shipping charges to other countries

[coffeeman]

I need some help. I have had people from other countries ask about me shipping items to them. How do some of you calculate what is appropriate to charge to make sure you do not quote an amount too small.

Thanks in advance for any assissance...

[The Deacon]

Well the US Post Office website will let you calculate postage if you know the weight of the article, where you want to send it, and how you want to ship it. If you're talking a single Spyderco knife, all but the heaviest can be wrapped in bubble pack, stuck in a one of the large Global Priority Mail Tyvek envelopes and sent at the 8oz. or less rate. The rest can be sent the same way at the 1lb. and under rate. The charges varies by country, from $6 to $9 for 8oz. and $2 more for 1lb. Only caveat is that GPM cannot be insured. There are cheaper, cardboard, flat rate GPM envelopes, but they seem very flimsy to me and not worth the risk for a couple bucks worth of postage. I've sent a bunch of stuff by GPM to a number of countries with no problems.

[Clay Kesting]

FWIW my burgundy Calypso Jr cost US$17 to send to Australia by USPS Global Express. This has the advantage that it includes insurance and is surprisingly quick, only 8 days including opening by Australian Customs.

clay

[pmel018]

Hi Guys
$9 - $12US to send a Police to New Zealand by USPS Global Priority, never lost one yet. Can take as little as 5 days, sometimes 10days but NZ Customs seldom opens the package.
phil

[J Smith]

Best way is USPS global priority.Up to 4 lbs in the sm mailer not sure on the lbs on the lg one but they are a flat rate 5.00 for small(4.00 to some places)10.00 for large(9.00 to some places)Most of the time they get delivered in 4 to 6 days and have a tracking number at no extra cost.One other thing I have noticed is they don't seem to get searched by customs like a box does.

[The Deacon]

Many moons ago, I was working in shipping when Tyvek envelopes first hit the market. We did some ridiculous tests, like putting a steel gear that had to weigh 2lbs in one an shaking it around as hard as we could and banging it down on a wooden counter. Even when we did manage to get a tooth or two to penetrate it, the damage never spread. I trust it a whole lot more that the flimsy cardboard ones, they feel like recycled ceral boxes to me. Could be wrong, but think most buyers would rather pay the couple dollars difference in cost for the extra degree of certainty that the item will still be inside when the envelope arrives.

[J Smith]

I agree that those envelopes are not made very well.When I use them I use a whole lot of clear packing tape on them to ensure they will not come open,in fact I think one after I get done with it is a strong as a box.

[mikewww]

A medium-sized knife in a padded envelope from Holland to South Africa costs 22.5 Euros ($28.2 176.8 SA Rands) This is air mail and insured, I believe, and takes around seven days, most of this sitting in postal depots. Anything from Spyderco to South Africa is $25. NGK to South Africa by USPS varies according to weight. Insurance is optional.

[Ted]

small USPS Global Priority Flat Rate envelopes & transparant tape haved served me very well from the US. Among many Spyderco's were two Sebenza's and a Strider PT. Always exciting to have $400 items shipped for $5 (uninsured) :eek: :D

[The Deacon]

small USPS Global Priority Flat Rate & transparant tape haved served me very well from the US. Among many Spyderco's were two Sebenza's and a Strider PT. Always exciting to have $400 items shipped for $5 (uninsured) :eek: :D

Ted, I don't visit the casinos, or "play the ponies", or even buy a LOTTO ticket. Shipping Spydies uninsured is the only gambling I do :D and yes, it can give me a rush at times. :o

[Senate]

For expensive items, say over 200$, I take no chance and choose USPS Gobal Express Mail, it's expensive but worldwide trackable and fast. Moreover, a shipping of 10% of the knife price for tranquility is something I can afford.
for less expesnive knives I use Global Priority or Airmail, from 5$ to 15$...

[J Smith]

small USPS Global Priority Flat Rate envelopes & transparant tape haved served me very well from the US. Among many Spyderco's were two Sebenza's and a Strider PT. Always exciting to have $400 items shipped for $5 (uninsured) :eek: :D

How did the package the Starmate was in look after it got to you.Wondering how my tape jobs really hold up.

[Ted]

Perfect as far as I can remember. As long as the edges and the opening stripped are taped, the envelopes work great!