Trouble with overseas shipping

[Lord-Chaos]

The German Post is getting slower and slower.

 

While in 2003, most smaller packages arrived after 10 days, the bigger ones after 4-5 weeks, it seems to take 7-8 weeks no for even the smaller packages.

 

This is extremely bad, because after a few weeks buyers will demand refunds from paypal or even file a complaint.(this happened a few weeks ago).

 

The problem is that shipping with German Post is 100% chaotic and unreliable.Some of the packages took almost 8 weeks from Germany to the USA.But 2 package to Australia arrived within 1 week (NOT sent as air mail).

 

But sometimes Air Mail packages take 4 or 5 weeks, too, sometimes the surface mail packages arrive faster.

 

The really large packages (up to 20Kg/44.15 pounds) arrive after 2-3 weeks, but are expensive.

 

This is a BIG problem for me, because I cannot predict how long it would take to arrive.If I write "8 weeks" in my ebay auctions, NOBODY will buy. If I write 10 days and it takes longer,people will complain.

 

I cannot offer air mail, because it's too expensive and UPS, FedEx and others don't offer cheap overseas packages.

 

Are there any possibilities to solve this problem?

 

Thimo

[highinfidelity]

No, but the problem is not with the postmen but with the customs, as far as I'm concerned. If they decide to inspect your highly suspicious package, it'll take up to 3 months to reach its destination.

 

There's nothing to do with this, customs suck and that's all. Every experienced overseas buyer knows it and expects freaky things to happen, so there's nothing to add. Instead, you can write few lines to newbyers to explain what may eventually happen.

 

The only thing my experience suggests is that objects fitting a bubble envelope (and solid enough to survive the travel) should be sent with it - they usually skip the customs. Packets get inspected most of the times, and you're in the hands of chance.

[Lost Monkey]

I find that there is no way to tell how long my packages from Canada to the USA are going to take anymore either... and I know it is because of US customs.

 

Packages to Germany, France, the UK and Australia are generally arriving FASTER than the ones I send to the US right now, and I am only about 3 miles from Detroit MI.

[Corrupted]

The Dutch postal service sucks as well. It's one of the most expensive in the world, doesn't offer surface mail, and is extremely slow. Yes, a lot of time it's customs, but when sending a few small packages there are always one or two who will arrive weeks later, without being inspected. Not to mention some letters have arived months too late as well.

 

My favorite is the Japanese postal service. I always let people send stuff with the cheapest airmail they have there, and stuff arrives in 5/8 DAYS! Never late either.

[BTHOTU]

I think I am going to stop shipping internationally , it is too much of a hassel, a guy from france bought my 5200, for 36 bucks and is paying 66 to ship it to him

 

And I get 30 emails asking about shipping, and I have to look it up and tell them 30-100 bucks depending on speed of arrival.