And I sent a Czech girl a copy of Doyle's, The Lost World.

In both cases, postage was quite a bit more than I paid for the books.

But postage was only part of the problem. A postal clerk misunderstood where the first books were going, and told me, "They don't have no post offices in Australia." She'd never even heard of Austria!

She called a supervisor and the books got sent, arriving about a week later. Larissa (the recipient) repaid me by sending very crisp, new US bills, of a newer series than I'd seen here. They were valid. I guess Euro banks sometimes get new US money before we see it here.

A member here who lives in a far-off country recently sent me a leather sheath for a Fallkniven knife, Model A-1.

The sheath was sent to him from the firm's address in Sweden and had a long trip to him. He decided to have a new sheath made, more to his liking, and offered me the factory sheath. He paid postage and declined my offer to repay him. I don't know what that gift cost to ship, but it was probably a lot.
I do like the sheath and want this man to know that I very much appreciate the gift, shipping and all.
He'll recognize himself if he reads this.

 

[KalamazooKid]

My business is international package consolidation and shipping. We can save customers up to 80% off the cost of First Class Package International. These high rates you’re talking about in this thread are what fuels growth for us. I sent Kiwi a PM. [emoji41]

 

[bigwheelzip]

After their first visit to the USA in 1983, my Swiss friends had cravings for some things they couldn't find at home. They wanted Taco Dinner Kits, Blueberry Muffin Mix (with can of Blueberries inside), Pancake Mix, Maple Pancake Syrup, and Kahlua.
It was a heavy box, but there was a USPS postal option that transported by sea and took a month to arrive and at a reasonable cost. Don't know if that option is still available, but might be worth investigating if your not in a hurry.
BTW: The Kahlua bottle arrived empty, with the cap still on tight and no spilled contents in the box.