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How to mail USPS bubble pack with a circuit board to Europe cheaply?

by FrightRisk
5 replies
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I want to send something to the UK and also possibly Sweden. Through research, I *think* a small bubble pack using regular mail might work. These are the conditions:

1. Want to use the cheapest method
2. Sending one or 2 small electronic boards
3. Total weight including envelope would be 3-4 ounces (85-113 grams)
4. Should fit into a small bubble pack or poly mailer with some foam inside
5. Value of the parts in the pack would be $20-$30
6. Will only do this on rare occasions (perhaps once or twice a year, if that)
7. Will fit in a 5x7" poly or bubble pack mailer

Some questions:

A. It makes no sense to send this if it costs more than $3-$4, might as well just send money and have them find these parts. Can I still meet that price?
B. Do I need to fill out customs forms even if I label this a gift? (Especially for the UK shipment since Brexit ruined the UK for business).
C. I'm worried about the boards being seen as some product I am selling rather than the gift (or test parts to experiment with) that they are.
D. Do I need to worry about bulkiness? I read somewhere .75" thick or less, which it would be in the middle of the pack.
#board #bubble #cheaply #circuit #europe #mail #pack #usps
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    No reason to 'worry about' anything - go to the proper site and find the answers. You appear to be located in the US so the link below should answer your questions.



    https://www.usps.com/international/f...ernational.htm
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  • Profile picture of the author DWolfe
    Originally Posted by FrightRisk View Post

    7. Will fit in a 5x7" poly or bubble pack mailer

    Some questions:

    A. It makes no sense to send this if it costs more than $3-$4, might as well just send money and have them find these parts. Can I still meet that price?


    D. Do I need to worry about bulkiness? I read somewhere .75" thick or less, which it would be in the middle of the pack.
    I'm currently selling 2 items on e-bay that are in 8 half by 11 Polly Bubble mailers, and of similar weight as your item. To give you an idea first-class shipping in the US is $4.80 That means your not going to ship in the $3.00 range

    Regarding bulkiness, you do not have to worry about the thickness you mentioned.

    As mentioned in the post above go to the USPS site.

    Also, you may want to visit this thread and see posts # 12 and #78 https://www.warriorforum.com/warrior...days-ebay.html
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  • Profile picture of the author savidge4
    Originally Posted by FrightRisk View Post

    I want to send something to the UK and also possibly Sweden.
    I "believe" your best method would be using "Pirate Ship" You can check the rates here: ( https://www.pirateship.com/rates ) Roughly $17.00 to both the UK and Sweden
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  • Profile picture of the author FrightRisk
    Thank you to all. I did thoroughly research the USPS site before I posted and if you can find the answer there, you are a better person than me It is clear for inside the US, and it is clear for sending "correspondence only", but when it comes to shipping other items and what is required regarding customs, or if a "gift" is different than say business "samples". I could not find it. I can send a box for almost $18 to the UK, but the "box in a bag" method is supposed to allow me to basically a 4 ounce, thick "letter" and I can't find info on that unless I drive to a package store or USPS and see what they can tell me.

    I know I was buying a lot of things from China with free shipping. About a year or two ago, that seemed to stopped based on something the US Government did, but it is still very cheap. Even $5-$7 would be workable, but it makes no sense to ship $20 worth of goods that fit in a package 5x7x.5". What if I wanted to send 2 candy bars to a relative? I have to spend $17-$24 and fill out customs forms?
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    • Profile picture of the author savidge4
      Originally Posted by FrightRisk View Post

      Thank you to all. I did thoroughly research the USPS site before I posted and if you can find the answer there, you are a better person than me It is clear for inside the US, and it is clear for sending "correspondence only", but when it comes to shipping other items and what is required regarding customs, or if a "gift" is different than say business "samples". I could not find it. I can send a box for almost $18 to the UK, but the "box in a bag" method is supposed to allow me to basically a 4 ounce, thick "letter" and I can't find info on that unless I drive to a package store or USPS and see what they can tell me.

      I know I was buying a lot of things from China with free shipping. About a year or two ago, that seemed to stopped based on something the US Government did, but it is still very cheap. Even $5-$7 would be workable, but it makes no sense to ship $20 worth of goods that fit in a package 5x7x.5". What if I wanted to send 2 candy bars to a relative? I have to spend $17-$24 and fill out customs forms?
      As much as you can ship "Box in a Bag" with USPS, you cant go into a USPS facility and get that rate. The technical term would be a "Dimensional Rate" and again you cant get this as a consumer from USPS directly - it is basically a wholesale rate.

      Pirate ship does offer this, watch this video: ( ) to better understand how to use it.

      Rates FROM China simply do not count... There must ba a govt subsidy or something... because the rates as I look them up within USPS from China to the States is way more than any of the rates I see on websites to ship items.

      and if you want to send 2 candy bars to a relative, YES you have to fill out a customs form... and thats coming and going from the States. And I cant say I have done the "bag in a box shipping" but to send outside of the States gets expensive. dont know if the bag in the box will actually work with outside of States shipping.
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