We are heading to Munich/ Rothenburg /Nuremberg the 2nd week of Dec. I aim to do most of my holiday shopping- but not too excited about on and off the train with the loot for a week. Would like to send things home from Rothenburg- if it takes about 5 -7 days them we'll beat the box home so no porch pirates. Do people recommend DHL? The German post office? I'm thinking a medium to large box- not 12 cuckoo clocks or anything.
I lived in Bavaria years ago and seem to remember the post office having odd hours, but I assume that's changed.
Thanks!
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8977 posts
The store may be able to ship for you or at least advise you. I know that the Kathe Wolfarht store (well-known chain of Christmas stores) in R-odT will do this.
Posted by
Washington DC
28102 posts
I haven't shipped anything from Germany in ages, but the post office will almost certainly be quite a bit cheaper than a private company like DHL. However, the latter may have a full-service option under which it will do the packing for you (at an even higher cost). Since vacation time is so precious, having purchases shipped by the store is definitely worth consideration, though that will probably also exceed the post office's rates.
Some additional things to think about:
Is Germany one of the countries where participating stores don't charge V.A.T. on purchases they ship to the US for you? Avoiding V.A.T. helps defray the shipping cost.
There are limits on the value of packages that can be shipped to yourself and to others without being subject to US custons duty. I don't know how rigidly those limits are enforced.
Buying commercial goods (as opposed to handmade items) overseas and shipping them home is rarely a money-saving proposition. If you know you're interested in particular items like Henckels knives or Hummel figurines, research US prices before departure so you can compare. Don't discount how much time you'll need to spend shopping and arranging shipping during your trip.
Be sure you understand what sort of insurance, if any, there will be on your shipments.
Posted by
Germany
268 posts
DHL is a brand of Deutsche Post (German Post), so no need to choose between the two. They are generally considered as reliable for parcels within Germany - I have little experience with international parcels, though. Make sure the packaging is sturdy; parcels might be tossed around quite a bit, no matter which parcel service you end up choosing.
Posted by
Alsenborn, Germany
1488 posts
Use the post office. If you're in Nuremberg use the one next to the train station. They have boxes, and other packing materials to include the Customs forms you must use. Make sure you note you are shipping the item(s) to yourself at your residence and that should eliminate any Customs duties required. (It may not, so be ready to visit your local Customs office to get the package released.) If memory serves me right the DP in Rothenburg is by the bus station.
I'd avoid Wolfart's, it's much too commercial, and the last time I stepped into one of their shops there wasn't much stuff made in Germany either.
Posted by
California
158 posts
In Rothenburg there are numerous Kathe Wolfhart stores. Once you start shopping in one and buying items to ship home you can add to your box from other stores. Get a receipt from your first store and take it with you to the next, and next. I got a big box delivered to my home the day before Christmas with items I had picked out from 3 stores in Rothenburg AND one store in Nuremburg! Everything was well wrapped and arrived in perfect condition. Of course you pay for shipping, but you get to have the VAT removed. Happy Shopping!
Posted by
Berlin
3009 posts
DHL is most used in Germany to send parcels (info page how to ship parcels). Choose "Paket" for sendings incl. insurance.
Deutsche Post is transporting mail only.
Both companies belong to Deutsche Post AG group.
Posted by
9 posts
If AnneLiese store is still open, they will ship free once you buy a certain amount of merchandise (and that is very easy to reach!). We bought a cuckoo clock and a few other items. It arrived to our home, perfectly packed with no breakage at all. Highly recommend. Bernd is the owner (his Mom Annelises passed away 2017)
Posted by
OP
USA
9 posts
Thank you to all who replied. It sounds good now, on the couch. Will maybe just end up schlepping things around...Appreciate the info!
Posted by
824 posts
I recommend shipping directly from the point of purchase. Most places in Rothenburg odT, and other tourist centers, will offer shipping from the store. Käthe Wohlfahrt's is VERY accommodating in this regard and will automatically deduct the EU VAT from purchases being shipped to addresses outside the EU. (Käthe Wohlfahrt now also has a children's toy store in Rothenburg and you can combine those purchases into a single shipment from the Christmas Stores.)
On a larger purchase, the VAT exemption more than covers the shipping.
Every store I've shipped from in Germany and Austria allowed us to select a shipment date to avoid the packages beating us home...