Bartertown.com

So I'm probably going to be sending a large lot of armies across the Pacific soon, and the logistics angle now comes into play...

Anyone have any suggestions on how to safely send 5 large armies(probably 3 boxes) from the US to Australia safely and semi-affordably? With the problems I've had with US to Canada mail, I'm reluctant to hope US to Australia is any better.

So I was thinking perhaps a parcel company like Fedex or UPS might be a better choice as they at least keep better track of their packages....For a price...

Tips, suggestions?

Thanks guys,

Isabelle

Actually..aside from a few 3rd world contries, Canada is possibly the worst place to mail packages to using the USPS. I have shipped many large packages to Austrailia via the USPS. Prices were reasonable, I use airmail with insurance.

I've sent to Australia a couple times with USPS too and never had a prob. Now recieving FROM Australia... that's another matter.

I have shipped to Canada, UK and Australia. Of the 3, Australia was the easiest, by far. Receiving packages from there has been good for me, as well.

I do have a couple of questions and points to make.

HOW big are these armies?
Any way the could fit into ONE box? Obviously, ONE large box would be cheaper than 3 boxes.
If you cen get 3 boxes of the same size, you could attach them and takadvantage of the less expensive cost.

I noticed your rating. Am I to assume you are shipping first?
With a big trade like that, be wary of shipping first. Especially overseas. If you get ripped off by a trader 500 miles from you, you could likely DRIVE there, if you needed to... That's a little harder to do, crossing oceans, continents, the equator...

When it comes to big trades... or, big, bulky or heavy boxes, anyway, it has been my expereince that the parcel services (UPS, etc) are less expensive than the USPS.
I recommend estimating their final weight and visiting the web sites for quotes. Alternatively, you can actually BOX the items, then take the items in to be weighted for a "price quote" at the USPS.
Casually inquire as to thw weight of the items.
Don't let on that you're using them as a weighing service, it's kinda impolite. LOL

Eric

As this is a sale, and not a trade, my rating isn't really relevant. I'm not going to foot the bill for a couple hundred dollars in shipping(if the buyer requests airmail over surface), for a few thousand dollars in miniatures to another country with out cash up front. Sorry it doesn't work that way for me. I do appreciate your concern though, but I haven't dyed my hair blonde this week(can't afford that 'til I sell the figs ^_^ )

I am trying to condense the stuff into one large box, but that may not be practical. This is alot of stuff, but I have been in contact with the fellow for a while, and he seems genuine. So the additional hassle of overseas shipping is far outweighed buy finding a single buyer for about 2/3 of what I was selling off.

I'm just releived to hear shipping to Australia seems rather painless, even if a bit pricey.

Thanks for the inputs & advice

Isabelle

What about using DHL?

Well, Is... I'm glad to hear that.
I can appreciate your outlook on the situation.
Yes, I believe you will find that shipping there is not horrible... and, I agree, it really MUCT be nice to find one person to unload such a large amount of stuff to.

Eric

If you do use the USPS keep in mind it is often more economical to ship smaller, lighter packages then bigger. heavier ones.

I shipped 26 pounds of mageknight minis to OZ about a year ago. The cost was right around $56.00 including insurace. Unless you would be saving a tremendous amount going surface, I would recommend against it. The more times the package is handled greatly increases the chance of breakage

Insurance. Insurance. Insurance.

The drawbacks to small boxes-they are thrown easily, stepped on easily, and run over by fork lifts easily. I've recieved boxes of which all 3 has obviously happened too, from the boot/tire prints and crushed minis...(only twice, but still...)

Big boxes are heavier and get dropped more, but you can also put more packing material in them...

Just keep in mind, or at least so my postman told me, that oversize packages actually get surcharged. So there's some invisible threshold you should be trying not to cross. I *think* it's the size of the airmail bags stuff rides in. So if you can get packages that fit in there it will actually save money over single package that does not.