What is the best way to ship internationally?

[Former_Member]

The past few items I have had to ship internationally, I've been eating 2 or 3 dollars on the postage uses USPS. There latest rate hikes seem to have really jumped for international shipping. Even for the US to Canada, which used to be only a little more that US to US.

Is there a cheaper way to ship internationally. I have trouble believing anyone will pay 12 dollars to ship a simple crocheted hat to the UK, but that's what it's costing me.

Thanks,

Suzanne

[CindersJewelryDesign]

I'm in Australia, and I pay $13.50 for postage to the USA. (Standard mail with no tracking) I only charge customers 10 dollars though. Postage is so expensive, I don't mind wearing a few dollars.
The price of international postage these days is ridiculous. For tracking to the USA it's $23.

If a customer really wants your product, they won't mind paying for shipping no matter the price.
I have had a few people pay $56 extra postage to get their items sent express.
Postage prices almost everywhere are ridiculous. Asia seems to have it pretty good with postage prices though. So jealous!

[Former_Member]

You are right about the asian postage. I just don't get it.

I'm doing a steampunk Festival in May and have been ordering several items from China, I have to wait 40 days for delivery and I have the time, but the items with postage is costing me less than just what it would cost me just to ship the item in the US. This just kills me, it's like when you have to compete with such low postage, you are only going to get buyers who don't have 40 days to wait for an item.

[PiecesOfMePaperCraft]

Last week a buyer paid me $7.50 to ship a single greeting card to Canada. I figured once the rates went up I'd lose my international sales but apparently not.

Your prices are higher so you can probably add some of the shipping fee to your item prices without it affecting sales. I can't do that because I have to keep my prices comparable to other card sellers and that means keeping them in the $4-$5 range.

[Former_Member]

I live internationally and I have paid more for the shipping than the item before. Because there are just some things that one must have!


Are you shipping your hats in an envelope? It seems as soon as something goes into a box the price jumps up.

[Former_Member]

I'm pretty comparable to you in terms of what I charge for international shipping. I know it feels like we're gouging the customer, but we're really not, and I think international customers understand we do the best we can with shipping costs!

[Former_Member]

HI
I have several International customers I ship USPS via International Priority flat rate mail. I can get 2 pounds of fudge in 1 box so the shipping on 2 pounds is really not so bad.
I have customers who actually get together to buy several pounds so I can ship in a med size box. Got 10 pounds in 1 box they were stoked!
They are also repeat customers :)