Does anyone have experience shipping to the EU using UPS through stamps dot com? I'm looking at a quote for a 12 shipper from CA to the Netherlands by UPS standard and it's ridiculously cheap. Maybe 1/3 of what I normally get on USPS. Seems too good to be true. Appreciate anyone's thoughts. Thanks!
Didn't know stamps . com allows UPS. If you used it, interested how it works out. I've only used USPS.com to NL or goshippo.com (via UPS) What did you end up using?
Just send a 35-lb 12-shipper to the Netherlands for $160, so I am also interested if there is a cheaper option. I also wonder why it is cheaper to use UPS from Europe -> US than from US -> Europe.
I hear you on this... I sent a 28 pound shipper via USPS to the Netherlands recently and it was $140. Things seems to be pretty slow via USPS right now as well. Luckily my trading partner is experienced with international trades and has helped calm my anxiety around the lack of updates to my package since it left the international distribution center in Chicago.
Description is always "collectible glassware" and value is always <$40. This seems to get it to the destination without alerting customs, but I don't know if writing different descriptions makes the box any cheaper.
I used stamps.com and went with UPS. It was $105 vs $80 with USPS, but I was okay paying extra for the quicker shipping. Much better than the $200+ I was quoted on UPS.com. The one interesting thing is that the stamps.com rate for UPS changed during the day when I came back to it later (almost $50 cheaper).
It ended up just shipping yesterday as there was a delay on his side. I dropped off at my local UPS, they scanned it in and I can see it flew out last night. Set to arrive on Monday.
So mildly more expensive, but quicker shipping? Can you answer whether the customs forms are the same & if tracking on packages is better. USPS tracking is terrible and you lose the package once it clears customs. I am wondering if this is a better option to USPS.
So the cost of stamps.com is $18 fee monthly right? I take it you use this for a business, rather than just for trades. Last month I sent a package via UPS to NL - arrived in 4 business days! Monday>>>Friday. The receiver had to pay duty , but apparently that's random. I have a package coming from Finland this week, my first coming from EU. Wonder if I'll have to pay a duty.
stamps.com was free for now, I must be on a trial membership or something? You won't be required to pay duty, just if you are in the EU.
i see a 4 week trial, if that's what you are referring to. But maybe there are tiers , one level is free ? Got it. Thank you.
You need to declare the package as a "Gift" on the customs form and the receiver won't have to pay duty. At least that's how it worked with all the packages I've received from the USA here in Germany. Oh sure, they might hold the package back and try to trick you into admitting that's it's not a gift, but as long as you come prepared there's really not a lot they can do. They cannot prove that it's not a gift after all.
