BS: postal costs from US to UK

Subject: RE: BS: postal costs from US to UK
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 02:59 PM

No problem, bill, I hope you get it sorted out and will pass the message on to Rog. Have fun!

Subject: RE: BS: postal costs from US to UK
From: okthen
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 02:23 PM

Ooooops, guess how many times submit message timed out before I signed off and on again. thanks again Kat. cheers bill

Subject: RE: BS: postal costs from US to UK
From: okthen
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 02:19 PM

Thanks all. Kat,please thank Rog for me, that seems like the best way to go.It's now 7pm on the Friday before a Bank Holiday so it will be a few days before I can track one down and the Stateside "special offer" ends on August 31, so I shall have to get my skates on. cheers bill (off to find an "Importin'exportin' man" which is about as near to music as I can pull this thread)

Subject: RE: BS: postal costs from US to UK
From: okthen
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 02:16 PM

Thanks all. Kat,please thank Rog for me, that seems like the best way to go.It's now 7pm on the Friday before a Bank Holiday so it will be a few days before I can track one down and the Stateside "special offer" ends on August 31, so I shall have to get my skates on. cheers bill (off to find an "Importin'exportin' man" which is about as near to music as I can pull this thread)

Subject: RE: BS: postal costs from US to UK
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 11:32 AM

I just asked Rog what they used to do. He says to go to an Importer/Exporter, where you are, and tell them what you want to have done. They should be able to coordinate it for you, from there. It could take several weeks for your piece to be shipped because what they do is fill up ship's containers with packages for all kinds of businesses, etc. and do not ship until the containers are full. He said it is LOTS cheaper and is how small import/export businesses are able to stay in business, otherwise shipping costs would kill their profits. Hope this helps.

BTW, a general zip code for NYC is 10001, but you would still have to have a specific one to get an exact rate.

Subject: RE: BS: postal costs from US to UK
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 10:19 AM

Looks like you got the best deal, UPS @150 bucks ? Anyway the reason it is so high is not the cost of fuel nor the price of a new Jet but the salary of the Pilot! If the plane ran on autopilot all the time instead of 90% then your bill would be 15 dollars not 150.

Subject: RE: BS: postal costs from US to UK
From: okthen
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 09:37 AM

Thanks Kat, it would be interesting, but compressed! John, I had the same problem as you but the other way 'round, I didn't have a new york zip code. I may have found a solution but haven't had time to check it out (a fiend of a friend situation). If anyone has any solutions in the meanwhile, 'twould be good to here them, but at the mo' airfare seems the cheapest option. cheers bill

Subject: RE: BS: postal costs from US to UK
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 07:32 AM

UPS Quick Calculator for International shipments - unfortunately I couldn't look at a result for US to England because it insists on having a "Postal Code" for both origin and destination, and I have no idea what a typical Englandish ZIP code looks like.

More general information at UPS Home Page

John

Subject: RE: BS: postal costs from US to UK
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 07:04 AM

Here's the rate finder page for FedEx: clickety but I don't think they'd be that much cheaper. I did a sample query quoting a 75lb box from my daughter's zip code two hours out of NYC to a friend's postal code in London with dimensions of 24 inches square and it came up to $269!

When Rog wakes up, I'll ask him what co. he uses, as he used to work for a company that shipped overseas all of the time and also, I know we used someone in the industry which was much less expensive than the big guys.

On the other hand...the trip might be kind of fun, eh?:-)

kat

Subject: RE: BS: postal costs from US to UK
From: okthen
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 05:40 AM

JohnInKansas, thanks for the link, they have a 70 pound weight limit, the shop offered postage at $423 (£291)and at that rate I could save money by flying to USA and picking it up myself (cheapest return flight I've found is £220), but this does seem a tad extreme.I have yet to research "standby" air tickets but 24 hours in an aeroplane, 24 hours in a strange city, is a little unlikely. I'll keep on trying to think of alternatives. cheers for now. bill

Subject: RE: BS: postal costs from US to UK
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 03:44 AM

You could start at US Postal Service

On the left of the page is a selection for "Rates and Fees" that will open up choice to "Calculate International Rates" or to "International Rates," with the latter being the rate tables.

Note that there are competing systems. You should be able to find web sites for UPS (formerly United Parcel Service) or FedEx (formerly Federal Express), both of which, I'm told, do international shipments. Higher weights do run up the cost pretty rapidly with the USPS, so most stuff over a couple of pounds usually goes with one of the other services inside the US.

You own local package shippers may have "connections" with other shippers, and rates may differ when you pay at destination instead of at origin.(?)

John

Subject: postal costs from US to UK
From: okthen
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 02:49 AM

In the (becoming increasingly unlikely) event of my purchasing an article in the US, what would the cheapest insured postal charge be? The proposed goods weigh 75 pounds, and cost £800 ($1200)less in America than here in UK. This venture is becoming less viable the more I research it, hoping you can help. bill