I might as well explain it here so all international customers can weigh benefits and drawbacks to various systems....We always try to do the best value possible for customers. Because of this almost all the time we use USPS to ship international. The cost to ship a clutch kit to Canada is $48, customs and brokerage are almost nothing. In the last two months I have shipped a suspension to Iceland, a turbo to Reunion island, a clutch kit to Norway, Greece, Spain and the UK, and various other small items from Russia to Serbia, Scotland, Brazil etc...In every case its gone USPS
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USPS Pros/Cons:
- Cheap! A clutch kit to Norway is $80. Suspension to Iceland $104. Clutch to Canada $48.
- No reliable tracking. They have delivery confirmation, which tells me when the package has been delivered. Often this isn't updated. Generally they take 10 or more business days to deliver international. Sometimes things rush through in 5-7, sometimes it takes 13-20. Most of that time it says "Electronic notification received" (see link).
- Low import duty
UPS Pros/Cons:
- Very Fast
- Reliable
- Extremely expensive
- High import duty
A package sent USPS generally ends up with 5-10% of declared value in extra fees. A package with a declared value of $400 then usually has about $40 in import duty. The same package sent UPS usually costs $125+.
And what about that $80 clutch going to Scandinavia via USPS? Same kit going UPS:
Believe me, if I could fly it there myself I would, as you see here I get called a miracle worker from time to time; and I do my best to get things out as quick as possible. Heavy items cost, when you factor in customs and brokerage, about $400 more than sending USPS. I just wish USPS had a better tracking system. I'll keep an eye on things, as I am sure you will too!
Sorry for the long winded post; for these reasons most customers aren't willing or able to pay for UPS. This is why we do the best we can with what we have and hope it all works out. Usually it does, sometimes it doesn't, sometimes I'm still called a miracle worker, sometimes I'm called other things.
. The clutch that just went to Greece took 24 days, which is the longest I've had to deal with. It was held in Greek customs for 11 of those days, which is obviously not my fault, nor USPS's fault. But as you said, I did give you a call on the opposite side of the world to make sure we had everything right and so we could have it out a day sooner than what it would have been...
Takk!
-BB