"Shipping to Italy" Topic

Yes or no?
Got a person who wants to buy something and lives in Italy.
I recall not so good stories and bad experiences for doing that.
Thoughts and advice?

Grimm

I ship to Italy. I haven't had any issues for the past year or so.

Ditto

It's variable … I make sure it's always insured when sending to Italy

Listlurker: +1

I did it once long ago it took weeks for it to get there. May be better now. That was years ago.

Send it registered mail or express mail or gamble that it will get "lost" in the postal system.

11oz box.
$23.50 USD for shipping.
Track/Ship is $62 USD and change.
Ouch. :-(
Grimm

Wow ! that is ridiculous. From UK to USA would be only £15.80 GBP, fully tracked & signed for, £2.50 GBP more for insurance up to £250.00 GBP if worth more than £50.00 GBP

Now you see why we don't buy US products – we can't afford the postage.

I do it often. I have a good friend there who will ask me to purchase things and then ship to him. It is pricy though, I always try to make the most of the box space.

Also, send the client the shipping/tracking number so they can check when it arrives in country. Friends sent a parcel to relatives in Italy. Parcel arrived, was held at the local Post Office for a while then shipped back to the sender without any notice to the addressee.

"11oz box.
$23.50 USD USD for shipping.
Track/Ship is $62 USD USD and change."

$23.50 USD is shipping for a parcel 8.01-32 ounces for First Class Mail
Tracking is included. Signature confirmation is a few bucks more.

$15 USD additional is for registered mail and I am sure that the UK has a similar service as these service rates are agreed to in the international postal system participants group (I forget the name.) Registered mail is totally different and much more secure than just tracked.

The UK fully tracked and signed just tracks the parcel through the first class mail system. Most countries basically absolve themselves of responsibility once the parcel is dumped into the other countries system.

If one wants to ship the parcel Express Mail, then $62 USD sounds about right.
This is tracking above and beyond normal tracking and includes signatures. Again there is a comparable UK service as well as this is by international treaty.

So let us compare apples with apples.

Other than the USA deciding several years ago to ditch the every 3 ounces rate bands for first class and going to only 4 (8 ounces, 32,48,64) unless your parcel is just over the top of a rate band in weight is the only time you would get really screwed in the USA system vs say the UK or FR or Germany.

I recommended Registered First Class or Express Mail to be reasonably sure the parcel would arrive due to the typical problems with the post in Italy.

Sorry Brigade games that is not correct. The service I quoted tracks to any country that has a compatible tracking system for mail (and I accept that not all do) AND it tracks it to delivery with signature. I have plenty of experience shipping to the US using it so do know what it does.

Even a 2kg parcel would be only £25.50 GBP with extra insurance. The advantage of prices in 250g steps is important though, I'd agree that.

I am sure that there are express services with faster delivery – but not offered by Royal Mail.

"The UK fully tracked and signed just tracks the parcel through the first class mail system." Separate system with priority handling. Even goes into a different bag at the Post Office.