Any tips for international shipping, from the states to australia. I want to buy some socket sets amongst other things from the states, but to ship a 3/8' and 1/4" socket set I am looking at $160 USD in shipping. Any other avenues I can take besides flying over and taking them back in my suitcase? I have a friend moving over there in a few weeks so he can consolidate for me. Would sea freight be the best option?
International shipping tips
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Corndoggeh
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Depends on who you are buying from. If you have a friend that can buy them and its under 4 pounds he can ship them for around $35 with USPS and a flat rate bubble envelope. I think its $42 for an box.
nickjj
Well-known member
Try Borderlynx,cheaper shipping
Will be way more than 4 pounds, the 3/8" socket set is 11.2 pounds on it's own. was planning on grabbing a bit more stuff to, so was going to get him to consolidate into a big box and ship over.
Corndoggeh
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How many pounds in total are we talking about here?
USPS flat rate priority mail boxes and padded envelopes are the cheapest I know of. Boxes are limited to 20 lbs. and envelopes are limited to 4 lbs. for international shipments though. Envelope is around 32 dollars, medium box is around 63 and I don't remember the large box, but I think around 70.
mmason7764
Well-known member
Newbie12,
I got curious and poked around a little bit and the prices I saw made my eyes water. I can understand how frustrating this must be.
My only suggestion would be to e-mail the retailers you are considering asking if they have any reasonably priced shipping options. I have heard here on JG that Harry J Epstein's can ship internationally.
I got curious and poked around a little bit and the prices I saw made my eyes water. I can understand how frustrating this must be.
My only suggestion would be to e-mail the retailers you are considering asking if they have any reasonably priced shipping options. I have heard here on JG that Harry J Epstein's can ship internationally.
American Locomotive
Well-known member
I bought a set of Vessel screwdrivers straight from Japan via E-Bay. They shipped it through Japan Post to the U.S., and it was only $15. Came in a box, not an envelope. There's gotta be cheaper shipping options then paying $170.
I thought 170 AUD for 15kg was pretty good, much better than 140 USD for two socket sets which about 4 shops have quoted so far.
I might be onto a mail forwarder that can do sea freight so I might end up getting my jack and jack stands from over there too, and ship it all over if I can't find a long reach one in aus.
American Locomotive
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What shops are you looking at? Have you tried searching E-Bay U.S.?
racingtadpole
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I’ve always used USPS flat rate boxes. What brand gear are you buying?
Coolabah
Well-known member
More information ? Who are you ordering from ??
I've ordered stuff from the States going back 25 years, never , ever paid anywhere near that much for shipping.
DO NOT ship by sea , they will charge you $500 just for looking at your invoice when item arrives.
Ntx was one, I will get the other shops tomorrow I left my spreadsheet with all my links at work. The estimate I got forship was about 350 for 100 kg. The 15kg was another estimate. If can get good shipping rates I will buy more and more stuff basically, but the shop's were wanting 120-160usd for 2 socket set
MikeF2316
Well-known member
And us Canadians whine about shipping from the US.
One thing I can tell you is research your customs fees. UPS seems like a good deal from US to Canada, but every Canadian does that a maximum of once - they kill you with customs fees.
For us USPS and Canada Post is much better, although sometimes USPS hands off to Canpar, which also works well.
One thing I can tell you is research your customs fees. UPS seems like a good deal from US to Canada, but every Canadian does that a maximum of once - they kill you with customs fees.
For us USPS and Canada Post is much better, although sometimes USPS hands off to Canpar, which also works well.
racingtadpole
Well-known member
With regard to customs, currently the rule is its payable on anything over $200, BUT.. not collected on anything under $1000 because cost of enforcement exceeds the returned revenue. As of 1 July this year GST was supposed to be collected on ALL overseas purchases, however that has been halted because the Australian Government realised they had no means of enforcement when most of the major onlines said no to collecting on behalf of Mr Turnball.
Only Canadians with COMMON SENSE use UPS the one time. Somehow I managed to do it TWICE. Shoot me now......
Coolabah
Well-known member
You are STILL not giving much information - so take this as advice given in a general nature ?
...but maybe look at shipping less for less cost each time ? Careful of the A $1,000 "limit" ... you will be hit hard and often if you exceed = items + shipping TOTAL whether air or sea.
Anything that arrives by sea, you will be overwhelmed by the extra costs.... think big here. I ordered an anvil , cost me $1500 processing fees ONCE ITEM ARRIVED... had to pay a $300 quarantine WOOD inspection fee - original DOCUMENTED plastc pallet was swapped somewhere in-transit for a wood one. Mafia tales , anyone ????
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