What's a cheap way to send a few hundred pounds to Europe?

[Zebo]

I am sending my cousin some bikes, jeans, shoes, laptop and a few other things - just wondering what's a cheap way to send it? Two boxes about 3x3x3 and two boxes unassembled bike size - you know like they come new.

 

[Soundmanred]

There's a "yo mamma" joke here somewhere...

 

[0roo0roo]

sounds like it would be cheaper to just buy the stuff in europe

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Cheap is a relative term in the case of shipping a few hundred pounds to an International local. USPS wouldn't be an option. Not only are the boxes oversized, for which you'll pay a balloon rate, anything over 4 lbs has to go Priority mail. Also, if you want to insure the items you'll need to declare a value and your cousin will be responsible for import duties, which can be sizable. You could try to declare them as gifts but some places won't buy it if it's fairly high value stuff.

You can check with UPS and/or FedEx but you'll probably be shocked how much shipping that much weight will cost.

 

[RavenSEAL]

Smuggle it through the border?

oh wait...

 

[CZroe]

Western Union... ONOWATE

Silly Brits with their confusing currency names.

 

[Zebo]

Cheap is a relative term in the case of shipping a few hundred pounds to an International local. USPS wouldn't be an option. Not only are the boxes oversized, for which you'll pay a balloon rate, anything over 4 lbs has to go Priority mail. Also, if you want to insure the items you'll need to declare a value and your cousin will be responsible for import duties, which can be sizable. You could try to declare them as gifts but some places won't buy it if it's fairly high value stuff.

You can check with UPS and/or FedEx but you'll probably be shocked how much shipping that much weight will cost.

I'll check UPS. Yep that it, all gifts. How about airlines?

 

[sdifox]

check with container shipping people. They usually have containers that they stick break bulk in. Might actually be called break bulk service.

 

[Zebo]

I checked UPS and $600 per 30kg box WTF?

Bikes they are $250 ea.

There has got to be a cheaper way.

Has anyone bought too much shit on their travels and had to ship it home? What did you use?

 

[mmntech]

QM2? I think you could cram all that in your stateroom. Just like great grandpappy.

 

[Bateluer]

Has anyone bought too much shit on their travels and had to ship it home? What did you use?

I've never traveled internationally, but when traveling domestic, I take into account my travel arrangements before making a purchase. If I'm flying, then I limit myself to what I can take in my luggage safely. Driving, fewer restrictions, but still limited by space of the vehicle.

 

[zinfamous]

sounds like it would be cheaper to just buy the stuff in europe

doubtful, actually.

my GF's brother is always ordering shoes and having them mailed to her (here in the US) and she mails them back to him (Latvia).

electronics and certain clothing goods are way way way more expensive in several parts of Europe than they are here.


best bet is to find the cheapest carrier and send them over in packages.

Maybe DHL as they deliver just about anywhere in Europe, I think?


she always uses USPS, and except for the bikes, has shipped the same stuff that OP is going to be shipping.


oh, and if it's a few hundred pounds (weight), then you should look in to the suggestion of getting some space on a container.

The weirdest experience I have with shipping items back home from overseas was a buddy of mine in Italy who drove up to Torino (from Florence) to purchase an Alfa Romeo and ship it back to Virginia. --that involved shipping it by truck down to Rome, then Pisa, I think, and container over to Maryland. ....it was still ~$200 cheaper than buying the same model in similar condition back home.

 

[esquared]

I checked UPS and $600 per 30kg box WTF?

Bikes they are $250 ea.

There has got to be a cheaper way.

Has anyone bought too much shit on their travels and had to ship it home? What did you use?

LOL, yeah, UPS and FedEx are out, nothing cheap there.

You need to get it shipped via boat for the best prices. It will take longer but you won't get reamed as much.

Call up a couple shipping brokers and explain your situation and how you want to find the best price from whatever you are to Europe.

 

[0roo0roo]

how does meritline ship stuff so cheap from china? i dunno, giant cargo container lowest shipping tier or something...maybe weeks of travel..i just know some of those shippers only give you a rough estimate of how long it might take, like 75% 2 weeks, 25% 4 weeks etc.

 

[yhelothar]

USPS surface mail is probably your only bet. It's by ship and can take up to a month but it's way cheaper than anything out there.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Just ride the bikes over to them, duh.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

I checked UPS and $600 per 30kg box WTF?

Bikes they are $250 ea.

There has got to be a cheaper way.

Has anyone bought too much shit on their travels and had to ship it home? What did you use?

Heh, told you that you'd be shocked.

You can try googling international container shipping. You'll essentially get billed for shipping container space and weight along with whatever markup the broker adds. It's still not going to be cheap because there's no way to ship overseas cheaply unless you're doing huge volumes.

On second though...there is one way. Join the military, get an overseas assignment, and they'll ship that shit for free to you, then you can forward it.

 

[Zebo]

how does meritline ship stuff so cheap from china? i dunno, giant cargo container lowest shipping tier or something...maybe weeks of travel..i just know some of those shippers only give you a rough estimate of how long it might take, like 75% 2 weeks, 25% 4 weeks etc.

Yeah when thinkpad x201i shipped to me from Shanghai it was $32 shipping! I tracked it all the way even went to Japan. Needless to say I bet they get huge corporate discount.

 

[Zebo]

Just ride the bikes over to them, duh.

I'm seriously thinking about taking short trip. I can fly there RT for $800. With two bags. And maybe pay a little xtra for bikes

 

[Zebo]

Heh, told you that you'd be shocked.

You can try googling international container shipping. You'll essentially get billed for shipping container space and weight along with whatever markup the broker adds. It's still not going to be cheap because there's no way to ship overseas cheaply unless you're doing huge volumes.

On second though...there is one way. Join the military, get an overseas assignment, and they'll ship that shit for free to you, then you can forward it.

Yeah you weren't kidding. I'm gonna check out suggestions in this thread tomorrow.... seems a lot of places you need to talk to for quote.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

I'm seriously thinking about taking short trip. I can fly there RT for $800. With two bags. And maybe pay a little xtra for bikes

If you can figure a way to ride across water you will become world famous.