So I'm getting ready to complete my first international trade any and all help would be appreciated. I am shipping one box and I'm also sending the person a return label for a second box they are shipping to me on top of our trade. Any advice or tips is greatly
From the little international trading that I have done and having about international trading, USPS shipping is your best option, being significantly cheaper. Keeping it to 5x 750ml bottles or equivalent on both sides will get you the best rate. Once you go over a certain weight, the cost increases significantly. If you're using USPS, though, I don't think you can send a label so if you can PayPal your trader the shipping cost, that would be best. Otherwise, my sense is that even for a 6-shipper, you're looking at $150+ each way if you're not using USPS. Hopefully the trade is worth it if that's the case. ETA: ask your trade partner about duties/taxes on packages. If you declared over a certain amount (I think $25), the trade partner will have to pay heavy customs taxes on it. My trade partner found it out the hard way, having to pay over $90 for him to get the box on his end.
I normally use an empty 12 bottle box if I don't have a styro shipper on hand. Something along the line of what you'd get at Hill Farmstead, or Trillium when they only had 750ml bottles. Each bottle or can has its own compartment with a divider by using one of these and then I pad the bottom, bubble wrap each beer, and then pad the top as well. I wrap that in a garbage bag and then put it into a slightly bigger box with padding on the top, bottom, and sides. I normally ask the trader about their experience with taxes as well, like @mythaeus said. Normally, they'll ask me to keep the monetary value around $30.00 or less. I usually say that it's a few local sauces and ceramic mugs. I also have had one person ask me to include a note in case they search it stating that these are for a trade between friends and that no money will be made. He said he's had a few occasions where they did check and made him come and get the box and laughed about him wanting beer from the US. lol. Also, as said, shipping is expensive so make sure you're getting some stuff that you really want. The normal range that I've seen is around 100.00 via USPS.
