Ship it Cheap? (Not ParcelDirect)

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Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:13 pm

One of my best friends is temporarily leaving Chicago and headed over to Manchester for a year for grad school. She can't afford to come back stateside even for Christmas, so I'm already planning on sending her a care package with all kinds of random fun things in it (amid outlandishly touristy things reminding her of Chicago) but I need a way to ship it!

I'd like this to be a decent sized box, but not HUGE. Let's say 18x10x8.5 (inches). That's the size of a box I currently have, and it looks pretty good.

I'd rather not pay the $100 or so the FedEx or DHL appear to be quoting me. What is the dirt cheapest way to get something from Chicago to Manchester?

Someone suggested "ocean freight" to me, but I can't really find much information on that that doesn't have a minimum of 45kg. It sounds good in theory though.

I don't mind this package taking 2 months to ship either! Speed is not important, $$ is.

Suggestions most welcome.

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:18 pm

When I was selling things on Ebay, I shipped several packages from the
US to Europe via the US Postal Service and they always got there Ok.

Check out:
http://www.usps.com/international/sendpackages.htm

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:21 pm

nor rain or

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:49 pm

The dirt cheapest way to get something there is to find someone trustworthy (friend? family? work colleague?) who is traveling from chicago to the UK, who is willing to carry it as luggage. USPS is fine (cheaper than FedX or dhl) but still rather pricey (you can sometimes improve USPS costs by choosing parcels of certain dimensions, though i've been away too long to know the details any longer).

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:56 pm

Quote:

I'm already planning on sending her a care package

Just make sure you include an umbrella - it hasn't stopped raining since June. Sad

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 4:34 pm

I am constantly sending care packages by priority mail and have the modality down pat. I have flat rate packages delivered by the USPS twenty at a time. The boxes and the delivery for the boxes are free. There are three sizes. There is a flat box, a regular box with the same interior volume and a "large" box with about the same dimensions as you require. 12'' x 12'' x 5-1/2''. They are flat rate boxes so I get as much as I possibly can into each box. Where else can you get up to 70 pounds sent across the country in three days door to door with tracking in their box for $9.30? There are slightly more rules on international, such as max weights and having to have a customs declaration. I prepay online and as a result, the postman picks up and I am supplied tracking info and get a discount. So I never even have to step into a post office.
My last international cost under fifty but would have cost almost a hundred if it were not flat rate. The limit is 20 pounds and I got 19.5 pounds into it.

There is also a special box for service men and women. It can only be sent to a FPO or APO but is a great deal that I use all the time.

Edit- If price is extremely important to you, you can send it by sea mail and send it today. Just take your brown paper wrapped package with the contents to the PO and fill out your customs declaration. I once tried to send a package to myself so that I would not have to carry too much stuff on an airplane. It took 90 days due to 9/11 inspection of all packages from the US and I was back home before it arrived.

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 4:58 pm

Thanks Connie!

I read somewhere about the USPS providing free boxes and tested it because I didn't quite believe it. I think I have 25 "large boxes" being delivered to me sometime this week for free now Shocked

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 5:55 pm

This flat rate box is a great deal. My boss had a son-in-law stationed in Germany and used it to send stuff to them all the time. I think he sent to the APO/FPO box though.

I would look at this for international it has to be pretty cheap compared to FedEx. I think PD would be cheaper though Wink

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 7:17 pm

The APO/FPO address gets a two dollar discount and requires a qualified zip code destination but will get a "large" flat rate box to a soldier, marine or sailor anywhere in the world for $11. Something to consider for Christmas.

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:02 am

Connie L. Gus wrote:

If price is extremely important to you, you can send it by sea mail and send it today....

I believe sea mail services have been discontinued, at least by the USPS.

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 3:06 pm

^^^Makes sense to me. I would never use it again.

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