Mailing package from Itay/France/EUR to U.S.

What is in the packages? Value? The 200e is out of line for routine packages so they have to be something unusual. Use the local post system.

are you shipping alcohol? Or other liquid?

EUR is a district in Rome. I guess you generally mean the continent of Europe?

How far are you willing to travel to try to save money? Or maybe another question might be, where in Europe do you mean? It isn't all one country like states of the United States, each country is different. They may - some of them - be part of the European Union but they are all independent countries.

Which other counties will you be visiting where you might be able to send these two small parcels?

That is outrageous! I have shipped 10 kilos for about that amount. Italy is crazy. Try in France if you have a choice. The French postal system is, IMO, more reliable than Italy’s.

Thank you all for the responses. They were bottles of olive oil, 6 med. size total and some assorted, light weight gifts. I am heading to France and will mail from there from now on. I paid way too much obviously.

Thank you for your replies. Lesson learned.

The country's postal system will nearly always be cheaper than using a commercial shipper like UPS, DHL, etc., but these days it will still be very expensive except for truly tiny items. In my view, mailing makes sense only for expensive items (ideally purchased from a seller that will ship for you and not charge you the VA.T.) or things of sentimental value (maybe you want that olive oil because it's from the agriturismo where you stayed). Most tourist purchases are simply not worth the shipping charges--another reason to pack light, so you can do some shopping and carry the items with you.

In the past the Italian Post Office had a bad reputation; I have no idea whether those days are over, so I wouldn't ship that way without doing some research first.

oh dear - I thought you were looking at prices and alternatives - I hadn't realised that you had actually spent all that money.

I am guessing that the fee also included packaging and some insurance. Got to be good olive oil at that price. We shipped home a large art piece from Italy via local post system a coupe of years ago. The VAT saving paid for the shipping. No problem with the shipment. Show up about a week after we got home.