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[bridgecity]

It seems the subject of International shipping comes up frequently on the US sites and there is much confusion surrounding it.
Here is how it works. Note that this is simple, fast and hassle free for the shipper.

Maybe this will help get items sent downunder more easily. good luck.

I'm using USPS.com as an example, I don't work for them. 

According to my mail carrier, the US Postal service has realized they have to compete in a global market if they wish to survive.
So they are going out of their way to make USPS.com user-friendly and easy. 
It is constantly evolving so what you may take as fact yesterday or last week, may not be true tomorrow.


Step 1:
Log into USPS.COM and select Print Shipping Label.
Any country you can imagine is available.
NOTE: enter the email address of the recipient and click the box for sending notification so they get confirmation of the shipment.


Step 2: enter your package size/weight, as prompted.  Be cautious of package size since this can nearly double
the cost of shipping if you exceed the DIM standards listed below. When sending framesets/complete bikes make the package as compact
and small as possible.



Step3: Select your shipping costs


Step4: Customs declaration. This sounds scary but it is very quick and painless. Just be honest and precise.


You will be prompted to print the shipping label and customs pages which will add to 3 printouts.
These will be used in the "international customs envelope" provided by your mail carrier, if you don't have any on hand.

Step 5: Schedule the pickup which can happen directly from your home.
If you don't have the customs envelope, add a note here that you will need one. Your mail carrier will put your printouts in the envelope for you.


AND MOST IMPORTANTLY:
-->Use common sense and keep good communication between the shipper and buyer.

Some countries like the UK have "duty taxes" that the buyer will have to pay before they can pickup their package.   For example, a $650 item to the UK will have a $180 duty that the buyer is required to pay.

All international items have to go through customs, so this means delays. sometimes very long delays.
My experience is that packages take 2-3 weeks to arrive.  The buyer needs to fully accept this fact before doing business with the US.

If the buyer or seller seems like they are going to be hard to work with, then you can safely expect problems.  avoid the transaction. bike stuff isn't that rare, yet, don't be compulsive. 
If you need boxes, envelopes, customs forms brought directly to your house for free, they will accomodate.

[Jarvi]

Thanks for putting this together. There appears to be a fair bit of mis-information out there and it can be frustrating when we are after a hard to find part and the seller won't send out of the US. Many of us are more than happy to pay the shipping costs and have a pretty good idea of what things should cost so we know when we're being taken for a ride and that's usually when we start questioning things. Sometimes it's just an honest mistake and other times, well...

Also, thanks for helping to spread the world on the other sites. We can say all we like but at the end of the day it means more coming from people in the US.

[bridgecity]

Rock on!  (or do they say such heavy metal non-sense in Australia? 

[rsrichie]

Wow thats some really cool info and a huge effort in compiling it, im sure it will help heaps of the un-weary. Well done mate, cheers. "Rock on" 

[DAVE]

Well done!
There is an aversion to shipping from the states because of UPS & DHL etc. charging stupid money.
I've always used USPS and they have been great.

Thanks for putting this together.
Cheers,
Dave.

[COASTY]

Well done bridge, your a top bloke.

[Phil Kaye]

Great info and well done. It is a whole new world of transactions out there.

[mark]

hey thats great info, thankyou! 

[Mon_aro]

Good work, been wondering how it works 

[Gnarley]

Great Info ..... I had a set of H/Bars shipped from the US last week via USPS, they turned up in 5 days from the day they left my mates place in the USA.

[rsrichie]

Yeah i have had no problems getting stuff from the US i bought a CB Radio from a shop over there via the net they shipped it USPS and it was great i was sent a tracking number and the USPS web address i was able to track it right up to when it landed in Australia it was great no probs. (my other website i administer is www.cbdomain.com thus why i had a special cb sent over)

Cheers
Richie