There is some Cadbury Highlights drinking coco I just love, and have only seen in England. I was thinking of buying several and mailing them home so I can keep my packing light for the rest of my time outside the UK.
Has anyone mailed items home, and have a best practice I could leverage? It's not heavy stuff, but I don't know if there is such a thing as 'book rate' (=cheap) or anything.
Thanks!
We have small packet rate which is a bit cheaper than standard airmail. Are you sending the sachets or the jars? The prices are here: http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/content1?catId=400036&mediaId=53800712
If you choose this option you need to write "small packet" on the top of your parcel and make sure you specifically ask for small packet rate.
Thanks! It will be the jars.
Cheers!
Laurel, in my experience if you send the parcel as "surface mail" from the U.K. (which is the least expensive for postage, but still NOT cheap), it will take a L O N G time to arrive. You'll likely be home for a while before the parcel shows up in your mailbox. If you're mailing jars, be sure to pack them well!
Cheers!
Ken - Yes, surface mail does take a loooonnnnggg time so I never use it. The 'small packet' rate does go via airmail so it is pretty quick.
I have had things shipped home a number of times, and while it's not quick, most of it gets here before the last postcard!
One thing that I have done successfully in the past is to take thin plastic shipping envelopes with me. I got them at Walmart a few years ago and I will be looking again. As I travel, if I purchase anything like a souvenir guidebook, or receive a gift like a cookbook from a friend (big and heavy - it happened), I tuck them into the envelope and mail it home book rate. I don't know if it would be worth it to you to take a box to mail home cocoa, but for books, guidebooks etc... it works really well.
Laura, unfortunately the items I was shipping didn't exactly fit the "small packet" category. They ended up being shipped in two small boxes (provided by the Post Office). It was a bit of a challenge to keep the cost down, as the packages were right at the limit for weight and size.
I was home for about a month before these arrived in the mail box!
Cheers!
Each package needs to weight less than 2 Kilo's. Over that, the price doubles
Laurel, have you tried the internet? A lot of that good European food is available in the US and/or Canada from specialty importers or shops. Unfortunately, the shipping charges are pretty high here, as well.
I just took my own advice and googled Cadbury Highlights Drinking Cocoa and found it and more good stuff right away. You can order over the internet and they also have a new store not far from Boston, which I'll definitely visit this summer. Got to try out that cocoa. It seems to be famous. Best regards, B.
Hey Laurel,
I'm over here in San Carlos across the Bay (San Mateo bridge). We have a British Food Center store here on El Camino Real (1625 ECR, San Carlos 650-595-0630). I just called over and the lady told me she has three different kinds of the Cabury Highlights drinking coco. The store hours are 10-6 M-Sat and 11-5 Sun.
It's a grand little store where we buy our Yorkshire Gold and Red tea and PG tips. They also carry Welsh and Scottish teas and everything else from UK.
While you're over on this side, go to THE ENGLISH ROSE tea room at 663 Laurel Street in San Carlos. Phone: 650-595-5549. It's best to make reservations for lunch or dinner as they are packed on weekends and most days of the week. Bangers and mash, Bubble and Squeak, Cornish Pastries, etc. They have several tea offers with everything fresh baked. Just had breakfast there this morning. Delicious! Hours: 9-3 Tue-Sat with dinner 5:30-8:30.
Sun 9-2,5:30-8:30. Enjoy it all and with no snail mail.
Cheers, Karen
Thanks all!
I did check the internet....but it was about $8.00 per, as I recall, vs getting it locally. But given the price to ship it home, I'll likely end up taking it in my luggage again : - )
Thanks again! Great ideas!
I've often sent things home from the UK. It's always stuff that I want to have at home, but I really don't need it immediately so I don't care if it takes months. I find it's actually rather fun to have this package show up a long time after I've gotten home. It lets me revisit my trip and the fun I had on it. Pam
Along with all the other good suggestions here, Cameron's Pub in Half Moon Bay has Cadburys drinking chocolate along with all sorts of other British sweets.
one thing I learned : when sending stuff home, always put Unsolicited Gift on the customs form to avoid having to pay import tax on it.
