Turtlerock Forum

Thinking of selling something small but rare.
I usually do all my shipping through normal airmail, Australia Post when buying and selling within Oz, US Postal when buying from The States.
This time I'd need to track the item, get it there quickly and fully insure it.
The package would be small, similar to two paperback books.
FedEx? Other?
Which is easiest to access and deal with as a private citizen, EG: not an export business?
Do I need to know anything about particular paperwork?
I have experience with all the above in the UK, but no experience here.
Thanks for any help.
Chris

Don't use Fedex – I have had enough problematic experiences with them (including items being removed from a package during transit) to not want to deal with them where possible.

AusPost Platinum Express. Not cheap, but much faster, more reliable and easy than any couriers in Aus. Has tracking/full insurance and all that stuff

Thanks.
Can you go to any Post Office for that?
Item is also likely to need insurance for more than $8k.

Yep, any post office. There is a limit to the insurance amount though, I can't recall if it's $5k or $10k. Normal registered is $5, but I think platinum is more.

Thanks for the help.

Chris - this has been a nightmare for me - and I have been using Aus Post a lot - but they can be outrageously expensive too.
In the BJB sale we have been using: e-go.com with great results and prices are good - easy to work out via website
http://www.e-go.com.au/quick_quote.do
There has been a massive hole in the market for ages - even shipping stuff to and fro Proharmonic in Adelaide has been so hard. The courier companies all want you to have an account - and to get an account they want you to commit to constant business - like x amount of courier trips per month.
So its been the Aus post for me for interstate small items - and this e-go company has been great for bigger items to bring the costs down - even shipping quad boxes interstate

I've had good success with e-go too if u r happy to wait for them for a while for them to pick up

Yes - we wait a bit too, but the price is right.

I'm thinking.... suspicious Americans are going to want a courier they've heard of.... like FedEx.

Chris... I had something couriered to me recently from Texas. The package was close to $5K US. Fedex was the courier. I've got no complaints but I've only used them once before, so...?

Total cost (with insurance) was about $220 US. Size of the box was smallish. Probably a bit bigger than what yours would need to be. It arrived within 6 days after a short stay at OZ customs with no probs.

cheers
Ben

Chris - I agree - I thought you were looking at AU couriers - or couriers in general
Like Ben - Fedex is the way I would do it for the USA. Although I do use USPS (cheaper) and have had no problems - especially when using paypal for insurance purposes.

I've had great service from DHL in the past. All packages have arrived without damage and super fast too. Worth looking up.

Yep, I use DHL for overseas as well if I have to. I also thought you were talking about Australia!

Good luck though, it's very difficult getting a courier for a one off to overseas. Got any mates that work for a big company?

I have used Aus Post to overseas as well. Their Express service is good, but pretty bloody expensive.

Sorry.
I'm thinking of Ebaying a couple of things and saying I'll ship overseas.
At least one item is almost certainly going to attract US interest over any other country, probably no interest here.
I usually use AusPost or US Postal when I'm buying things.
CW

Come on - what are you selling????
Spill the beans???
I'm looking for a nice thin shell bass drum......save you a courier....

Rare synth gear.
For example, I mentioned my Metasonix in the ads section a few weeks ago with no takers.

I'll probably get to the drums eventually, although it will be entire kits rather than single drums.
Drums are probably going to have to be delivery or pick up only, I certainly wont be shipping them to North America via FedEx!!!

I think Pack n Send do overseas as well and though I have only used them locally they were very good.

If nothing else, this is all good info for future use.
I'm going to be looking through most of these suggestions. I have a few things that probably should be heading to Proharmonic for example.

Pack and send are very pricey Myles - like triple/or more of the cost of ego
Yeah Chris - I can't do a synth at the moment........but maybe a whole drumkit? as long as its not 8 toms and a triple kik - but I'm sure you aint that sort of drummer!