Sky high shipping costs?

Hi

Does shipping an amp (68lbs) from Singapore (ups express by air) to the UK for $250 sound expensive? I have no idea- but it seems a lot of money!

Thanks.

 

Its expensive but not unreasonable

http://www.interparcel.com/

£110 - £143 for a 20 kg package from here to singapore as an express service.

I paid $80 for a 6kg bel canto amp to be shipped recently

 

Typically $3-$4 per kilo. Don't forget to budget for customs clearence if not included.

 

$225-$275 sounds about right for that weight, hence why many people go for the sea shipping option!

DT

 

Who is best to use for sea shipping?

 

Royal Mail, UPS, DHL, Fedex etc. all have sea shipping options AFAIK.

Takes 3-6 weeks and there's no tracking or insurance available (AFAIK), but its usually two thirds cheaper than air frieght.

DT

 

I shipped to hong kong recently and it was a real eye opener. you need to have accurate weight, size, value and delivery location to get a quote. Its not that easy if the goods have not been packaged. Interparcel are very easy to use, competitively priced and it is easy to add insurance when you book. You might also consider

http://www.transglobalexpress.co.uk/

again easy to quote and they also include independants so can be cheaper but they do not do insurance and many brokers wont insure second hand gear against damage. You may have to supply photos for insurance so consider this before you pack the goods.

All in all I would use Interparcel unless price is a prime consideration

 

Re sea shipping I could only find a couple of agents and the cost was the same as air !!

 

No insurance is madness

 

If there's no insurance available with shipping (by boat) then it looks like air is the only way to go. The seller in Singapore would arrange it for me- so no problem with that. Would I still have to pay UK custom duty on a second-hand amp. If so, what would I expect to pay (approx)?

 

You'll pay approximately 20% of the "declared" value in total plus you may well have a customs clearence fee of approximately £40.

 

I agree with earlier mails; surface mail seems to be a poor option as in my experience it's only 25-30% cheaper than air mail (with Parcelfarce anyway), takes up to a month and a half rather than a few days. Combine that with no tracking or insurance and it makes it a complete no-goer in my opinion..... I also consider (rightly or wrongly) that the longer the item is in transit, the higher the risk of damage will be.

I think the price quoted doesn't seem too excessive, and I agree with KUB3, no insurance is insane unless the item is worthless!

When I've sent goods to the US (and elsewhere) I've always put 'gift' on the import/export doc instead of other options, that way the receiver doesn't have to pay import tax.....ask the seller to do this for you....

 

Great- thanks all.

 

I've always put 'gift' on the import/export doc

Be careful about doing this. If custom and excise think you are trying it on, you can be prosecuted even though it was the sender who shipped it as a 'gift'

Rod