General Forum

Hi!

Does anybody have experience sending cards from the US or Canada to Europe (Finland)? What are the minimum postal prices? For 10 cards? For 200? What would be the paying methods?

Is it usual for people on this site to make deals between each other?

Thanks!

-Wallu

Postage rates from the US to Europe have been a topic of discussion recently. https://www.tradingcarddb.com/Forum.cfm/Page/G/ID/0/?MODE=VIEW&ThreadID=12841#73098

It seemed to me that purchases for sure had exhorbitant additional shipping costs attached to them. I don't know about simply mailing across the Atlantic, but I'd be interested in that. And, to your question about it being usual for people to trade on this site: YES! Between Europe and US/Canada, less of that I'm certain, but I'm willing to venture into that if it's not much different than trading internationally with my Canadian friends.

I just sent some cards to Finland (FIN_ArtoD). One global stamp ($1.15) because it was under an ounce and one 21¢ stamp for the non-machinable surcharge (rigid toploaders). You can send as a letter up to 1/4" thickness with a 21¢ stamp for each additional ounce.  Over a 1/4" and up to 3/4" is large envelope.  I've sent a large envelope to Canada with four 3/4" stacks of cards spaced apart so the envelope would bend. It cost me $4.79.  I've even split shipments into two mailers because it was cheaper than all in one mailer.  Anything in a bubble mailer is automatically a package and the cost skyrockets.

I've sent cards to Canada, Finland, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, France, Spain, Germany, England, Czech Republic, Hungary, Indonesia. No problems, no outrageous costs.

I use the USPS Price Calculator https://postcalc.usps.com/. What will drive the price up is claiming value and using "Package".  Some countries, any value over zero drives up to cost. Others have different maximums before the cost goes up.

I ship things regularly overseas and it varies on location and package value, safest bet is letter size so it creates no customs issue.

Ok, thanks a lot!

This helps a lot. Just to clarify, when you say " Over a 1/4" and up to 3/4" is large envelope. ", how many cards could you send in that large envelope?

I've sent about 180 cards in a large envelope using 10 card sheets for a little under $6.00 to Canada recently. 

It depends on the card thickness. My envelope had cards of various thicknesses.  But, standard 20pt cards would be about 35 cards per 3/4 inches.

Wallu just avoid Ebay sellers using the Global Shipping Program. You'll end up overpaying for shipping if you only buy a few cards. I'm in Europe too and it hurts your wallet a lot. Typically I pay between $2 and $15 for shipping on Ebay. Only more if it's for a box lot or something.