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

[MooseLang]

Even though this (probably) isn't BIAB's fault, I'm starting to wonder if my first time ordering from there will also be my last...

09/04/2017 09:19 Arrival at international office of exchange USJFKA United States
08/04/2017 17:28 Departure from office of exchange INBOMB India
08/04/2017 08:23 Arrival at international office of exchange INBOMB India
08/04/2017 08:23 Retained at customs : reason unknown INBOMB India
03/04/2017 00:32 Departure from office of exchange BEBRUA Belgium
03/04/2017 00:20 Item information registered manually
02/04/2017 20:28 Your item has been sorted NEW ANTWERPEN X
29/03/2017 09:56 Confirmation of preparation of the shipment received

 

[BadJustin]

What's the 60 euro limit for etre on 375s? 10? I suck. I forget a lot of ****.

 

[Maakun]

Even though this (probably) isn't BIAB's fault, I'm starting to wonder if my first time ordering from there will also be my last...

Looks like it's the fault of the post office... but at least it doesn't look like it'sw super delayed. I once had a box from Spain to The Netherlands end up in Toronto and then it took about a month to get back to Europe.

 

[skrip]

anyone have Kurts direct email at BiaB? i'm trying to get my held orders shipped for the funk BIF on here. i emailed through the site but no one has gotten back to me...

 

[Padraig]

Apols if this has already been covered but what are people declaring typically 500ml cans as when shipping internationally?

 

[thejukes]

Saccharomyces cervisiae samples/starters. Just so happens their growth medium is delicious. Sorry for partying.

 

[Abitker]

Apols if this has already been covered but what are people declaring typically 500ml cans as when shipping internationally?

I came in here to ask this very question. Collectable cans?

 

[mrk_d]

I came in here to ask this very question. Collectable cans?

I've used "collectible glassware" to get a friend in Denmark some Heady Topper with no issue. That was just a single 4-pk in a flat-rate box, so YMMV with larger amounts of cans.

 

[Padraig]

I came in here to ask this very question. Collectable cans?

So I went with thejukes suggestion and used 'yeast samples' on a box sent to the UK. Got through ok.

 

[thejukes]

So I went with thejukes suggestion and used 'yeast samples' on a box sent to the UK. Got through ok.

 

[Padraig]

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.

 

[sneakychi]

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.

I have no idea, but I seen someone mention http://www.stamps.com/ before.

 

[simont1]

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.

https://www.upela.com/ is cheaper, seems to go through DHL in the US. When I tried it the package got stopped, as they obviously won't ship alcohol, but they gave it back at pickup.

 

[rrryanc]

Anyone ship beer from Belgium to other spots in Europe? Going to be in Brussels for a weekend between two weeks of work, where I will be flying a lot and not looking to lug around beer/won't have free bags, etc. But the last flight back to the states, I get free checked bags. Wondering if there is a cheap way to send the beer to my hotel where I'll be the night before I head back to the states, which is likely in Spain?

 

[sunnrider]

Anyone ship beer from Belgium to other spots in Europe? Going to be in Brussels for a weekend between two weeks of work, where I will be flying a lot and not looking to lug around beer/won't have free bags, etc. But the last flight back to the states, I get free checked bags. Wondering if there is a cheap way to send the beer to my hotel where I'll be the night before I head back to the states, which is likely in Spain?

I´ve shipped a few boxes home to Spain while in Belgium. It´s not really cheap, it costs similar to adding another check in bag to your flight. I just do because it´s convenient.

 

[rrryanc]

I´ve shipped a few boxes home to Spain while in Belgium. It´s not really cheap, it costs similar to adding another check in bag to your flight. I just do because it´s convenient.

How much are we talking? And did you just take them to the post office, or go via another shipping service? I have several flights in between Belgium and my final leg home, so checked bag fees (plus hassle of flying with checked bags) will add up.

 

[sunnrider]

Local BPost office. Keep it under 30 kilos and it will cost 100€. That´s about 16/18 large bottles or so.

 

[rrryanc]

Local BPost office. Keep it under 30 kilos and it will cost 100€. That´s about 16/18 large bottles or so.

Awesome, thanks for the info.

 

[Death Valley]

Is 'collectible glassware' still working? Seems like US Customs would be on to that by now.

 

[sneakychi]

Is 'collectible glassware' still working? Seems like US Customs would be on to that by now.

Yepp.

 

[GregorySingh]

Is 'collectible glassware' still working? Seems like US Customs would be on to that by now.

Still works for me! (Knock on wood)

 

[Maakun]

Is 'collectible glassware' still working? Seems like US Customs would be on to that by now.

With Dutch customs I had to pay two or theree times, but that was because other info on the customs form was not filled in or it had faded so they couldn't read it so they opened the boxes. I've never had any problems with 'collectible glassware' going to the US since they don't care about stuff like value.

 

[sherm10161]

Anyone ever receive the wrong items from Belgium in a Box?

I ordered 14 bottles of Boon Vat 109, but I received 7 bottles of Boon Vat 109 and 7 bottles of Boon Vat 79.

 

[smitman20]

Anyone ever receive the wrong items from Belgium in a Box?

I ordered 14 bottles of Boon Vat 109, but I received 7 bottles of Boon Vat 109 and 7 bottles of Boon Vat 79.

Email Kurt on their site and he will take of it for you.

 

[RLD]

Anyone ever receive the wrong items from Belgium in a Box?

I ordered 14 bottles of Boon Vat 109, but I received 7 bottles of Boon Vat 109 and 7 bottles of Boon Vat 79.

Wow that's a pretty big **** up. I've been sent the wrong vintage several times from BIAB. Kurt or Kenny will correct the issue for sure. You'll get the bottles for free but might have to pay for shipping again.

 

[JulianB1]

Thread bump for a very random/weird question here: has anyone ever shipped beer to Indonesia? And if so, what kind of issues might one run into? I know that alcohol is at least legal there, but am totally in the dark as to what might happen with a beer shipment. Was thinking about sending a friend (who has been there a year and is there for another year) a care package...

 

[jbeezification1]

Thread bump for a very random/weird question here: has anyone ever shipped beer to Indonesia? And if so, what kind of issues might one run into? I know that alcohol is at least legal there, but am totally in the dark as to what might happen with a beer shipment. Was thinking about sending a friend (who has been there a year and is there for another year) a care package...

I’d probably buy a few cheap, disposable bottles and make a test run.

 

[rrryanc]

I’d probably buy a few cheap, disposable bottles and make a test run.

Shipping is likely to dwarf bottle costs.

I'd recommend asking your local wine store? They might have an idea, or at least have a lead on someone that does.

 

[tylerk88]

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...

 

[mrk_d]

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...

One two occasions I've shipped double-boxed, ~40 lb behemoths to Belgium and listed the contents as "collectible glassware". They went through without issues. No soundmakers – you can't really hear the sloshing anyways with all of that packaging.