Re: OT: what's the best way to ship something overseas from the US?
From: David Savage [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2007/02/08 Thu AM 12:21:33 GMT To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List pdml@pdml.net Subject: Re: OT: what's the best way to ship something overseas from the US? At 01:50 AM 8/02/2007, Christian wrote: Amita Guha wrote: I just had to ship two lenses to buyers outside the US. USPS International Express Mail seemed like a good method because I would get a tracking number and insurance. The problem is that my 3 to 5 day delivery time ended up being about two weeks for each recipient (in the UK and France.) I ended up having to call the post office and track each package over the phone to get detailed information so that my buyers could get their packages. DHL and FedEx seem way too expensive. I know a lot of people ship things Airmail Parcel Post all the time without a problem, but doing that makes me nervous with certaun items. Is there another method I haven't thought of? Within the US and Canada I use FedEx Ground, which works great. Thanks, Amita I've always used USPS Express Mail (international) and the 3 to 5 days was 3 to 5 days. Even to Oz. The cost has only been slightly higher than Air Mail. Your experience makes me worried about the next time I send something overseas via this method... 3-5 days is excellent. Even 2 weeks is not bad IMO. How's this for delivery time: I bought a copy of Vic McBournies' Niagara Escarpment book. It was posted via surface mail on 7th November 2006 from eastern Canada. It arrived 6th February 2007. My old man was quite surprised to be receiving a Christmas gift in February. :-) Dave (from the arse end of the planet) I'm still waiting for a copy of a certain book. Three years. - Email sent from www.virginmedia.com/email Virus-checked using McAfee(R) Software and scanned for spam -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: OT: what's the best way to ship something overseas from the US?
On Wed, 7 Feb 2007, Cotty wrote: On 7/2/07, Joseph Tainter, discombobulated, unleashed: UPS and others charge extortionate brokerage fees and if they fail to deliver, their collection points are miles away. Parcel Force collection points are scattered evenly about and the nearest is a ten minute drive. Obviously you have had a bad experience and sure, parcels go missing, but based on my experience, I would not say that Parcel Force are pretty bad - in fact I'd say they are pretty good. .02 +.02 from me. Do you take AmEx? Kostas (and for the very same reasons as Cotty). -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: OT: what's the best way to ship something overseas from the US?
Yes, that happened to me this time. The part I find annoying is that one delivery attempt is made and then the customer isn't notified for a couple of days, or even a week, unless I track it down on my end. Amita On 2/7/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I had to track a USPS lens shipment to a customer in the UK. Turns out it was being held in customs. I think that's usually the case. Paul -- Original message -- From: Bruce Dayton [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hello Amita, Be glad you didn't send it to Italy. My experience twice there has been on the order of a month even with USPS fast delivery (about 1 week or less). The problem becomes once it leaves the US, the post office is at the mercy of the other country's mail system. Some countries are much better than others. I feel your pain. -- Bruce Wednesday, February 7, 2007, 8:46:36 AM, you wrote: AG I just had to ship two lenses to buyers outside the US. USPS AG International Express Mail seemed like a good method because I would AG get a tracking number and insurance. The problem is that my 3 to 5 AG day delivery time ended up being about two weeks for each recipient AG (in the UK and France.) I ended up having to call the post office and AG track each package over the phone to get detailed information so that AG my buyers could get their packages. AG DHL and FedEx seem way too expensive. I know a lot of people ship AG things Airmail Parcel Post all the time without a problem, but doing AG that makes me nervous with certaun items. Is there another method I AG haven't thought of? Within the US and Canada I use FedEx Ground, which AG works great. AG Thanks, AG Amita -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: OT: what's the best way to ship something overseas from the US?
No, I was talking about regular Express Mail, though I'm starting to think about using Global Express. I just hate charging $80 and up for shipping. Amita On 2/7/07, graywolf [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: You mean USPS Global Express? That is about the best way in my limited experience. Two weeks tends to be about the minimum, not the maximum. I do not think the problems are with the USPS, but with the postal service on the other end. -graywolf Amita Guha wrote: I just had to ship two lenses to buyers outside the US. USPS International Express Mail seemed like a good method because I would get a tracking number and insurance. The problem is that my 3 to 5 day delivery time ended up being about two weeks for each recipient (in the UK and France.) I ended up having to call the post office and track each package over the phone to get detailed information so that my buyers could get their packages. DHL and FedEx seem way too expensive. I know a lot of people ship things Airmail Parcel Post all the time without a problem, but doing that makes me nervous with certaun items. Is there another method I haven't thought of? Within the US and Canada I use FedEx Ground, which works great. Thanks, Amita -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: OT: what's the best way to ship something overseas from the US?
On 2/8/07, mike wilson [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: From: David Savage [EMAIL PROTECTED] snip My old man was quite surprised to be receiving a Christmas gift in February. :-) Dave (from the arse end of the planet) I'm still waiting for a copy of a certain book. Three years. Isn't that more a matter of it not having even been posted yet. Cheers, Dave -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: OT: what's the best way to ship something overseas from the US?
EMS? On 2/7/07, Amita Guha [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: DHL and FedEx seem way too expensive. I know a lot of people ship things Airmail Parcel Post all the time without a problem, but doing that makes me nervous with certaun items. Is there another method I haven't thought of? Within the US and Canada I use FedEx Ground, which works great. -- Boris -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
OT: what's the best way to ship something overseas from the US?
I just had to ship two lenses to buyers outside the US. USPS International Express Mail seemed like a good method because I would get a tracking number and insurance. The problem is that my 3 to 5 day delivery time ended up being about two weeks for each recipient (in the UK and France.) I ended up having to call the post office and track each package over the phone to get detailed information so that my buyers could get their packages. DHL and FedEx seem way too expensive. I know a lot of people ship things Airmail Parcel Post all the time without a problem, but doing that makes me nervous with certaun items. Is there another method I haven't thought of? Within the US and Canada I use FedEx Ground, which works great. Thanks, Amita -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: OT: what's the best way to ship something overseas from the US?
Amita Guha wrote: I just had to ship two lenses to buyers outside the US. USPS International Express Mail seemed like a good method because I would get a tracking number and insurance. The problem is that my 3 to 5 day delivery time ended up being about two weeks for each recipient (in the UK and France.) I ended up having to call the post office and track each package over the phone to get detailed information so that my buyers could get their packages. DHL and FedEx seem way too expensive. I know a lot of people ship things Airmail Parcel Post all the time without a problem, but doing that makes me nervous with certaun items. Is there another method I haven't thought of? Within the US and Canada I use FedEx Ground, which works great. Thanks, Amita I've always used USPS Express Mail (international) and the 3 to 5 days was 3 to 5 days. Even to Oz. The cost has only been slightly higher than Air Mail. Your experience makes me worried about the next time I send something overseas via this method... -- Christian http://photography.skofteland.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: OT: what's the best way to ship something overseas from the US?
I just had to ship two lenses to buyers outside the US. USPS International Express Mail seemed like a good method because I would get a tracking number and insurance. The problem is that my 3 to 5 day delivery time ended up being about two weeks for each recipient (in the UK and France.) I ended up having to call the post office and track each package over the phone to get detailed information so that my buyers could get their packages. DHL and FedEx seem way too expensive. I know a lot of people ship things Airmail Parcel Post all the time without a problem, but doing that makes me nervous with certaun items. Is there another method I haven't thought of? Within the US and Canada I use FedEx Ground, which works great. - Sending things overseas (to Britain) via USPS hasn't worked for me either. Packages wind up with something called Parcel Force in the UK. They are pretty bad. If an insured parcel gets lost (it happened to me once), USPS will take a year to pay you. I don't know how long the private carriers take because they've never lost one of mine. USPS's tracking is useless, even in the U.S. The private companies are expensive, but you will at least get a tracking number that works. The choices are pay a little and take your chances, or pay a lot and get a lot more certainty. Joe -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: OT: what's the best way to ship something overseas from the US?
Hello Amita, Be glad you didn't send it to Italy. My experience twice there has been on the order of a month even with USPS fast delivery (about 1 week or less). The problem becomes once it leaves the US, the post office is at the mercy of the other country's mail system. Some countries are much better than others. I feel your pain. -- Bruce Wednesday, February 7, 2007, 8:46:36 AM, you wrote: AG I just had to ship two lenses to buyers outside the US. USPS AG International Express Mail seemed like a good method because I would AG get a tracking number and insurance. The problem is that my 3 to 5 AG day delivery time ended up being about two weeks for each recipient AG (in the UK and France.) I ended up having to call the post office and AG track each package over the phone to get detailed information so that AG my buyers could get their packages. AG DHL and FedEx seem way too expensive. I know a lot of people ship AG things Airmail Parcel Post all the time without a problem, but doing AG that makes me nervous with certaun items. Is there another method I AG haven't thought of? Within the US and Canada I use FedEx Ground, which AG works great. AG Thanks, AG Amita -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: OT: what's the best way to ship something overseas from the US?
I've used USPS Global Express to ship packages to the UK, Germany, France, Hong Kong, Chile, Korea, and other places over the past year and a half, probably about two dozen packages or so. I've never had any problems with the package arriving, and in most cases they've made the 3-5 day delivery promise right on time. On two occasions they took about 8 days and caused a bit of worry, but there was no problem and they arrived at their destination in good condition. No shipping service is perfect. Insure, obtain tracking, and set reasonable expectations with any of them. Godfrey On Feb 7, 2007, at 8:46 AM, Amita Guha wrote: I just had to ship two lenses to buyers outside the US. USPS International Express Mail seemed like a good method because I would get a tracking number and insurance. The problem is that my 3 to 5 day delivery time ended up being about two weeks for each recipient (in the UK and France.) I ended up having to call the post office and track each package over the phone to get detailed information so that my buyers could get their packages. DHL and FedEx seem way too expensive. I know a lot of people ship things Airmail Parcel Post all the time without a problem, but doing that makes me nervous with certaun items. Is there another method I haven't thought of? Within the US and Canada I use FedEx Ground, which works great. Thanks, Amita -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: OT: what's the best way to ship something overseas from the US?
On 7/2/07, Bruce Dayton, discombobulated, unleashed: Be glad you didn't send it to Italy. My experience twice there has been on the order of a month even with USPS fast delivery (about 1 week or less). The problem becomes once it leaves the US, the post office is at the mercy of the other country's mail system. Some countries are much better than others. Ditto. I sent Parcel Force (UK parcels service, part of Royal Mail) to Italy, and it was there in a matter of a couple of days, and remained in the Italian system for a further 4 weeks! -- Cheers, Cotty ___/\__ || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche ||=|http://www.cottysnaps.com _ -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: OT: what's the best way to ship something overseas from the US?
On 7/2/07, Joseph Tainter, discombobulated, unleashed: Sending things overseas (to Britain) via USPS hasn't worked for me either. Packages wind up with something called Parcel Force in the UK. They are pretty bad. If an insured parcel gets lost (it happened to me once), USPS will take a year to pay you. Points of information: Parcel Farce (as known here ;-) is (was) a branch of the Royal Mail. It is effectively the parcel dept of our postal service. Depends what you mean by pretty bad. I send a ton of stuff using Parcel Force and have had no problems. I always ask if USA- originating packages can be sent USPS, as then it is delivered by Parcel Force, which I prefer. UPS and others charge extortionate brokerage fees and if they fail to deliver, their collection points are miles away. Parcel Force collection points are scattered evenly about and the nearest is a ten minute drive. Obviously you have had a bad experience and sure, parcels go missing, but based on my experience, I would not say that Parcel Force are pretty bad - in fact I'd say they are pretty good. .02 -- Cheers, Cotty ___/\__ || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche ||=|http://www.cottysnaps.com _ -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: OT: what's the best way to ship something overseas from the US?
I had to track a USPS lens shipment to a customer in the UK. Turns out it was being held in customs. I think that's usually the case. Paul -- Original message -- From: Bruce Dayton [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hello Amita, Be glad you didn't send it to Italy. My experience twice there has been on the order of a month even with USPS fast delivery (about 1 week or less). The problem becomes once it leaves the US, the post office is at the mercy of the other country's mail system. Some countries are much better than others. I feel your pain. -- Bruce Wednesday, February 7, 2007, 8:46:36 AM, you wrote: AG I just had to ship two lenses to buyers outside the US. USPS AG International Express Mail seemed like a good method because I would AG get a tracking number and insurance. The problem is that my 3 to 5 AG day delivery time ended up being about two weeks for each recipient AG (in the UK and France.) I ended up having to call the post office and AG track each package over the phone to get detailed information so that AG my buyers could get their packages. AG DHL and FedEx seem way too expensive. I know a lot of people ship AG things Airmail Parcel Post all the time without a problem, but doing AG that makes me nervous with certaun items. Is there another method I AG haven't thought of? Within the US and Canada I use FedEx Ground, which AG works great. AG Thanks, AG Amita -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: OT: what's the best way to ship something overseas from the US?
On Feb 7, 2007, at 12:29 PM, Cotty wrote: I sent Parcel Force (UK parcels service, part of Royal Mail) to Italy, and it was there in a matter of a couple of days, and remained in the Italian system for a further 4 weeks! The Italian postal system is a joke. I've sold a number of things on eBay to Italian buyers and it is always the same. No matter how I send it, it takes months. I now advise Italian buyers of this before they pay and tell them if they buy they are not to bother me for two months if they don't get their item. I always use a service that can be tracked, and the parcel is always turned over to the Italian postal system in a few days. Where it goes after that for a month or two is not my concern. Under international shipping tariffs, title to the goods passes to the buyer when I hand the package across the counter at the Post Office. Bob -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: OT: what's the best way to ship something overseas from the US?
You mean USPS Global Express? That is about the best way in my limited experience. Two weeks tends to be about the minimum, not the maximum. I do not think the problems are with the USPS, but with the postal service on the other end. -graywolf Amita Guha wrote: I just had to ship two lenses to buyers outside the US. USPS International Express Mail seemed like a good method because I would get a tracking number and insurance. The problem is that my 3 to 5 day delivery time ended up being about two weeks for each recipient (in the UK and France.) I ended up having to call the post office and track each package over the phone to get detailed information so that my buyers could get their packages. DHL and FedEx seem way too expensive. I know a lot of people ship things Airmail Parcel Post all the time without a problem, but doing that makes me nervous with certaun items. Is there another method I haven't thought of? Within the US and Canada I use FedEx Ground, which works great. Thanks, Amita -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: OT: what's the best way to ship something overseas from the US?
I have bought several lenses etc from US sellers and its always been USPS then over to Canada Post. Sometimes its only a week, sometimes around 4 -5 weeks. Always opened. Dave On 2/7/07, graywolf [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: You mean USPS Global Express? That is about the best way in my limited experience. Two weeks tends to be about the minimum, not the maximum. I do not think the problems are with the USPS, but with the postal service on the other end. -graywolf Amita Guha wrote: I just had to ship two lenses to buyers outside the US. USPS International Express Mail seemed like a good method because I would get a tracking number and insurance. The problem is that my 3 to 5 day delivery time ended up being about two weeks for each recipient (in the UK and France.) I ended up having to call the post office and track each package over the phone to get detailed information so that my buyers could get their packages. DHL and FedEx seem way too expensive. I know a lot of people ship things Airmail Parcel Post all the time without a problem, but doing that makes me nervous with certaun items. Is there another method I haven't thought of? Within the US and Canada I use FedEx Ground, which works great. Thanks, Amita -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- Equine Photography www.caughtinmotion.com Ontario Canada -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: OT: what's the best way to ship something overseas from the US?
At 01:50 AM 8/02/2007, Christian wrote: Amita Guha wrote: I just had to ship two lenses to buyers outside the US. USPS International Express Mail seemed like a good method because I would get a tracking number and insurance. The problem is that my 3 to 5 day delivery time ended up being about two weeks for each recipient (in the UK and France.) I ended up having to call the post office and track each package over the phone to get detailed information so that my buyers could get their packages. DHL and FedEx seem way too expensive. I know a lot of people ship things Airmail Parcel Post all the time without a problem, but doing that makes me nervous with certaun items. Is there another method I haven't thought of? Within the US and Canada I use FedEx Ground, which works great. Thanks, Amita I've always used USPS Express Mail (international) and the 3 to 5 days was 3 to 5 days. Even to Oz. The cost has only been slightly higher than Air Mail. Your experience makes me worried about the next time I send something overseas via this method... 3-5 days is excellent. Even 2 weeks is not bad IMO. How's this for delivery time: I bought a copy of Vic McBournies' Niagara Escarpment book. It was posted via surface mail on 7th November 2006 from eastern Canada. It arrived 6th February 2007. My old man was quite surprised to be receiving a Christmas gift in February. :-) Dave (from the arse end of the planet) -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
