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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Reptile on Fri, 13 January 2012, 14:09:23

Title: Best/cheapest way to ship keyboard from USA to UK?
Post by: Reptile on Fri, 13 January 2012, 14:09:23
Never shipped to UK. Looking to ship a filco tenkeyless in original box. Cheapest I found online was about $45-$50 in usps flat rate box.

Any other recommendations?
Title: Best/cheapest way to ship keyboard from USA to UK?
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 13 January 2012, 14:16:44
The flat rate "game board" box is $58, and it is good for up to something like 10 pounds (maybe 20).

Most keyboards that I have shipped, well packed, weigh 5-8 pounds. Most carriers use a combination of weight and box dimensions (total of the 3) in some voodoo formula to come up with a price.

I would guess that if you packed it in plain cardboard, not flat rate, in a box that was not too much too big, it would go for $30-40 via Post Office.

I doubt seriously that you will get it under $30, and US Post Office will be your best bet.
Title: Best/cheapest way to ship keyboard from USA to UK?
Post by: lightsout714 on Fri, 13 January 2012, 14:54:19
I shipped one the other day priority cost me 38 bucks. Didn't use a flat rate

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
Title: Best/cheapest way to ship keyboard from USA to UK?
Post by: WhiteFireDragon on Fri, 13 January 2012, 15:14:55
out of the 3 big US shipping service (USPS, fedex, UPS), i found that USPS is almost always the cheapest option when it comes to both domestic and international packages
Title: Best/cheapest way to ship keyboard from USA to UK?
Post by: lightsout714 on Fri, 13 January 2012, 17:49:26
Quote from: WhiteFireDragon;489754
out of the 3 big US shipping service (USPS, fedex, UPS), i found that USPS is almost always the cheapest option when it comes to both domestic and international packages

I agree. USPS has been the cheapest option everytime have checked various ones. UPS wanted over 100 bucks for the package I sent to the UK that cost me $38.
Title: Best/cheapest way to ship keyboard from USA to UK?
Post by: TheProfosist on Sat, 14 January 2012, 03:54:11
You could go usps first class if under 4lbs. Other wise priority starts around $30~$35
Title: Best/cheapest way to ship keyboard from USA to UK?
Post by: Findecanor on Sat, 14 January 2012, 04:14:05
I always ask for USPS First Class mail when I buy something from the US to be shipped to Sweden. (25+ transactions so far) Cheapest and the least hassle (for me). Most problems I have had have been with the last few miles and that can't be blamed on USPS. The only mailings that have gone missing have been envelopes.
Title: Best/cheapest way to ship keyboard from USA to UK?
Post by: lightsout714 on Sat, 14 January 2012, 09:01:26
The only thing is first class can be very slow. What does it take? 2 weeks plus?
Title: Best/cheapest way to ship keyboard from USA to UK?
Post by: TheProfosist on Sat, 14 January 2012, 11:41:19
Quote from: lightsout714;490206
The only thing is first class can be very slow. What does it take? 2 weeks plus?

yea it can be up to a month not including customs.
Title: Best/cheapest way to ship keyboard from USA to UK?
Post by: lightsout714 on Sat, 14 January 2012, 12:35:30
Quote from: TheProfosist;490289
yea it can be up to a month not including customs.

Thats crazy.
Title: Best/cheapest way to ship keyboard from USA to UK?
Post by: TheProfosist on Sat, 14 January 2012, 13:24:14
Quote from: lightsout714;490341
Thats crazy.

it usually doesnt take nearly that long though.
Title: Best/cheapest way to ship keyboard from USA to UK?
Post by: lowkey on Sat, 14 January 2012, 14:15:03
USPS First Class with your own box.  If you want to make the label on your PC and print it out, you have to use their shipping program to do so (free on the USPS site) as their website won't let you make international first class labels, only priority mail, which in my experience is about twice the cost.  It's pretty straightforward and is always the cheapest option.
Title: Best/cheapest way to ship keyboard from USA to UK?
Post by: trax on Sat, 14 January 2012, 15:19:19
USPS does not do devilry outside of the US (at least not in my country).
USPS hands the package over to a local shipping service.

However, UPS, FedEx, DHL do the full transportation by themselves which lowers the chance of the package being held up in customs (never had a package of with those services in customs, ever).