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Amiga computer related discussion => General chat about Amiga topics => Topic started by: motorollin on March 05, 2007, 07:23:31 PM

Title: Shipping heavy equipment abroad
Post by: motorollin on March 05, 2007, 07:23:31 PM
I've just been quoted about £55 to send a D-Box case from England to Germany. This seems ridiculously high. I was also quoted nearly £80 to send it to Australia. These quotes were from Parcel Force. UPS were even more expensive. Is there a cheaper way?

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moto
Title: Re: Shipping heavy equipment abroad
Post by: Doobrey on March 05, 2007, 07:39:11 PM
Tried Parcel2Go (http://www.parcel2go.com/) ?
25kg to Europe £27+VAT

Edit:
 Or maybe build this (http://www.fitz-claridge.com/Trebuchet/index.html) and start your own export business :-)
Title: Re: Shipping heavy equipment abroad
Post by: CLS2086 on March 05, 2007, 07:44:38 PM
Maybe !
If you can took the ferry for 1 euro or £5 (it happens some weekend...), you can post it from France, for less than half price and faster ;-)
Title: Re: Shipping heavy equipment abroad
Post by: motorollin on March 05, 2007, 08:13:01 PM
@Doobrey
Thanks for the link but this worries me:

"Collection and Delivery are not guaranteed but currently enjoy a 90% success rate"

I don't think I'll entrust my package to that service!

--
moto
Title: Re: Shipping heavy equipment abroad
Post by: Ral-Clan on March 05, 2007, 08:18:12 PM
I know little about U.K./European shipping, but I've observed that here in Canada, using the regular postal services is MUCH, MUCH cheaper than using a courier service when shipping items internationally.  It is much slower too, but usually very reliable.  Why not use Royal Mail?
Title: Re: Shipping heavy equipment abroad
Post by: motorollin on March 05, 2007, 08:22:19 PM
Parcel Force is Royal Mail's parcel service, so taking it to a Royal Mail Post Office would cost pretty much the same.

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moto
Title: Re: Shipping heavy equipment abroad
Post by: Tahoe on March 06, 2007, 07:14:59 AM
My personal experience is that indeed the UK based services are very expensive; specially compared to mainland europe (even within the UK itself!, try shipping to the Highlands).

So much for a united Europe eh?
Title: Re: Shipping heavy equipment abroad
Post by: cpfuture on March 06, 2007, 08:00:16 AM
Quote

motorollin wrote:
@Doobrey
Thanks for the link but this worries me:

"Collection and Delivery are not guaranteed but currently enjoy a 90% success rate"

I don't think I'll entrust my package to that service!

--
moto


I think what they mean is that it's not guaranteed to be delivered "within 3-4 days" or whatever the time span quoted. I think it's unlikely DHL fail to deliver 1 out of every 10 packages. Maybe you could contact them to have it cleared up. Anyway, I see they use DHL which has always worked for me, but then again I tend to receive packages and not send them myself.  :-)

Thanks for the link though Doobrey. Shipping from the UK to the mainland is close to extortion. Nice to know there are alternatives.


Title: Re: Shipping heavy equipment abroad
Post by: motorollin on March 06, 2007, 08:20:03 AM
Quote
cpfuture wrote:
Quote
motorollin wrote:
"Collection and Delivery are not guaranteed but currently enjoy a 90% success rate"

I think what they mean is that it's not guaranteed to be delivered "within 3-4 days" or whatever the time span quoted.

Oh I see. I found it amazing that they were suggesting that there's a 1 in 10 probability that they won't even come to collect your parcel once you've paid to have it sent, and then another 1 in 10 probability that once they've picked it up it won't make it to its destination. I really think they should re-word that disclaimer as it makes their service sound very poor!

Anyway, I was quoted £30 to send the item to Germany which is much more reasonable. Thanks Doobrey! :-)

--
moto
Title: Re: Shipping heavy equipment abroad
Post by: Piru on March 06, 2007, 08:24:48 AM
Quote
I think it's unlikely DHL fail to deliver 1 out of every 10 packages.

Nah, they deliver you some body parts (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6416459.stm), too.
Title: Re: Shipping heavy equipment abroad
Post by: motorollin on March 06, 2007, 08:42:19 AM
Is it legal to send human body parts using a commercial postage service?

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moto
Title: Re: Shipping heavy equipment abroad
Post by: Tahoe on March 06, 2007, 04:34:31 PM
Quote

motorollin wrote:
Is it legal to send human body parts using a commercial postage service?


Only if the VAT label says GIFT.
Title: Re: Shipping heavy equipment abroad
Post by: spirantho on March 06, 2007, 05:19:11 PM
Just want to say that I've used Parcel2Go a few times without any troubles at all.... and would do so again. They've been going a few years now I think so they're no fly-by-night company.