Mail & Shipping - Recommendations, Questions, and Answers

Chloe Brooks86 said:Back at it again with my endless struggles with the USPS.😁

So this lady needs to mail me a small package with a few pairs of girls' pants (exactly 4 pairs), but she says she went to the post office and they quoted her something like $5.😕 Is there really no cheaper way? I see people online sending packages for like $1.50-$6.75.🤷 It’s just going from Savannah to San Francisco.

She has to specifically tell the clerk she wants to send it as a flat-rate package, otherwise they just process it as standard mail based on weight, which is why the price jumps up so much.

Looks like nobody can get the Instagram album to work today 😢

CASH ON DELIVERY SHIPPING

I frequently send things via COD—say, a book or two—and the recipient ends up paying someone else $13 for the shipping and those extra service fees (apparently, he insists on using FedEx Express). So, I was wondering if it’s possible to just use standard USPS mail instead? Something where the postage is maybe around a couple of bucks, but still allows for a cash on delivery option?

I'm thinking about ordering a LEGO set from overseas (Germany).

I've already heard some rumors that customs might hit me pretty hard depending on how big the set is.
Is that actually true—does the size of the package determine the customs fees?

And how does the math even work for those charges?
The set is worth $92, so what would my total be after everything is factored in?
(It's a pretty big set, so I'm assuming there will be some extra costs)

Also, regarding the payment, is a Chase transfer just a standard bank wire via a check, or...?

Where do I actually pay the customs fees, and how does the package get delivered once that's all settled?

I haven't really done much international shopping before.

Any help would be awesome!

Thanks in advance.

Check out the business PDF on the PayPal site; it’s easily the simplest way to handle international payments. Give it a read when you have a moment, there's plenty of info in there.
Customs usually applies to anything over $53, though sometimes a hundred bucks slips through without any extra fees. It really just comes down to luck.

Forget PayPal, that shop charges an extra fee on top of everything.
But how does customs actually work?
Is it like, 20% of the total price or what?

Expect to pay about 40-50% of the total price

Hey everyone!
I haven't really sent anything big yet, so I'm not quite sure. How do you guys handle shipping coats or heavier items? Do you just wrap them up and toss them in a box, or what? 😁

Just put it in a bag, then in a box, wrap it up, add some padding, and send it off as a package to $4.25, provided the value is under $27 and the weight stays below 5 kg

Hey...
I have a quick question...
I bought a bundle of tech gear on eBay worth $333...
The equipment is pretty heavy, though I’m sure it’s under 22 lbs...
What’s the best way to ship this??
I want something that won't break the bank, but still offers solid insurance if something goes wrong. Though, honestly, I can't imagine anyone losing a package that's a meter by a meter... 🤷 or is that actually possible??
I've dealt with lost packages before, so I'm pretty skeptical about using the mail, but I don't really have any other choice...😢😢

I think you're better off sticking with City Express or HP Express.

Chloe Moore65 said:expect to pay about 40-50% of the listed price

🙄
What am I going to do if I order that $333...
set for my birthday?

So, what's the best way to pack up a phone box?

On paper? In some yellow envelope?

Chloe Moore65 said:Just pop it in a bag, then a box, wrap it up, tie it with some twine, and send it off as a package to $4.25, provided the value is under $27 and it weighs less than 5 kg

But how would they even know what the value is? 😕
Can I just use any old box, and should I wrap it in white paper or something else?

Just declare the actual value yourself. If an item is worth more than $67, you should list it that way; you'll pay a bit extra, but if the package goes missing, you're covered for the full amount. For smaller items, always just put $27, since shipping costs the same whether it's $10 or $27, and you'd only get $27 in a loss scenario.

White paper works great, though brown paper is fine too if you have it. Any box will work, depending on how much stuff you're sending.

You can easily calculate all the different shipping rates on the USPS website.

Hey everyone...

So...
I've sent plenty of packages before and everything went smooth... somehow...

But I've got a question. I want to ship my PC using the original box it came in via FedEx...
Do I actually need to wrap the whole thing, or can I just tape it up? And where am I supposed to put my name and address??

Sorry if this has already been covered, I tried digging through the threads but couldn't find anything on it.

So, let's say I order something and decide to go with Cash on Delivery. What happens if I’m just not home when the UPS guy shows up at my door? Like, am I actually able to swing by a local post office to pick it up within some window of days, or does the whole thing just get sent right back to the sender immediately?

(Edit: I'll update my first post with the answer once I figure it out)

Do you think those folks at the post office actually have any clue when I drop off my little package via HP?

Help!

Seriously, Harry Potter! 😠 😠 😠

A yellow envelope was sent out—but it hasn't arrived at the address yet.
It didn't get sent back to me either.
Where on earth is it?!?! 😠

I have the receipt right here—but the local Post Office won't help since it wasn't sent via certified mail.