Banner Sponsors

dangerbears Mar 8, 2011

I'm hoping to get some advice from other bear-makers in the US.

I just posted a bear to Australia. Not a huge bear--just 16 inches. By Priority Mail International, with no extra insurance or anything, it cost $43. And the last bear I shipped to the UK cost $35.

As far as I know, Priority Mail is the "most affordable" USPS international shipping that includes tracking information, but this is insane.  (Can you imagine telling a customer that the bear costs X dollars plus $43 shipping? I paid for the balance out of pocket.)

Does anyone use other shipping services, or do you have any tips for using USPS's services?

Becky

desertmountainbear Mar 8, 2011

Priority mail and express are the only services you can track.  It is expensive. I usually ship express, only because I always take insurance and it costs less to insure an express package.  So by the time you are done for only a couple extra dollars it gets there twice as fast.  I ship free within the US.  I charge a flat rate to ship out of the country.  I figure if it will cost $15.00 inside the US and $40.00 outside the US, I would charge a flat rate of $25.00.

Joanne

Little Bear Guy Mar 8, 2011

Wow that was actually pretty cheap, I mailed a small 9" to Australia about 4 yrs ago and it was in a 9x9x9 box and it cost me over 60.00 with insurance. It wasn't trackable either, it eventually showed up about 14 weeks later. Ticked me off that it cost me so much and took so long and supposedly that was by air mail    .

Shipping over seas does cost.

big hugs

Shane

dangerbears Mar 9, 2011

Thanks for the feedback, and for making me feel a bit better (that it didn't cost $60 ).

Joanne - I think your idea makes a lot of sense, and I'll look into Express vs. Priority. I'd never thought of that.

Becky