International Shipping is getting harder.

Who do you use?

[akmac]

We sell high ticket/small size items. Up until recently, we used USPS Global Express mail to ship to destinations outside of the US. It was fast, cheap, and easy.

No more. USPS won't let us ship using this method-even if we insure the items ourselves. UPS and FED ex won't ship anything with a value over $500.

So, we're now shopping for a new method to ship. What do you use?

[jwolthuis]

Not sure what you mean when you say, "USPS won't let us ship using this method".

You are turned-away at the post office?

[akmac]

Yes,
There has been a change in Policy, confirmed via phone and at our local office that USPS will no longer accept Global Express shipments containing precious metals, money, watches or jewelry. They recommend that we use international registered mail, but will only insure it for $44.86.

"Regardless of the declared value of a registered item the maximum amount of indemnity payable for loss damage or rifling is $44.86."

So basically, USPS doesn't want to ship valuables internationally. I'm trying to find the policy change on their site. We've used Global Express mail for this purpose for the last 3 years.

Ah-here is the appropriate text from usps.com:

"221.2 Allowable Contents

Any item not prohibited in international mail is allowed in EMS. Refer to the "Country Conditions for Mailing" in the Individual Country Listings for individual country prohibitions. International postal money orders are admissible in EMS. However, they are only negotiable if the proper form is used. The following items are prohibited in all EMS shipments: coins; banknotes; currency notes, including paper money; securities of any kind payable to bearer; traveler's checks; platinum, gold, and silver; precious stones; jewelry; watches; and other valuable articles."

No word on when this policy was added to the books-but they didn't begin enforcing it until 2007.

[akmac]

Does anyone here ship $500+ value packages internationally?

[Christi]

Hi there. We ship USPS Global Priority, but our values are well under $500 USD. Have you checked out DHL? How do those diamond guys in the diamond district ship?

[corbing]

We ship Global Express all the time and plenty of orders are >$500. No problems for us, but we don't sell anything on the prohibited content list. I assume you are getting caught by the "precious stones; jewelry; watches" clause? When I asked our warehouse manager about this question, he said that certain countries have different prohibited items (i.e. he said that Italy would not allow certain textiles to be imported).

[LizaJane]

We ship international air parcel post most <500 but some packages 500-1500. In revewing this thread, it is pause for thought as
USPS now states:
Ordinary indemnity coverage is not paid for:
aParcels containing coins; banknotes; currency notes, including paper money; securities of any kind payable to the bearer; traveler's checks; platinum, gold, and silver; precious stones; jewelry; watches; and other valuable articles.

b. Consequential losses, delay, concealed damage, spoilage of perishable items, articles improperly packaged, articles too fragile to withstand normal handling in the mail, or prohibited articles.

Is this new or did I just never read this befoe.

Who decides what other valuable articles are? Or, what is too fragile to ship?

[akmac]

For packages under $500 value, we can still use UPS or Fed Ex. DHL has even lower $ limits. USPS won't ship valuables on their special list at all.

[Rugles]

>>>Does anyone here ship $500+ value packages internationally?

We do with UPS, daily.

We realize it is not completely insured.

[akmac]

Rugles,
Do you just insure it for $500 and cover the rest with private insurance, or just risk it? I can see doing this with a $600 item, but not a $6000 item...

If you insure the difference separately, do you run into issues with the difference between declared and insured value?

I appreciate your comments.

[Rugles]

>>>Do you just insure it for $500 and cover the rest with private insurance, or just risk it?

we take the risk

[supercars]

I would suggest a NON-US based carrier - Try DHL or TNT

There are also international courier services - w high ticket items you can afford to pay more to get what you want...

Dave

[edited by: encyclo at 10:12 pm (utc) on Mar. 24, 2007]
[edit reason] no signatures please, see TOS [/edit]

[oldpro]

We ship orders sometimes totaling 3 or 4 thousand dollars via Global Express and never had a problem. We do take somewhat of a risk given we cannot insure the full amount. However, our profit margin is very high...so insuring at our cost value covers our risk most of the time.