cheaper shipping company for small items from New Zealand

[Former_Member]

hi there,

Im a new seller here,

what shipping company you used aside from NZpost ??

JHEN

[EsthersMosaics]

Good question - I wonder myself.
Anyone??

[Former_Member]

Hi Jhen and Esther. I only used NZpost International Air, as it was the cheapest. It's a shame though, because it's still very expensive - $11.50 for a tiny parcel with no tracking. :(

[LaDonnaVerde]

Does Etsy not allow us the use their shipping labels in NZ? I always use the post shop but i would like a better option myself since they refuse to give tracking on international stuff.

[Former_Member]

I was just about to ask that question. When shipping around NZ I use Pass The Parcel which is usally $4.50 for a tracked signature courier nationwide. For international I reluctantly use NZ Post. I just asked Post Haste for a quote to send one of my hats to Sydney today through them $75!!!! Crazy! I have been told DHL is probably the best option but it's a huge step up from the NZ Post price. It's probably cheaper to use the international courier option through NZ Post.

In Blenheim (and Kapiti I think) NZ Post are trialling a new postage system which works out a few dollars more expensive than the current system for my parcels which makes me mad. Hopefully they don't use it for everyone else once the trial period is over.

[LaDonnaVerde]

Sarah, Are they offering tracking on international items? That would be awesome! But at the same time, my friends from the States say they can't afford to buy my stuff anymore because of the shipping prices here and I bet this drives away others....

[Former_Member]

Hi Trista, it's the exact same product they are trialling except there is a different way of working out how much it costs. So no tracking :(

Basically for the trail there are now 4 international zones instead of 5: http://www.nzpost.co.nz/about-us/media-centre/sending-from-marlborough/world-zones-for-marlborough-a...

And for international air to say USA (6-10 day delivery) for one of my items it's $1 for the bag, $7.82 per item fee, plus $23.15 per kg. The minimum chargeable weight is 200g. So that's a minimum of $13.45 even though one item of mine would weigh less than that. When I put the same item details into the normal international postage calculator I get $11.50.

But I can't do anything about it so have to pay. It's a shame we don;t have an affordable tracked international postage option here in NZ. My $30 items are worth enough for me not to want them vanishing in the post but not worth enough to warrent pay $60+ for a tracked international courier!

[bellazahn]

I have tried to get around it by charging a wee bit more for the item and then the same postage as US sellers do for international shipping - to make my items competitive with US domestic sellers, if that helps anybody :)

[Former_Member]

Yes, is so annoying... sending one of my $15 bracelets to the UK was $13!!!

[Former_Member]

For my headbands I have bought the NZ Post prepaid airmail envelopes and sent them, they weigh under 200gm and are under 10mm thick. If you try to do this over the counter they charge you $11plus so if you can get away with it and have a slim product that works for me.

[Former_Member]

Im not sure if this is correct or not but I was using NZ posts international shipping calculator and to send a framed print 16x16" is going to cost $60 - $80!! This just seems a little to much (well a lot to much) to be quite honest :S? Any suggestions

[Former_Member]

I know what you mean!! It's so frustrating...
As someone else mentioned earlier; I also price my items a bit higher, so I can lower my shipping prices. Seems to be the only solution to avoid customers from running away screaming and not buying. How can you sell your products when shipping costs are sometimes even higher than the item itself? Arghh!!!

[Former_Member]

NZ Post just refused to send one of my paintings. I was told they will not post original paintings. Has anyone else encountered this before?

[Former_Member]

there's a range of new exclusions nz post have brought in that stops us using the standard international post service for a lot of different items.
For us that means to send a piece of jewellery which previously might have cost under $10 to Australia now has to be couriered for just under $30.
any further afield and your looking at closer to $50.
please share the knowledge if anybody has an alternative?

[Former_Member]

I sell vintage china which can weigh quite a bit if its a full tea set.
I always sell everything in US dollars as well as postage. That
way the shipping looks right to international buyers. When converted
back to NZ dollars it looks really expensive to us.
I only track unless the buyer asks for it and they pay the price.
I find if someone really wants it they will pay for it.
But if agree our post does feel like a rip off.

[Former_Member]

This week I am venturing out to find reasonably price shipping boxes approx. 163 x 112 x 56 for my Highland Angels also looking into every option for shipping Internationally . . . . I find the NZ post pricing quirky . . . maybe more due diligence might turn up an economical option

I'm a veteran researcher so hope that comes in handy.