Shipping Abroad Help

Markyd7

Just started looking into shipping abroad from UK

Does anyone have and tips, advice etc they could share with me and everyone else who reads list.
Countries to avoid?

I'm starting with Europe, then working my way out.

Thanks

Ems Bricks

I don't have any no-go countries as all of my international orders have arrived so far. (Have tempted fate now!!) You could keep it simple at first and just set up parcel rate to Europe, Zone 1 and Zone 2.

I set up the parcel rate and issued a refund where there was any overpayment in postage, as sometimes you can get away with sending it via Airmail Letters.

YELLOW FARM BRICKS

make sure you know which countries require a customs declaration (basically non-EU but not exactly, RoyalMail website has good info.) and what the limits are for CN22 versus CN23 form which has additional requirements such as external invoice. Incorrect customs declarations are the biggest cause of delivery problems when exporting goods.

Robert

Locker47

Been shipping abroad for about 15 years on ebay, BL and others and wouldn't have any issues with any country. in fact, percentage-wise probably had more problems in UK than elsewhere. lego buyers are the same the world over, good, friendly, helpful people in my experience. Me and the kids had quite a lot of fun on BL totting up all the different countries we'd posted to, some really unexpected ones too.
Just a word on using Paypal postage though if you use it: if you need a customs label for a specific country they will ask you to fill one in and print off during the postage process, so you don't need to worry about that. Also if the given addressee has non-uk letters (i.e with an umlaut etc) paypal won't allow the postage to go through. the work-around for that is to edit the address to UK standard keyboard letters and add the extras by pen after printing.
If i think of anything else i'll be happy to pass it on, or if you have any questions please ask.

Best of luck,
Paul (Locker 47)

Ems Bricks

If you're not using PayPal for your customs label. You can get a batch of labels from the Post Office, so you can fill them in before taking your parcels to the PO.

johnsma2000

I use Stamps.com and their software for this. Put in the address, weight and contents information and it prints the customs forms with everything, including postage, for you.
No need to write hard to get through multiple carbons for each order going international. Especially helpful if you've broken a finger on your writing hand.

You can print it directly from your own printer and drop it off or hand it to your local postman when he comes to deliver your mail. I love that I don't have to wait in line at the post office (They are really slow.) Tracking on your packages is included as a benefit to Stamps.com users for free.

Stamps.com has a 30 day free trial (www.stamps.com/tell Promo Code is C-63YK-77J).
I never liked using Paypal to print postage. It was not intuitive to me to set up so I gave up. Stamps was easier.
Melissa

DagsBricks

Stamps.com has a 30 day free trial

Stamps.com is easier but USPS.com does the same thing for free. ;-)

lego buyers are the same the world over, good, friendly, helpful people in my experience.

Yes, but sometimes postal and customs employees are not.

Does anyone have and tips, advice etc they could share with me and everyone else who reads list.
Countries to avoid?

I abide by the Shipsurance and InsurePost country list. If they're not willing to insure a parcel to a particular country, I bear that in mind. I avoid South America in general though Brazil is the real problem. When shipping to Italy don't write "plastic toys" on the customs form, use "toy parts".

Brian

Markyd7

Thanks for all the help

Graham

and never write LEGO - plastic parts or plastic toy parts is what I use - LEGO has appeal to the less honest customs folks!

Markyd7

Just posted my first international order to Hong Kong. When I asked the about what I needed to fill in, he asked how much it was. £10. He then said skip the Gift or Commercial section. Just write plastic toy parts, the cost and sign and date!

Was this a one off or are most post office clerks like this?

budgetkids

If I were you, I would fill it in anyways. I have never heard of a clerk telling you to skip sections on customs forms. This is ridiculous. I do not know the facts, but I would assume the type of package you are sending (gift vs merchandise) is how the receiving country would tax the package?

Fill it out completely and truthfully. Also, I want to add, use usps.com to ship international. Depending on the country it can save you money and is faster than sitting at the post office filling out forms.

DagsBricks

Except the OP is in the UK. ;-)

Hoddie

Shipping to the EU from the UK is as easy as shipping from Manchester to London - you don't need to complete a customs label if all you're dealing in is Lego.

You could stick to EU countries to begin with but it's worth noting that the Royal Mail shipping costs to all European countries are the same, regardless of whether they're in the EU or not. This includes Turkey, Russia and a handful of what are traditionally considered to be Asian countries such as Azerbaijan. You can find the zones here:

http://www.royalmail.com/personal/international-delivery/airmail

Shipping to non-EU countries is more difficult in that you need to complete a Customs declaration. Ask for a stack of these to take home so you don't have to hang about and complete them in the Post Office. You need form CN22 for parcels worth up to £270.

The declaration is easy to complete but it's still an additional annoyance.

Markyd7

It was Hong Kong from UK so Zone 1 and the form was CN22.

Lawrence

@Markyd7 when we fill in the customs, we tick "other".

If I understand correctly, the commercial sample, is like a test of something, as in, a sample of a commercial product, not a sale. And obviously Lego is not a gift or a document. It does seem a bit strange, that 99% of businesses using the form will tick "Other"

budgetkids

@DagsBricks oops :P

Ems Bricks

I ship the same as admin. Just tick "other" and write in toy parts, the cost and the weight. You'll start getting international orders come through a bit now, so you can pick up some CN22's from the Post Office for free and fill out the cost and weight details at home. Saves time at the PO.