Shipping item to the USA

• Beep

  19 Jul 05, 17:17

  hey first time im mailing some thing, of squarish shape, 4.5x4.5x4.5 cm, probably less than 250grams, to USA..
  
  i simply want the cheapest mode of shipment, pls dont refer me to DHL or UPS.. thanks, especially if you've experience doing this..
  
  wish some1 out here could help
  
  deeply appreciated [/b]
• vito_corleone

  19 Jul 05, 17:18

  i suspect its a bomb..i'll inform ISD right away. maybe CIA also since they give good rewards for terrorism info.
• sonicworld76

  19 Jul 05, 17:19

  go to singpost
• FireIce

  19 Jul 05, 17:26

  singpost shd be good enuf for your little parcel
  
  u can oso try dpex (tel: 6781888
• Beep

  19 Jul 05, 17:31

  thanks for our friend for saying its a bomb..
  
  SingPost is insane!!! 0.5kg minimum parcel, at 5-11 days is $26!!!
  
  Surface Mail is more insane!! 5-8WEEKS for $86!!
  
  anymore cheaper ways to send it!?
• alexkusu

  19 Jul 05, 17:35

  thats business...
  
  if u like..take cargo ship. $5...delivery times : 2months.
• Cindyfeh

  19 Jul 05, 17:38

  check the yellow page for those non-branded courier companies. If you want to use Singpost, consider the duration of transport, you wouldn't want to use shipmail and it takes 2 weeks to reach there right?
  
  A caveat in using smaller courier services is that they will not guarantee that your item will reach there on time or at all!
  
  Also surf Fedex or UPS website on how to fill in the courier form. In brief, most prob you will be declaring your item as sample or personal gift and writing there NO COMMERCIAL value or a few dollars. Read the websites and see how best to fill in the courier forms. Filling in the forms is basically the same for any courier company, big or small.
  
  If your item is fragile, make sure you use a sturdy box and not a fragile cigratte box type. Fedex and the brand names will give you free box if you demand for it. Though i don't think they have a box for your size. If you are not sending a gift and the appearance of the box is not important, write the tracking number, your name, your address, tel (use +65 ......), your reciever add, reciever name and reciever tel on the box. Use an oil based marker or pen.
  
  Lastly, don't let the courier man hurry you. Take your time to fill in the courier forms. You wouldn't want mistakes on it. The courier form comes in set of 3 or more pieces, make sure you keep your customer copy for tracing purpose.
  
  The courier form is free.
  
  I don't charge for the advice but if you can, make a donation to KDF or other non-NKF charities.
  
  All the best.
• Cindyfeh

  19 Jul 05, 17:40

  Originally posted by alexkusu:

  thats business...
  
  if u like..take cargo ship. $5...delivery times : 2months.

  Most prob it will get squashed and can't find the box.
• FireIce

  19 Jul 05, 17:41

  i have been using fedex to ship stuff for my relatives in Atlanta
  the consignment note not difficult to fill lah
  jus make sure u write the address correctly..
  the rest the fedex ppl can fill in for u one...unless u have special request...
  u can go online and check the status of the shipment (by the tracking number)
  
• Beep

  19 Jul 05, 17:42

  DPEX is worse!!! $52 for it!! ARGGHG
  
  any cheaper serviceS?
• alexkusu

  19 Jul 05, 17:45

  Originally posted by Cindyfeh:

  Most prob it will get squashed and can't find the box.

  thats why...part of the cost we pay to DHL or watever is insurance.
• Beep

  19 Jul 05, 17:47

  hey cindyfeh thanks for ur reply..
  
  i wonder where can i get the cheapest courier service? and where do i get the courier forms? how much is ur shipment most of the time?
• Cindyfeh

  19 Jul 05, 17:59

  Originally posted by Beep:

  hey cindyfeh thanks for ur reply..
  
  i wonder where can i get the cheapest courier service? and where do i get the courier forms? how much is ur shipment most of the time?

  Best for you to call the courier companies listed in yellow page. When you agreed on a price and the duration of transport (most prob 3 working days to USA), the courier man will come at a fixed day within a fixed window time frame (possibly 6 hrs frame give and take) and gives you the courier form to fill in. Learn how to fill in the form correctly by going thr fedex or UPS websites. I never send to USA before so I don't know what is the cheapest. Perhaps others have a better idea. But I suspect it will be in the range of what DPEX quoted you. Also prepaid, ie. you pay before your box fly, is cheaper than frieght collect (reciever pays)
• Beep

  19 Jul 05, 18:02

  hmn i asked one of those courier services in yellow pages and they say courier service is more expensive than air freight...
  
  they say courier services are more specialised and efficient, which is to the contrary to what you said?
  
  could u tell me which services you all go for? and what company? and the rate?
  
  thanks
• Beep

  19 Jul 05, 18:04

  i wont mind, seriouslly, 5-15 days service.. dun need it to be so specialised (in 3 days, etc).
• ditzy

  19 Jul 05, 18:05

  Just send it in a big envelope. I've sent a swiss army knife back to Singapore with a parcel declaration before for AUD$1.20.
• Beep

  19 Jul 05, 18:07

  wah but i seriously dun think 4.5 cm can fit thru the small rectangular slit in the post box.
• Cindyfeh

  19 Jul 05, 18:10

  Originally posted by Beep:

  i wont mind, seriouslly, 5-15 days service.. dun need it to be so specialised (in 3 days, etc).

  It seems like SingPost is insane!!! 0.5kg minimum parcel, at 5-11 days is $26!!!
  
  That is the cheapest for you. I am not sure how much cheaper air frieght can get, but it has similar problem as sea frieght. Squashed box and lost box. I think it is better to use at least Singpost to send. At least if it get lost, you can complain to Singpost. If you use air frieght to send and it get lost, the frieght forwarder can blame his mom, the changi airport guy, the transhipment airport, the receiving airport, his frieght forwarder partner in USA, the traffic police... virtually no end of taiji.
  
  So, best singpost or whichever cheap courier you can find.
• alexkusu

  19 Jul 05, 18:10

  Originally posted by ditzy:

  Just send it in a big envelope. I've sent a swiss army knife back to Singapore with a parcel declaration before for AUD$1.20.

  wtf? so its u who sent it!!!!
  
  i wonder why the SWAT raided my home
• Beep

  19 Jul 05, 18:14

  can anyone tell me the websites/ no. of some air freight services i dun mind air-freight haha
  
  not something valuable anyway, by the rate im sending this i'll be paying more for shipping than the darn item
• Cindyfeh

  19 Jul 05, 18:18

  Originally posted by Beep:

  can anyone tell me the websites/ no. of some air freight services i dun mind air-freight haha
  
  not something valuable anyway, by the rate im sending this i'll be paying more for shipping than the darn item

  Sounds like you are a first time international Ebay seller.
  
  You will need to call frieght forwarders. Look for them in yellowpages. But i suspect the cheapest is still Singpost. I think the frieght forwarders will charge you if they come to your house and collect and that could be already be $10 or 20?
• ditzy

  19 Jul 05, 18:25

  Originally posted by Beep:

  wah but i seriously dun think 4.5 cm can fit thru the small rectangular slit in the post box.

  Have you tried?
• ditzy

  19 Jul 05, 18:29

  I dunno how you come up with the rates, but this one looks kinda decent.
  
  http://www.singpost.com/quick_services/quicks_03postal_02overseas01.htm
• alexkusu

  19 Jul 05, 18:31

  if ur ebay seller, shud be no problem..since the buy pays the shipping fee right? im also a seller, so normally buyer pays...
  
  unless of course u charge the buyer a premium on shipping n decide to keep the majority n send it by the cheapest freight..
• ditzy

  19 Jul 05, 18:31

  Tip of advice, do it at a post office, so you don't have to squeeze it thru the damn slit.