Shipping items back to US

I have only shipped things from Italy, Austria and Poland. It's expensive regardless of what you are shipping, but to me it's worth it not yo have to carry things around. Mailboxes, Etc. can be found almost everywhere if you don't want to use national postal services.

I have shipped extensively from Poste Italiane in Italy. All packages but one arrived in the US. I mailed too many small padded bags.

It's better to pack a reasonable sized box you can manage, and to buy a number for the box so you can track it. If it gets lost, you have the number.

It's very expensive to mail from Poste Italiane, but that's how my friends and family get their souvenirs, and how clothes I buy get home.

Many people I know won't mail from Poste Italiane because of the unreliability factor. UPS and FedEx are also very active in Italy, and I have used both at shops selling expensive items. Both shippers are also very expensive.

I should add that UPS ships packages COD, so somebody has to be there to write a check for any Customs charge. FedEx just ships the package and then later sends a bill for any Customs charge, which can be paid online.

Especially in the big cities, Poste Italiane is full of people mailing boxes to all parts of the world.

Duplicate question under General Europe.

Only one time did I gather things up and go to the post office in Rome and ship them home, it was about 20 euro and it was a small box. Then two times after that I bought ceramics and the store had shipping included in the price and it was very reasonable, and everything arrived perfect. One store was in Florence and the other in Orvieto. I would just ask when you buy something was the cost of shipping will be.

For larger or more expensive items, the merchant may be willing and able to ship it for you. This is best because you'll have credit card protection if it got lost or damaged (obviously always pay with a CC in that case) and you won't have to pay the VAT which often will save about as much as the shipping cost. And it saves you time.

For smaller items you collect, the local post offices are the cheapest and pretty reliable. But you usually have to pack things yourself, postal clerks often don't speak much if any English and you may have to buy the packing materials yourself.

If you must ship something more fragile or valuable, I suggest one of the shipping agencies or Mailboxes Etc that are found in most major cities. They pack it for you, provide the insurance and usually speak English. But even for small boxes it can be very expensive. Some of my shipments have been over $300 for heavier boxes (admittedly more for books and papers).

Be sure to fill out the customs form correctly (where English speaking clerks come in handy) and declare the value. Be sure to ship it somewhere will people will be home or an office. Be sure it won't arrive before you (it can take weeks so usually only a problem for long trips).