Topic: International Postage Charges

[Frostyboy]

How does this work?
Last week I send off a throttle return spring to California -
Padded Bag $1.00 + Postage $2.35 Total $3.35

Yesterday I order four (4) float bowl gaskets from Ontario. They're a set all on one card.
Postage $13.75

I just don't understand. 

[Gordon]

What were the shipper and type of shipping in each instance?

Also, was the cost for shipping the bowl gaskets to you the actual postage cost or the total "shipping and handling" charge from the seller? 

[petercb750]

It's been my experience that surface mail postage into Australia is a LOT more expensive than our postage out, (and that some o/s vendors do seem to charge whatever they want sometimes, but Gordon's questions are relevant).
And surface mail into Aus is so slow I reckon it is brought in by postie bikes crossing 4 continents.
It amazes me that I can get parcels via courier from the UK here in 4 to 5 days, normal mail takes 4 to 5 weeks in many cases.
Peter.

[Frostyboy]

The packet I sent away passed as a letter. How it's travelling over the water I'm not sure.
The charge to get the gaskets here is the cheapest option in the sellers list. It is air mail though, so I s'pose I should shut up. Just venting. 

[brooze72]

Well a couple of possibilities here: any brokerage charges or duties involved?  Had that one bite me in the ass with a FedEx shipment, $60 on a $58 order, very ouch..  Now I always specify USPS, no brokerage fees.  Speaking of USPS I heard they may have layoffs/cut backs, not making enough moolah, Canada Post on the other hand, probably would cost 3x more for your order, but are profitable.  Just sayin..

[Gordon]

The packet I sent away passed as a letter. How it's travelling over the water I'm not sure.
The charge to get the gaskets here is the cheapest option in the sellers list. It is air mail though, so I s'pose I should shut up. Just venting. 

Look at the postage stamp on the package that had the bowl gaskets in it.  A "shipping" charge you pay to a seller doesn't always reflect the actual postage cost of mailing something.  Many retailers charge more than just the postage fee for shipping. 

[verslagen1]

depends on how they ship

an envelope costs $6 from california to down under.
yet a small flat rate box costs $14

plus I have to fill out forms
and the faster it goes the bigger the form.

now do you want tracking or insurance?
shipping will end up being $30 so I usually go express international cause it includes that stuff.

[petercb750]

So going by that, it's roughly twice as expensive to send an envelope from there to here as it is from here to there, or nearly 3 times as much if we don't buy a padded envelope here.
That backs up my experiences too.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

My take is that the cost depends on the shipping cost of the originating country only. I don't think countries share in the cost. Anywhere from the US seem expensive. They blame it on terrorism but we don't usually EXPORT terrorism. It's my thoughts that we are now limited internationally (across water) to airmail only. Good excuse to charge more?? I am currently awaiting a package from China. 2 cell phone batteries and a wall charger. TOTAL cost including postage $9.83! The postage portion was approximately $8.85 and I'd bet that half of that is handling, not postage. 

[Retro Rocket]

Hi Jerry, that was probably sent using EMS, they are without doubt the fastest and best shipping company around, just can't use them from the US, not sure why. I have had fairly large parcels {guitars} from Japan shipped using EMS and i have had them in my hands 4 days later, stuff from the US and England takes weeks..... I only use USPS when having stuff shipped here from the US, still not cheap but far better than UPS or Fed Ex....

[754]

 UsuaLLY LETTER RATE IS PRETTY LIGJHT LIKE MAYBE 50 GRAMS, EXCEED THAT, PRICE RISES SHARPLY..

 So if they overwrapped it, it may have bumped up to a heavier category. In Canada sahipping out the use a guage, 20mm, if it dont slide thru the slot, its not a letter anymor=====parcel rate...

[mcpuffett]

Hi its the same here in the UK every thing has to be a certain size or weight , we can only get airmail from the Us now no snail mail,

and sending heavy parcels is cheapest by snail mail up to 6 weeks for Oz, cheers Mick.

[333]

The only thing you need to realize is that the U.S. has the least expensive postal rates in the world.  It's when you mail/ship outside the U.S. that involves other country's rates.

[Retro Rocket]

The only thing you need to realize is that the U.S. has the least expensive postal rates in the world.  It's when you mail/ship outside the U.S. that involves other country's rates.

Sorry, but i have to disagree, our home postal service is dirt cheap, my experience is that the US postal services are generally far more expensive than here and Japan and England, may as well throw Europe in there as well. I have bought and sold guitars form Japan and Europe for years and i have often wanted to buy from the US but the shipping was just plain stupid, Same experience with bike parts,  no problems any where else. We also don't pay import duty on anything under AUS $1000 dollars, that helps keep prices down.

The thing is 333, i have bought the exact same thing from all over the world {i collect Les Paul Guitars} and the only place i haven't bought from because of the charges is the US, you seem to be far more restrictive on size of packages compared to price than a lot of other countries, the charges can't be ours added to yours simply because it would be like that from any country, its just not so...