Replies

1. 
   PlaneWood | Oct 19, 2005 07:09pm | #1

   This might help a little.  It's a link to the US Post Office web site for International rates.  You will need to know the zip code of the sender.

   http://postcalc.usps.gov/default.asp?Mode=Intl_Single&CID=12159

   The biggest hassle is filling out the customs forms and the packaging.  Most people will charge a substantial fee for the extra trouble.  I don't, but my time is terribly cheap!

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
   PlaneWood

1. 
   charnwood | Oct 23, 2005 01:11am | #19

   Dear Planewood,

                        Thank you for your suggestion. I have e mailed Woodcraft and Lee Valley and asked if the are willing to send items to the United Kingdom  using US postal service

   I feel my quest to identify a cost effective method to post items from the USA. to the United kingdom may appear to becoming an obsession but many of the products listed on US. web  sites are either not available in the UK  or more expensive.

   I also believe many other wood workers are faced with this  challenge of saucing products

    If I am able to succeed in my quest  I will become a regular purchaser from the USA

   regards Charnwood

2. 
   JohnWW | Oct 19, 2005 07:15pm | #2

   If my memory is correct on this, Lee Valley which is based in Canada, advises that they can ship anywhere in the world.  Their catalog of hardware and tools is very large, and their customer service is possibly the best in the business.

   John W.

3. 
   Pondfish | Oct 19, 2005 07:20pm | #3

   I've shipped packages to the UK; I use the postal service because it is much cheaper than UPS or FedEx (or other of that ilk).

   Recommending the use of "Hide Signatures" option under "My Preferences" since 2005
4. 
   RickL | Oct 19, 2005 07:20pm | #4

   Many sites I've seen give you shipping options when you check your cart out so it tells you right off the bat what the numbers are. Most shipping costs would be pretty much the same based on going Postal, Fedex, UPS  rates. Just ordered a computer notebook case from Australia and it came in a week. So much easier with the web and the credit card versus what I went through in the old days of sending off a bank check in whatever currency for the respective country and by the time the check got there the rate had changed, plus waiting 3 months for the boat to arrive with the goods I ordered

5. 
   WillGeorge | Oct 19, 2005 08:06pm | #5

   No I have not.. Been to Englind's and I loved it! Nice folks..

   Hell, we get ripped off her bein' USA folks.. Join the club!

   EDIT:: Just funnin ya SORT of!

   
   

   ---

   Edited 10/19/2005 1:08 pm by WillGeorge

6. 
   Midnight | Oct 19, 2005 10:17pm | #6

   I've bought frequently from the US and Canada, shipping to Scotland... experiences are varied..

   To date, my only gripe has been related to how a package is dealt with once it arrives in the UK. If HM Customs raise an eyebrow you'll have to stump up for VAT on the item. In addition, Parcel Force have a habbit of slapping an additional "handling charge" simply because they can...

   A curious point is that with few exceptions, orders from the US invariably require a VAT payment. Conversely, I've yet to have a parcel from Canada receive the same attention....

   My experiences are limited to what'd be regarded as "small" packages... I've no experience of dealing with larger items...

   Mike Wallace

   Stay safe....Have fun

1. 
   charnwood | Oct 20, 2005 11:05pm | #9

   Thank you to everyone who has replied to my question. The reason for my inquiry is the current deal of 40% off Bessey clamps  in the USA is not available in the United kingdom  The 24 inch K body clamps over here are priced at approx. $47 each.

   From my initial inquires into this area Amazon.com appear to offer the best deal on posting  from the USA. $29.99 per shipment plus  an  additional $5.99 per item

   Therefore if my math is correct the cost of the k body cabinet door clamp set sent to me in the UK. should be $99 (cost of two 24ins clamps ,two 40inch clamps and KP block set) add to this

   postage $29.99+ (5x$5.99)=$158.98

   To the $158.98 add  customs charge 3.5% and Value added tax 17.5% brings the total to  $193.40

   This  compares with the UK price of $210 but is  not worth the effort

   If anyone can suggest a cheaper method   please post a reply

    

   kind regards 

   Charnwood

    

1. 
   PlaneWood | Oct 21, 2005 06:33am | #12

   Don't you have any relatives in the USA that can send them to you as a gift??

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)PlaneWood

1. 
   charnwood | Oct 21, 2005 02:03pm | #13

   Unfortunately I do not have any relatives in the USA.

   If I did I would still have to pay the 17.5% vat if the goods cost more than $63  and customs tax  at 3.5% if the value of the goods was was moore than $400

   Further the laws  within the Uk. do not allow me to pay the sender directly or indirectly for the gift

   see web site HM. Revenue and customs ( internet shopping and individuals)

    

   regards Charnwood

1. 
   CraigC | Oct 21, 2005 02:47pm | #14

   I agree with what has been said. I live in Mexico City and order quite a bit from the US. The cheapest by far is the US Postal Service. Time is 2 weeks, and for some reason I never have to pay custom duties. The most outrageous is United Parcel Service; they're thieves. I've also dealt with Fed Ex and DHL. Amazon does not ship a lot of goods out of the US. I agree that Lee Valley and Rockler shipping charges are expensive. Too, some companies seem to have made the effort to shop around for best prices/contracts, e.g. Highland Hardware out of Florida uses Fed Ex and their shipiing prices run about half of what the others charge.

2. 
   WillGeorge | Oct 21, 2005 07:34pm | #15

   I'd E-MAIL Bessey and say.. Geeeee what about US! We buy stuff too!

7. 
   NWTIMBER | Oct 19, 2005 10:37pm | #7

   We use BAX Global for our international shipments. They have been consistently 1/2 the cost of UPS. They also have very good customer service. http://www.baxglobal.com

8. 
   Troy | Oct 20, 2005 02:04am | #8

   Hi, I have sold some photo equipment on e-bay and the buyers were in England. I found that the US postal system was the least expensive. All the others where quite pricy.

   Troy

9. 
   willy | Oct 21, 2005 01:24am | #10

   Follow up on JohnWW suggestion on Lee valley at http://www.leevalley.com

1. 
   charnwood | Oct 22, 2005 11:44pm | #17

   Thank you John W. and Willy for your suggestion .I have been in contact with Lee Valley. They charge $59.94 postage for two 12 inch. and two 25 inch. k body clamps and the delivery time is 8 to 10 weeks . Therefore Amazon.com still appears to be the front runner ($29.99 per shipment plus $5.99 per item  total $59.95)delivery time 2 to 4 business day by priority international carrier

   A number of people have suggested using the US. parcel service, the tricky is would companies such as Woodcraft,Amazon. com or Lee valley be prepared to use this route. Has any one had any experience with this?

   Further a big thank you to everyone who has taken the time and effort to respond

   kind regards Charnwood 

1. 
   willy | Oct 22, 2005 11:57pm | #18

   Lee Valley operate out of New York State as well as Canada.  Try googling for they New York web - - I believe it's Oswego N.Y.  They may give better service from the USA.

1. 
   charnwood | Oct 23, 2005 01:17am | #20

   Thank you Willy for your suggestion I will pursue  this new avenue and report back

   Kind regards

   Charnwood

    

    

10. 
    Malcolm | Oct 21, 2005 03:44am | #11

    Someone said "use the postal service" and I agree. I recently bought a piece of camera gear on eBay and the seller priced shipping ex NY.

    The US postal service was something like $16. UPS, FEDEX etc wanted at least $60. Pretty much the same delivery terms.

    I've bought tools and consumeables from Lee Valley (I'm in NZ). Their service is good, but they tend to use expensive shipping - I guess because there's no motivation to do otherwise (you're paying).

    Malcolm 

    http://www.macpherson.co.nz
1. 
   WillGeorge | Oct 21, 2005 07:36pm | #16

   Pretty much the same delivery terms. NOT QUITE! US Postal Service has rules against thrashin' a nice looking box that looks like it contains nice stuff!