What is the best way to send home purchases made in France? And what are the pitfalls?
Thanks
Posted by
Lewiston, Idaho, USA
2092 posts
In 2005 I mailed home $400 worth of fabric (quilt and drapes). It cost E68 to mail and took exactly 2 months to arrive. Customs completely ripped apart the packaging, taped it back up but it arrived safely. Of course that was just fabric, nothing breakable. I would have mailed it in a box but couldn't find one big enough.
Also, keep in mind that the $400 worth of items mailed home counted in my US$800 Customs limit even though it wasn't with me.
Posted by
Philadelphia
27 posts
We sent home purchases from Paris by going to the post office and buying a flat rate box. We filled it, shipped it home, and it arrived there before we did (we traveled an additional five weeks). Our box was in good shape, hadn't been torn open, and everything inside was fine.
Posted by
Seattle
223 posts
I'm not familiar with the "flat rate" boxes, but they sound like a really good idea because then it wouldn't matter how heavy your item is.
Other than that, when you ship items home, have them go "surface mail" or "par bateau" (by boat) to minimize expense. The expense really racks up if you try to send them airmail.
It'll take longer (like someone said, sometimes nearly two months), but the price difference is significant.