Shipping to Europe anyone?

[caroline]

Hi Guys

I was wondering if anyone here has a good rate for shipping to Europe. I'm being granted a licence to sell a new product for Europe very soon. Its already available in the States. I can't say what it is yet, as the patent for Europe has just been lodged but I'm waiting for the patent number to come back.
Anyway, the cheapest quotes for shipping to Europe so far is £30 per piece. :shock: My product will retail for around £50 so I can't see people paying an extra £30 for shipping (espically when that will be converted to Euros, it will look even more!) I have tried Parcelforce and TNT so far. The product itself is very light, about 2kgs, but its quite big measuring at 18"x19"x16" and it comes in a big brown box. I guess if I can't get a cheaper quote I will have to look for distributors in Europe, but I'd rather have control over it myself, at least to start off with.

Any advice please?
:?:

 

[creacom]

Shipping to Europe is usually expensive. Have you tried the slowest possible method by Royal Parcel Mail ? Might be worth a look.

Jacqui

 

[creospace]

try ups

 

[MarkPearson]

Hi Caroline,

From what I have found the delivery costs to Europe really limit an ecommerce business.

I have loads of enquires for people wanting our personalised roses to be delivered to Europe and the US.

But the delivery cost is usually more than the cost of the product!!!

Even to ireland the cost is sky high!

 

[caroline]

Thanks for your responses. I lose a lot of business with my dolls because of the cost of shipping to Ireland and Europe. Its £30 per doll too, and even Northern Ireland is £13 extra. I don't really want to use Royal mail as you can imagine all the extra hassle of getting down the post office, its much easier having a courier collect. The post office use parcelforce themselves so I don't suppose its any cheaper anyhoo.
If anyone comes up with a cheaper alternative I'd love to hear from them!

 

[Pilfo]

Give Initial City Link a try.

Pilfo

 

[clairemackaness]

depending what your level of paso is like Royal Mail will collect from businesses

 

[caroline]

Thanks guys, I will try out your suggestions!

 

[freecybermag]

Well I am quite central in Europe. I live in Switzerland and am bordered by France, Germany, Italy, Austria eyc so if you need any help from me if it makes things cheaper then just let me know :lol:

Cheers

Chris

 

[caroline]

Thanks Chris, I've just booked my next holiday to go skiing in Austria next January for the first time...can't wait! I wanted to go to Switzerland but Austria was cheaper. Maybe next time. :wink:

 

[SillyJokes]

We send stuff by regular airmail to europe which is ok but I get a lot complaints about the length of time things sometimes take, also I don't know what the French do with their post but they seem to loose a disproportionate amount.

I prefer sticking to sending stuff to the UK. If it is under 2 kg it can go by airmail, and you can get varying degrees of signed for service - much cheaper than couriers.

 

[Jayne]

Hi,

I posted a package by royal mail, it weighed 1.893kg and it cost £10.09, it only has to go a tiny bit over 2kg and they will no post it. But under that, it seems the cheapest way.

Jayne

 

[freecybermag]

Hi Caroline

You'll love skiing. I'm off on Hols tomorrow Snowboarding and I am dead excited. Did you book your holiday with the travel agent? Are you a package holiday Gal? I used to work for Thomson Holidays as a ski rep in Andorra so if there's any questions you need to ask please feel free.

Have you pre-booked Ski School??

 

[caroline]

I will try Royal mail and some of the other couriers mentioned, it can't do any harm. My trouble is because the box is so huge the couriers take that into account, and even though it weighs 2kg they say they class it as 30kg!
Chris, I booked with Thompson! We are bringing the kids aged 13, 11, 5 and 1 year (by next Jan 07) and we are going to surprise them with the tickets Xmas day. I know I booked early, but we got one free child place and the second for £99..bargain! I will book a ski school, we are hoping to try out the dry slopes over here first to see if they will like it, before we go. I know they will just love the snow anyway regardless of the skiing. I was wondering if it would be cheaper to book the ski school with Thompson, or direct on the schools website. Hope you have a great time snowboarding!!

 

[Jayne]

There's a real snow slope in Castleford, W.Yorkshire if you want to get some cold practice in and shopping too :lol:

Jayne

 

[freecybermag]

Hi Caroline

Ski School is sometimes cheaper with Thomson as they promise the school a bulk of customers to get it cheaper. One thing I will say is though, your Ski Pass. Have you paid for that also. Be careful as some resorts offer free child passes when you're in resort but not all travel agents know this and so they charge you for it.
Thomson also offers a kids club that is great so you can leave the kids with the rep and you can enjoy your day. The reps will take those skiing that want to go skiing and the ones that don't can stay in the class.
I know the travel agent has probably provided you with insurance but make sure you read it thoroughly expecially the exemptions. Make sure you are well covered
Although you have made the booking now the reservation will be made with the hotel only a month before you go so bare in mind that in December send the hotel an e-mail asking for a really really nice room. I used to get loads of these requests and they often obliged

Chris

 

[caroline]

:wink: Thanks for the offer Jayne, maybe you can mind my offspring while I do the shopping bit?! :lol: :lol:

 

[Jayne]

No problem, there's a childrens play thing too :lol:

Jayne

 

[caroline]

Thanks Chris, you have been really helpful! I haven't booked the ski passes or insurance yet, I will do it during the year. My main concern was to get the hotel booked so I could get some free child places. Good tip about the room, ta!

 

[dagr]

Freight companies will charge on the most penalising aspect of a package (volume, length or weight). It has to be small AND light to get low prices.

Re Ski insurance: Check your credit card details. For example, my own bank's Visa Premier card comes with free "ski" insurance if I use to buy the ski-lift fees.

 

[caroline]

hmmmmmmm very interesting dagr, thank you!

 

[Jonny]

Yes, unfortunately it is quite expensive to ship to europe.

I reckon one good alternative is to look over the possibilites to have it made in Europe - especially eastern europe, instead of developing it in the u.s and then ship it to euro.

I don't know what type of product it is, but you can always take it in to consideration.

Cheers

 

[caroline]

Thanks Jonny. We are going to have it manufactured in the UK and when it gets more popular, China (their minimum order quantities are 1,000). It is currently being made in America but the shipping from America cost more than the product, so we have been given rights to manufacture as well as the licence to distribute.

I have got prices from parcelforce to send one from the UK to Germany and its £61.50 then I tried UPS and that was £81.08! So shipping to Europe is not looking good, we may have to set up a distributor over there.
I will keep trying..
thanks everyone

Caroline

 

[caroline]

latest update, cheapest quote so far from Parcelline to Europe..£22! Getting there...#1

 

[Vaninternatinal]

I know this is an old thread, but I would be interested to know how you got on, I have my own van delivering to Europe and depending on your volumes and Countries, may be able to find you an alterative.

Cliff.