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How to ship international?!?!

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How to ship international?!?!
D3COY

D3COY

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Are there any experts out there on shipping international? Cause I wanna make a trade with someone in another country but I have never done it before! A tutorial would be cool :)
 
You need a shiney new bubble mailer, a customs form (get a stack of em for free at any usps location.) bubble wrap, and packing tape.

the quick and dirty....

  1. wrap the pin in 2-4 layers of bubble wrap to protect it and the posts from any damage.
  2. set aside and get out the nice shiney new bubble mailer.
  3. On the front, just like a normal envelope, write your addy in the top corner and their addy in the center. (do this before putting the pin inside, easier.)
  4. Seal the envelope. and put a layer of tape over the closure flap.
  5. fill out the customs form. Press firmly to make the writing go through all layers.
  6. Do not forget to sign the bottom of the customs form!!!!!
  7. customs form has a sticky back, stick it to the back of your package.
  8. Take the package to the USPS location and mail it out.

Paying for international tracking is extremely expensive. I usually ship first class international, and the package can be tracked via the customs form/receipt until it leaves the country.

Average prices are changing soon, but figure for up to 5 ounces your looking at about $7.00 max. a PODM in a standard bubble mailer weighs just over 4 ounces.
 
Thanks Psycho! That helped a lot! David I also sent you an email as well, and Steve that is an excellent website! Thank you very much everyone!
 
Very important point if shipping to the UK - always mark as a "gift" and show the value as less than 25 dollars otherwise the addressee has to pay mega pounds in tax to get it!
 
Minnie594 said:
Very important point if shipping to the UK - always mark as a "gift" and show the value as less than 25 dollars otherwise the addressee has to pay mega pounds in tax to get it!
Click to expand...

This is SO important! I ALWAYS get caught with this one when buying from ebay.com I just had to pay a £20 ($32) customs charge on a $61 pin :facepalm:
 
Minnie594 said:
Very important point if shipping to the UK - always mark as a "gift" and show the value as less than 25 dollars otherwise the addressee has to pay mega pounds in tax to get it!
Click to expand...

I always put 20.00 max on any package going overseas. All of the countries except the US seem to charge high fees.
 
And the important tip, mail your package out by January 26, 2013, before the new prices hit! Right now, it's $3 for the first ounce, 78-cents for each additional ounce. Beginning on January 27, 2013 (for those post offices open on Sundays [for example, those that serve Seventh-Day Adventist communities are closed on Saturdays, open on Sundays), shipping jumps up to $6.55 for the first two ounces and rises from there!
 
Minnie594 said:
Very important point if shipping to the UK - always mark as a "gift" and show the value as less than 25 dollars otherwise the addressee has to pay mega pounds in tax to get it!
Click to expand...

So, if I marked my pins 'value' at $25, going to the UK, the other person is going to get taxed?? UGH!!!! Or is it $25 and less that is OK?
Learn something new every day.
 
LuvSimba said:
So, if I marked my pins 'value' at $25, going to the UK, the other person is going to get taxed?? UGH!!!! Or is it $25 and less that is OK?
Learn something new every day.
Click to expand...

sometimes! the thing is depending on the value of the pin you're sending sometimes it is better to put the actual cost of the pin on and for us here in the UK to pay the import duty because that way if, heaven forbid something does go wrong and the pin goes astray in the mail you'll still be able to claim the full cost from the post office at your end but if you've only put $25 on the package thats all they are going to pay you.
 
I buy brown bubble envelopes at the 99cent store. you get 2 for $.99. I should probably order a big old box but the store is like right next to the post office so I just hit it up once in a while for 5 or 7 of em at a time. For domestic, I cut them in half and tape the open side for up to 3 pins so I get extra use. For international I always use the full envelope so the customs label fits on the front. Also, grab a few extra of the small customs labels next time you go so you don't have to fill it out while you're in line. It should be less than $5 to mail a single pin to anywhere in Europe. Or at least until they jack the price up soon like I heard they are gonna.
 
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PrincessxJasmine89 said:
I got a pack today and got charged £11.96 (about $17) customs (including an £8 'handling fee' :rofl:), so if you're mailing overseas just remember to mark GIFT (not 'Merchandise' as my package was marked)! ;) <3
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It's the "handling fee" that really bugs me. All they do is write out a postcard telling us we've been shafted and post it. Then take the money when we go in. Hardly £8 worth!
 
LuvSimba said:
So, if I marked my pins 'value' at $25, going to the UK, the other person is going to get taxed?? UGH!!!! Or is it $25 and less that is OK?
Learn something new every day.
Click to expand...

In theory we're allowed £40 ($62) worth for a gift, but they include the cost of the actual postage in that. A value of under $29 dollars should be ok unless it's quite a bulky package.
 
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