Postage Help or advice please

[Thekirsh]

Hi Guys,

Has anyone in the States heard of USPS dramatically increasing its postal charges?

I just purchased a wakizashi in shirasaya

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=14624

and the owner claims she has been quoted $297 to send it to Australia. She has tried three different postal offices? And EMS?

The USPS site calculator works it out at about $55 so I’m confused.

Thanks

Simon K

[Stephen]

the price you found on USPS site sounds about right, shes just milking you, id be glad to help.

[Jiro49]

Raping is the term I would use.. Its about 60.00usd for me to send a daito from Michigan to AU...

[hxv]

I have the same experience as Matt's and Stephen's. I just shipped a sword to Australia six weeks ago. $60 for USPS Priority International, insurance included.

 

Hoanh

[Jiro49]

Just out of curiosity I wanted to see how much usps global express (1-3days) with 2500 insurance from me to AU is 130.00usd..

 

I would report her to eBay or use Stephen or one of us as a proxy shipper..

 

Good luck!

 

Respectfully,

[Thekirsh]

Thanks for the replies guys,

Well after a couple of emails in the last hour , one of which I mentioned comments made etc, there has been a Christmas miracle!

 

Seller has found a USPS office that knew what they were doing................mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm .Now it will be sent to me for $50 USPS.

 

Thanks for comments

Simon K

[Stephen]

just make sure she dont use the word Sword or Knife on customs forum

[hxv]

Oh, so that's how miracles happen

 

Hoanh

[Pete Klein]

Actually, a real Christmas miracle has happened three times here due to the intervention of the Three Maji: Stein, Turner, and Robinson (although I refrain on how 'wise' they were... ) who each have given us wisdom's pearl of great price.

 

Thanks to all three of you!

 

and now back to a word from our alternate sponsor...

[Adrian]

Hello guys,

 

Since I'm a complete beginner in the art of shipping sharp things across one pond or another, I could use any piece of advice you could give me.

I'm contemplating the purchase of a wakizashi from the US and, as far as I know, airline regulations won't allow any sword of dagger to be loaded on planes anymore. Which would pretty much take USPS Priority out of ecuation.

 

I see that Stephen mentions a workaround :D which would normally work (who can tell if a piece of plastic pipe contains a sword or a fancy fishing rod).

 

Unless the package gets scanned, in which case what happens? Is it simply returned to the person who shipped it and you forfeit the shipping cost or are there any other measures taken? (read impound)

 

Advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot.

[Mark]

I mail swords to the EU regularly and have not had any problems. I do not know of any restrictions for Priority (or Express) mailing of edged weapons

[Adrian]

Thank you very much.

[Jiro49]

I just shipped a sword to a member in sweden via USPS priority and it took a minute but it arrived.

[mdiddy]

I recommend shipping USPS Express (EMS) but USPS Priority works too.

 

More important is to know the vagaries of your local customs and tax and to communicate any needed work-arounds to your shipper.