Does anyone have experience in sending packages from CA to Australia and the most cost effective way to do so?
Question by Nanna: Does anyone have experience in sending packages from CA to Australia and the most cost effective way to do so?
I am looking to send a camera as a gift and it is very expensive via Fed Ex, etc.
Best answer:
Answer by Christine
I have had nothing but bad luck sending or receiving things from Australia. Do not go with the USPS. There is no way of tracking the package once it leaves the country. I sent a package to Australia the same time I sent on to Malaysia and the one to Australia took 2 months longer. Make sure that you are able to insure it as it may be swam over on someones back.
I am not sure why this country is so hard to send to. I have sent packages all over the world on E-bay and this is the only place that I have run into these problems.
Sorry that this isn’t really an answer to your question just a warning.
What do you think? Answer below!
From experience Fedex is the most reliable, but other courier services are no far behind. The problem with any postal service is that the Australia Post seem to hold things up by at least two days.
Try mail boxes etc or one of those little mailing places. I used to use them all the time, theyre everywhere.
I have lived in Australia and in California & sent packages both ways. I’ve never had a problem with USPS, but yes, they can only track a package when it is in the hands of USPS… and when it leaves the country (duh) it is no longer the property of the United States Postal Service.
FedEx and UPS are expensive because they have to contract with their Australian equivalents. There is no FedEx or UPS in Australia. It LOOKS like there is, because you can pick the country on their sites, but the lists on their sites show where they can mail to. (its true – try to find the location of a store on their website) DHL is the carrier that everyone uses there; we have them here and they are expensive.
I’d go with Priority USPS mail. Otherwise, it’ll take weeks. This way, it will take 5-7 business days. Australians do not get mail on Saturdays, unlike in the US.