International Shipping & Ordering: Stories/Tips/Tricks/Advice

[StonedRaider]

About to ship my first international box (US -> UK). 3X 750ml, 2X 375ml, and 2X 500ml bottles. I'm hoping to double box (interior box is 14" X 12" X 16"), but I'm worried that the box is going to be too big/heavy to pass as "collectable glassware" valued at $20. To those that have shipped international priority via USPS before, do you put in any noisemakers to mask some of the sloshing? And, I'm wondering if I should come up with something aside from collectable glassware...

Any other tips for a newbie here? I've marked the item as gift. Anything else I should be mindful of? Hoping to print labels and ditch it at the counter as to avoid any interrogation...

I’ve completed two international trades. The first time I had the same concern as you and described it as collectible snow globes. The second time I described it as collectible glassware. Both shipped USPS. Each time the box weighed in excess of 30 lbs. Each time they arrived at the destination without issue.

 

[Maakun]

The most important thing is that both value, 'gift' and description are readeable, and that it's being send by a private indididual. That usually stops customs from opening the box.

 

[roodie]

Anyone have any success or problems with boxes shipped via Postnl? Last message I got was: USPS CD451175316NL, Processed Through Facility 11/01/2018 10:23pm AMSTERDAM INTERNATIONAL MAIL CENT NETHERLANDS

And now it’s been a week and nada

 

[ewwiccc]

Anyone have any success or problems with boxes shipped via Postnl? Last message I got was: USPS CD451175316NL, Processed Through Facility 11/01/2018 10:23pm AMSTERDAM INTERNATIONAL MAIL CENT NETHERLANDS

And now it’s been a week and nada

into NL? or out of?


I shipped a box from California to Netherlands (USPS) a month ago. It stopped in NL customs for 3 days and my trader had to pay a 25 euro fee to get it out. Apparently they've been stopped most beer boxes in NL customs but so far 100% of the boxes my trader has received have made it through just by paying the fee each time.

He shipped via postNL to California and it made it to my door in 8 days. Tracking on the USPS side pretty much stopped when it hit NYC customs. It didnt even show delivered

 

[roodie]

Thanks ewwiccc

it's being shipped to me in the US, so maybe no cause for concern? problem is that i have no tracking info that shows it actually made it to US customs. afraid it fell off the boat

 

[GregorySingh]

Thanks ewwiccc

it's being shipped to me in the US, so maybe no cause for concern? problem is that i have no tracking info that shows it actually made it to US customs. afraid it fell off the boat

I’ve done several trades to the Netherlands, and in my experience, it’s common to not see anything on tracking for 1 or even 2 weeks sometimes. On average, most of the packages sent to me from NL, take a little over 2 weeks to arrive in CA. I wouldn't worry too much if I was you.

 

[roodie]

Thanks for the input GregorySingh and ewwiccc I got a text this am Finally inbound into customs!

 

[Gaseous Clay]

Anyone else dealing with the current bpost strike? Etre sent out a shipment on the 6th and the tracking is still listing the item as having been processed in Belgium but nothing more. I saw some folk had luck getting in touch with bpost about their shipments who met a similar fate - how did y'all go about doing this? Not so much in a hurry to receive the beer, more just worried about falling temperatures over the coming weeks.

 

[IndianaJones]

Anyone else dealing with the current bpost strike? Etre sent out a shipment on the 6th and the tracking is still listing the item as having been processed in Belgium but nothing more. I saw some folk had luck getting in touch with bpost about their shipments who met a similar fate - how did y'all go about doing this? Not so much in a hurry to receive the beer, more just worried about falling temperatures over the coming weeks.

Mine has a notice of departure from office of exchange on the 13th. Not sure how to get any details beyond that. Plugging the BPOST tracking # into USPS gives a "Label created but not received" message from the USPS tracking, which I'm pretty sure is a standard "we have no clue what you're talking about" response

 

[straightlambic]

Anyone else dealing with the current bpost strike? Etre sent out a shipment on the 6th and the tracking is still listing the item as having been processed in Belgium but nothing more. I saw some folk had luck getting in touch with bpost about their shipments who met a similar fate - how did y'all go about doing this? Not so much in a hurry to receive the beer, more just worried about falling temperatures over the coming weeks.

Mine (from BIAB) was processed in Brussels 10/30, then nothing till it hit JFK on 11/14, and delivered to my door in SoCal 11/15. I’ve had it take 4 days, and had it take a month, figure 2 weeks wasn’t actually bad, but damn did it seem like a long 2 weeks.

 

[2plums4one]

you using the barcode sender, or the second/lower one when on bpost?
IndianaJones

 

[Gaseous Clay]

Mine has a notice of departure from office of exchange on the 13th. Not sure how to get any details beyond that. Plugging the BPOST tracking # into USPS gives a "Label created but not received" message from the USPS tracking, which I'm pretty sure is a standard "we have no clue what you're talking about" response

Seems like were in roughly the same boat, although you might be one step ahead of me. The last update from bpost reads "Your item has been sorted". Nothing coming up on USPS and there is no lower tracking number, just the bpost sender code. I imagine my box is sitting in a processing center somewhere in Belgium - hopefully out of the elements

 

[IndianaJones]

you using the barcode sender, or the second/lower one when on bpost?
IndianaJones

I've tried both. Which one is the correct one?

 

[skrip]

NYC sorting left my etre box out in the rain... hahaha! thing was soaked but somehow everything made it safely.

 

[2plums4one]

I've tried both. Which one is the correct one?

I believe the bottom one is the correct one - from my memory, should say barcode sender I think

 

[IndianaJones]

I believe the bottom one is the correct one - from my memory, should say barcode sender I think

That was correct 2plums4one, bottom code (barcode sender) worked finally and updated to show my Etre box was processed through customs in NY on Saturday

 

[Cruize4Gueuze]

Anyone had experience shipping kegs overseas?

 

[Gaseous Clay]

Looks like packages are moving again following the bpost strike. My box finally left the sorting facility this morning.

 

[SeaWatchman]

ETRE:

November 21, 2018, 8:35 pm
Processed Through Facility
ISC CHICAGO IL (USPS)
Your item has been processed through our facility in ISC CHICAGO IL (USPS) at 8:35 pm on November 21, 2018.

Origin Post is Preparing Shipment
November 17, 2018, 1:12 am
Processed Through Facility
BRUSSELS EUROPEAN MAIL CENTRE, BELGIUM
November 17, 2018, 1:02 am
Acceptance
BELGIUM
November 17, 2018, 1:02 am
Processed Through Facility
BRUSSELS EUROPEAN MAIL CENTRE, BELGIUM

Not bad at all, maybe it’ll get it next week.

 

[boogercrack]

ETRE:

November 21, 2018, 8:35 pm
Processed Through Facility
ISC CHICAGO IL (USPS)
Your item has been processed through our facility in ISC CHICAGO IL (USPS) at 8:35 pm on November 21, 2018.

Origin Post is Preparing Shipment
November 17, 2018, 1:12 am
Processed Through Facility
BRUSSELS EUROPEAN MAIL CENTRE, BELGIUM
November 17, 2018, 1:02 am
Acceptance
BELGIUM
November 17, 2018, 1:02 am
Processed Through Facility
BRUSSELS EUROPEAN MAIL CENTRE, BELGIUM

Not bad at all, maybe it’ll get it next week.

Lol. Also etre.

18/11/2018
11:57
Departure from office of exchange
09/11/2018
15:28
Your item has been sorted
06/11/2018
11:01
Confirmation of preparation of the shipment received

Damn bpost strike. No movement since. 18 days in woohoo.

 

[iong516]

What's the cheapest way to send boxes from the US to Europe?

Going the other way I've always used 3rd party consignment agencies who book space with one of the major couriers but are loads cheaper. So instead of walking into the post office in the UK and getting stung for $160 to send 6 x 750ml I would book it online with another company (Parcels2Go), pay $60, print off the label and then drop it at the post office. Doe anything similar exist in the US?

Just shelled out $120 to send 12 x 500ml cans via USPS by going into a local independent shipping place.

Looking to send to Germany in coming months... any tips about a 3rd party or whatever would be appreciated

 

[SeaWatchman]

Lol. Also etre.

18/11/2018
11:57
Departure from office of exchange
09/11/2018
15:28
Your item has been sorted
06/11/2018
11:01
Confirmation of preparation of the shipment received

Damn bpost strike. No movement since. 18 days in woohoo.

Ugh, stupid. Mine cleared out of Chicago customs on the 23rd and is on the way here (I presume).

 

[Gaseous Clay]

Lol. Also etre.

18/11/2018
11:57
Departure from office of exchange
09/11/2018
15:28
Your item has been sorted
06/11/2018
11:01
Confirmation of preparation of the shipment received

Damn bpost strike. No movement since. 18 days in woohoo.

In the exact same boat as you. Keeping fingers crossed both our packages make it safely and without freezing.

 

[Padraig]

Looking to send to Germany in coming months... any tips about a 3rd party or whatever would be appreciated

I have yet to find any semi reasonable shipping options out of the US unfortunately. Splitting the cost between Europe and US with the other party seems to be the preferred option.

 

[SeaWatchman]

Etre box arrived in perfect shape today! 9 days door to door right as the strike was ending.

 

[Gaseous Clay]

November 26, 2018, 11:02 pm
Processed Through Facility
ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS)
Your item has been processed through our facility in ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS) at 11:02 pm on November 26, 2018.

Currently stressed but feeling happy that my package is moving. Hopefully it continues to move toward me and not away...

It took one full week for my package to reach US customs. Actually pretty typical timeframe. The strike certainly delayed movement on the front end but things seem to be moving at a normal pace now. Original ship date was 11/6.

 

[IndianaJones]

My Etre order shipped 11/9 and is still in transit within the USPS system. I keep getting the same "In Transit to Next Facility" notice, been stuck on that notice since before Thanksgiving

 

[boogercrack]

Ugh, stupid. Mine cleared out of Chicago customs on the 23rd and is on the way here (I presume).

Mine cleared through ohare customs in a record 1h54 minutes... made it's way down to my local post office, where it was scanned in and then scanned for missed delivery, no one there to sign for it...1 minute after it "arrived" at the post office. which, by my guess, means they just said **** this guy and didn't make an attempt. i was out in the front yard all that day putting up christmas lights, there was no attempt. anyways, i go to pick it up, after a nearly hour wait, they cannot find the box. i go back to work, they called back later that afternoon they found it, and i had to go back to the post office which is like 30 minutes out of my home from work to wait in line and get the box.

this marks the 15th straight etre box my local usps station as "attempted" to deliver an never made an attempt. i moved across town 2 years ago, and ever since i've been serviced by this location it's been such a chore.

everything was safe and sound though!

Joana even checked in with me when the box was marked with a failed delivery attempt, which was a nice touch from Etre.

 

[IndianaJones]

I received mine today as well, just shy of 3 weeks after it was shipped via Etre. Box is immaculate, great packing

 

[Gaseous Clay]

Congrats on receiving! Still praying to the beer gods. My box has been held at LAX customs since Tuesday