Shipping Question!

[AlasseArt]

I got my first international order this week, yay! I sell prints, so my packages are very light. I set my international shipping prices based on other shops that sold prints, so i had it set at $7. This morning i went to UPS, and found that it would be $31 to ship my print to canada! I went ahead a shipped it, because i wanted it to get to the buyer on time, but i will not be doing that again. I was quite shocked. Does anyone know if USPS or fedex is better for international shipping? Any helps/tips would be appreciated!

[TheSortedBead]

that is expensive for canada. wow. i ship internationally as well, and i use USPS Flat Rate the most expensive is $16.95 and if i choose to ship another way and it costs less i refund any shipping overages. hope this helps good luck

[GrammaticalArt]

What size was it? How are you shipping it? Flat in a mailer, rolled in a tube, flat in a large box? I would like to know this info before know if it is really high or not. As a sidenote, I usually estimate the shipment (with measurements and weights) to Australia and price from there. That's been the most expensive for me to date.

[AlasseArt]

I normally ship flat, but this print was rolled in a tube due to its size. The tube was about 15 x 3. It was very light. Usually I ship my smaller prints in bubble mailers that are around 16x12. I have not shipped that way internationally, but in the states those are usually $5. This was my first time shipping in a tube mailer.

[OneFairfaxRoad]

I find USPS is the cheapest option for me. My items usually don't fit in the flat rate boxes, so I measure and weight the box and then calculate shipping on USPS website.

[Former_Member]

That does sound really steep. If it's under 13oz you could have shipped it First Class International via USPS for around $5. It really pays to shop around!

[NeatoKeen]

I agree with Natalie - instead of individually pricing your items for several countries, figure out the cost to ship to Australia (the most expensive) and use that as a base price, stating that you will reimburse any shipping overage that occurs to other countries that are not as expensive.

I always use USPS and have had great success - I ship all over the globe.

Don't sweat your loss, Rachel. I've had it happen several times. It forces you to look hard at your shipping rates.

Best of luck to you!

[Former_Member]

As others have already said here: Yes, USPS First class parcel post international is the cheapest by far if you sell light (under 13 oz) items. Never, never go through UPS or FedEx, always go to your local Post Office!

My question is: Why did you not look online first? All of these places - USPS, Fed Ex and UPS have postage calculators on their website. I had basically the same experience as you, I got a purchase from someone in Sweden and looking at the UPS postal calculator gave me sticker shock, it was about what you said - $37. I found out almost right away though, that that was a rip-off by going to the USPS website.

You could've known last night, before bothering to drive to a UPS store that it was not your best bet. Always check online first!

[GoTo]

We ship USPS First Class International whenever possible--goes up to 4 lbs and it's pretty reasonable:

Getting a Handle on International Shipping
http://www.gotogreatpanes.com/blog/2008/02/21/getting-a-handle-on-international-shipping


Never use UPS for international unless the buyer requests it and is aware of the brokerage fees that will be their responsibilities:

http://www.ups.com/content/ca/en/shipping/cost/zones/customs_clearance.html

UPS will accept the package, it's not common that the clerks know about/mention brokerage when you ship, and your buyer will get a separate bill for the additional fee. Once that fee is paid, then they get the package...

FedEx includes their fees in the online estimates/labels, but if you pay at the counter you have to be careful--if the international price seems reasonable, they didn't include brokerage in it:

http://www.fedex.com/ca_english/international/customsservices/index.html