Need to ship to Russia - Small Pkt Air or Light Pkt Air best method?

[msmaggie060]

Has anyone shipped to Russian Fed. lately? Wondered if I should use Small Pkts. or Light Pkts. (pattern books, under 400 gms) in order to arrive safely. Don't usually worry, but this person bought a bunch at one time. I am assuming that there is no Tracked Pkt. to Russia, at least I couldn't find it for that country.

[altimateoutlet]

There is not a freight forwarding company in Canada that would ship Russia collect. Your rolling the dice shipping there for sure!

[msmaggie060]

Well, nothing I can do about it now. I do block for higher cost items. I didn't expect someone to buy more than one item so my fault. I do plan on shipping to them though, I'll just have to take the chance. Buyer looks excellent, just not their postal system.

[ricarmic]

I ship a lot of stuff to Russia. If it is thinner than 20mm, or you are able to send in parts, airmail lettermail has a much higher speed and likelihood to arrive quicker.....what I do if I am able, is split it up into small enough parts (thickness) to send via lettermail. (you can register lettermail if you like ($15.25 extra) but that makes it take a lot longer usually). You can also describe it as "printed matter" on the assumption it is patterns.....on the customs form.

[ricarmic]

Another wee suggestion, I checked one of your listings and I see you're charging the exact amount for a 100g sized package to Russia ($4.36) - I suggest you charge more than this to help offset the cost of lost shipments, time it takes to explain why it is taking 4 weeks to arrive etc. (I charge $5.50 for something that is 100g)

[vmm32vxd]

I have shipped at lease 200 items to the Russian Federation on this and other ebay user ids as well as private sales. So far only one loss and a few slow delivery times. Most of those went lettermail and a few small packets air.

[vmm32vxd]

oops....at LEAST 200

Neither  Small Pkt Air or Light Pkt Air are insured or delivery confirmed so use the cheapest.

[block36]

I ship to Russia very often and the their system is very bad (even for registered letters!).

Each time after I ship, I send a note to buyer saying that we both know about the slow movement of mail in Russia, but we should remain optimistic that the packet (parcel) will arrive within reasonable time-frame (2 months for Russia).

Please ask buyer to understand that you are not in control of anything after the shipment.

Usually they are very nice and understanding and they feel guilty about their postal service.

After so many years of luck of freedom they feel very privileged about shipping from abroad and they appreciate it.

One more note: make your packet properly wrapped with tape around the edges.

[vintagenorth]

Thanks tjo all, for your helpful comments!

[melissasminis]

I have shipped to Russia many times over the past 11 years, my Mother-In-Law lives there. Their postal system is badly backed up, and can take up to 2 months to arrive for even air mail, doesn't matter if it's shipped small packet air or light packet, will be the same outcome. I have had a few items damaged in transit (not due to poor packaging), and about 5 or 6 lost packages. I sent 3 or 4 gifts over the years to my Mother-In-Law, she hasn't receive any of them, and it's been over 10 years, none have arrived, so now I bank wire cash to her so I know she gets it. I have shipped lettermail with a letter and pictures inside, those have arrive to her. The only country I do not ship to is Russia unfortunately.