UK TO AUS Courier?

[Greybeard]

Do you have a recommendation for a courier, UK to Australia?

[orabanda]

Me; if you pay the fares!

[Angus]

Hi

Depends on what you want to ship. When my daughter was travelling I think we just used normal post office service to get her xmas present to her.
If something more complex, with were I live I have a number of friends who can ship almost anything almost anywhere

[Greybeard]

Depends on what you want to ship.

I'm going to send some sidecar fittings, weighing 2kg in a box 20cm x 10cm x 10cm  to Mike in Oz. Looking online I get quotes ranging from £15 to £50. Should I just go for the cheapest?

[duTch]

 Best i had was a few years ago some stainless stuff about that size that left with DHL on a Friday wherever Lightning spares were (Cheshire ?), and I had it Monday don't remember the cost tho' ; not too shabby...CWC sent my wheel stuff and it took a week, bigger and cost more.  None of that is probably much help though,  I guess I needed the gulping practice..

[morris]

Get yourself informed on customs duty. There may be a nasty surprise in it.

[Greybeard]

Get yourself informed on customs duty. There may be a nasty surprise in it.

I've stated the bits are old motorcycle parts with a value of £20, (which is the carriers loss cover). I'm hoping that such a low value may not incur much duty if it gets checked.

[Bsareg]

Last Thursday  I ordered spares from India.  Total cost was £50 and supposed to be delivered within a week ( which I took with a pinch of salt ). Had a text from DHL to say " delivering Monday ". I find it incredible that it's possible to fly £40 worth of parts for that sort of money. I've paid more to post stuff 'up country' and it took longer.

[duTch]

 GB- not working today, so let the OCD out for morning exercise, and tracked down some invoices;

 The stuff from Lightning Spares in 2011, was                         3Kg     £38.96 via DHL

 weight of Head bolts & Valve springs (NSA) =                                    £15    W/W standard delivery

 Conical Wheel hub;                                                               4.5Kg   £9 DHL      (2010)

 Conrods  from memory about 430 grm each plus packing....=  ( ~1Kg)  £24.50 (Maybe standard mail?)

 There are obvious inconsistencies so worth researching. the volume/weight method.
  I never had any issue with extra customs or excise on anything whether new, NOS or used stuff, if it's used and marked as a gift, should cover it I reckon...and upp the value ?

[mikeb]

given aus is really part of nz (we call it the western island) ...
I hate dhl - they charge mega$ and if there's any suggestion of a customs fee being payable they'll charge it on your behalf, then charge you fees for collecting it and delay delivery until you have paid whatever they ask.

if royal mail will handle the weight they are cheapest and also fast. i looked at their site recently and there are a range of options for weight and size.

the other option is ask the recipient as i assume he deals with imports/exports a lot

[Joolstacho]

I've always found the PO to be the best cheapest way. Courier companies charge bigly.

[Black Sheep]

Have you had a look at Parcel2go.com? One of the fairly useful comparison sites.

[Greybeard]

Have you had a look at Parcel2go.com? One of the fairly useful comparison sites.

That's the one I used. I selected Australia Post via OCS as I thought they should know their way around the Antipodes. Just got to drop the parcel off at my local collection point. Charge was £21.20 with £20 loss value.

[coater87]

 Its no joke about DHL.

 It takes longer for the U.S. postal service to deliver my mail from five miles away than it takes DHL to deliver a package to my door from half a world away.

 Lee