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

[SourBrewer]

I'm in the midst of an international trade with Ednolb and this just updated on the bpost tracking site:

Does that mean it is being held at customs (in a bad way)? Or is that just typical wording for still having to clear customs?

Oh man. I'm so bummed right now.

stakem?

I am of no help.

I got a box on the way too. Bpost last update was departure from international depot on 30/1. Nothing since on Bpost or USPS.

 

[domtronzero]

I am of no help.

I got a box on the way too. Bpost last update was departure from international depot on 30/1. Nothing since on Bpost or USPS.

Obligatory "Cool story bro."

 

[HenrikO]

So I created a label, but I got confused when describing and adding "items" since they kept adding onto the total package weight and going over the total. So I declared 12 items that were 1 pound and worth 1 dollar each, so that is what is listed in the item description area. The total weight is still accurate, but will this cause a problem?

Btw everyone, sacrelicio 's package arrived safe and sound and I'm now swimming in Surly goodness.

 

[Padraig]

Anyone noticing USPS deliveries to Europe are taking longer these days? Last year boxes from the east coast were getting to me in about 5 days. The last 3 boxes took over 2 weeks. Some of the delay is on this side but the majority seems to be in the US, i.e. boxes taking three days to register on the system and then sitting around for ages before getting on the plane.

 

[mattvandyk]

Anyone noticing USPS deliveries to Europe are taking longer these days? Last year boxes from the east coast were getting to me in about 5 days. The last 3 boxes took over 2 weeks. Some of the delay is on this side but the majority seems to be in the US, i.e. boxes taking three days to register on the system and then sitting around for ages before getting on the plane.

In my last 3 boxes (from Michigan to Sweden), 2 of them took 5 days, and 1 took about 10 (but it was very large and made an extra stop in Boston where it sat for a bit).

 

[andrewdrinks]

That box from Luxembourg to North Caroline eventually turned up without any further updates on the system on 10th February. I'm assuming it was held at customs for 7 days then 3 further days in transit.

 

[MKtheGeneral]

USPS as a whole seems to be erratic lately whether domestic or international. I think this winter is causing more problems/delays than they're used to.

 

[Odesseiron]

Anyone noticing USPS deliveries to Europe are taking longer these days? Last year boxes from the east coast were getting to me in about 5 days. The last 3 boxes took over 2 weeks. Some of the delay is on this side but the majority seems to be in the US, i.e. boxes taking three days to register on the system and then sitting around for ages before getting on the plane.

Yup. New York hub's been slow as hell for a few months now.

 

[blatherbeard1]

could somoene who has shipped internationally pm me. ive got a few bottles i need to get to austrailia and germany and need to know best way, costs and if its worth it.

thanks in advance.

 

[Odesseiron]

Why don't you just ask here so everyone can take part in the knowledge?

 

[blatherbeard1]

Basically i just want to ship 1 to 2 bottles to Germany and Australia and have no idea how to, who to use, what the cost entails, and if it will even get to the parties in the other countries.

Ive never even sent beer across the city, let alone the country

 

[Odesseiron]

Use USPS , mark it as collectible glassware or yeast samples and set a modest value ($5-10 per bottle). Yes, it's illegal to ship beer with USPS, but in most cases it will be much cheaper than using FedEx/DHL/UPS and they won't bother opening or scanning your measly little box.

Depending on the size of the bottle(s), you might be able to fit them in the smallest format category USPS offers. That should make shipping about $35 to Europe. After that, it's hard to say. Six bottle shippers with the appropriate amount of padding end up around $80-120, in my experience.

If anything, you should consider shipping at least a couple bottles more when you go international, just to make the economies of scale make some sense.

 

[HeadytheElder]

I'm considering shipping a box from Louisiana to Netherlands using USPS. However, I'm not sure what type of path it will take regarding temperatures.

Anyone have any insight? Seems kind of risky right now with the current temperatures in certain parts of the country.

 

[blatherbeard1]

Another europe shipping question,

how hard/easy is it to just put bottles in your luggage? I know from FLA to Tx it was a breeze but with customs and all, is there a downfall to bringing them over? (just found out we are going to fly to london in may, might be able to just bring the bottles over in person if the germany guy can fly over for a day to the UK)

either way, thanks for the info!

 

[andrewdrinks]

It's very easy - either wrap bottles in packaging or get a shipper that fits inside your case and use that. Make sure things are packed snugly - use tape around the caps, and ziplock bags to prevent any breakages from damaging the rest of your baggage.

 

[air]

Also declare your beer to customs. It shouldn't cost much to pay duty if they make you pay, but either way better safe than sorry when traveling that far with beer.

 

[andrewdrinks]

If you're travelling to Europe from the US, zero ***** will be given about importing beer. The allowance is 16 litres, and if you're bringing in bottles, you will struggle to bust through that given the weight restrictions. I was stopped at Luxembourg after travelling from SFO via LHR, and had 30+ bottles/cans in my luggage, but they didn't particularly care.

(But if you do somehow manage to break that 16 litre limit, then definitely declare)

 

[ASUBeer]

Pretty sure one of our office admins thought I was receiving a bomb when my Trappist Worls order arrived yesterday. It looked like they wrapped a box in a thin black body bag.

 

[LukeAleTime]

Anyone just waited for the quarter to tick over rather than asking Etre to ship? I figured I'd get an invoice for shipping this week some time but nothing has arrived.

 

[owens99]

I got an email on 3/23 saying that orders needed to be placed by 3/20. I emailed for clarification (and to ask how much room I have to fill), but have gotten no response.

 

[LukeAleTime]

I figure they got slammed with framboos boxes so I'll wait a lil.

 

[Gene1]

Repurposed this thread to include international orders (not just trades). Moved to General Beer Topics as a result of the broader topic scope.

Need moar customs war stories.

 

[MULDER1010]

War stories???

Mad a trade with a guy in Denver a few years. My box took 2 weeks to arrive with him.
The return boxes, two of them left the same day from Denver. One did Denver-LA-Australia. No issues. Arrived in 10 days.
Second box however was different. As said 2 boxes left Denver at the same time. The other went to San fran, which was a bit odd I thought when checking tracking. 3 weeks after the SF arrival I check the tracking, thinking it was in OZ. Nope. MOSCOW. I and the guy I traded with both contacted USPS and asked to have it sent to the correct place. After several months we gave up on it and he sent a second box out. This was literally 6 months later. I believe he got his money back on the second box.
The day the third box arrived at my house, the delivery driver hands me a second box. The other box was the box sitting in Moscow for 5 months. Very bizarre.

 

[owens99]

Hoping that someone could give some quick help. I currently have reserved on etre:
2 75cl bottles
5 37.5cl bottles

How much weight/bottles do I have to fill up the smallest possible box? I got an email from Jonathan that says 18lbs, but that seems wrong to me for some reasons, and communications with him have been pretty slow. (Probably due to Framboos (which I didn't get) and end of quarter, so I completely understand.)

Thanks in advance.

 

[BusinessSloth]

Hoping that someone could give some quick help. I currently have reserved on etre:
2 75cl bottles
5 37.5cl bottles

How much weight/bottles do I have to fill up the smallest possible box? I got an email from Jonathan that says 18lbs, but that seems wrong to me for some reasons, and communications with him have been pretty slow. (Probably due to Framboos (which I didn't get) and end of quarter, so I completely understand.)

Thanks in advance.

Calculated it using 3lb 750's and 1.7lb 375's. And you have no room for extra anything really except a 1lb glass. If you go over 18lbs, your shipping bumps up from 60 euros to the max 78 euros, which you might as well fill out the box at that point.

 

[boogercrack]

tomers are lighter than 3f/cantillon for the calculation too. barely, but if you're getting weird sometimes you can fit something more than expected.

 

[BusinessSloth]

tomers are lighter than 3f/cantillon for the calculation too. barely, but if you're getting weird sometimes you can fit something more than expected.

He is correct. Fantomes are 2.75lbs. Hence why I stipulated that I used 3lb's for my calculations. Not sure what you have on reserve OP.

 

[owens99]

One of the 75s is a tome.

Sorry, I'm slow on the uptake, but is it:
2*75cl. = ~ 6.8 + 5*1.7 = 8.5, total of about 15.3, so I have room for maybe one 37.5 bottle to stay within 60€ for shipping?

Jonathan's email said room for 6 75cl bottles for a 78€ shipping charge, but I'd be happier with a smaller box, I think. Or at least my wife would be.

 

[boogercrack]

works out better with less money per bottle for shipping if you fill the 78€ one, but that's a personal choice. I usually do.

 

[Padraig]

USPS as a whole seems to be erratic lately whether domestic or international. I think this winter is causing more problems/delays than they're used to.

Most recent box took 4 days from London to Atlanta (via NYC) and 5 days going the other way (via Miami). Looks like things are getting back to normal.