[Info-vax] Sending stuff to Europe

[Richard B. Gilbert]

On 2/18/2013 8:12 AM, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
> In article <5a64b34c-bb54-48bd-bdcd-8362f25f5b69 at dp10g2000vbb.googlegroups.com>,
> 	John Wallace <johnwallace4 at yahoo.co.uk> writes:
>> On Feb 17, 8:21 pm, billg... at cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) wrote:
>>> Can anyone suggest how to do this at a reasonable cost?
>>> I just ran a 2lb. 6x9x2 inch package past UPS and the USPS.
>>> UPS wanted from $100 to $178 to ship it to England.
>>> The cheapest from the USPS was $55 with most offerings being around $78.
>>> I'm sorry, but these cards just aren't worth that much.  If I can't
>>> find something much cheaper I will have to withdraw the offer to send
>>> them overseas.
>>>
>> Find a "freight forwarder" (as distinct from a courier service) and
>> ask for their advice. In the days when I was routinely shipping stuff
>> around Europe, my local branch of Circle Freight did a grand job. They
>> may not be that interested in a small item (but they shipped me a VME
>> board from Germany to the UK and it was in my hands within 30 minutes
>> of arriving at the airport, and the airport to office journey
>> accounted for much of that).
>
> I have no idea what a "freight forwarder" is but if I have to run all
> over town or spend hours calling people to find someone to do this it
> just isn't worth my time.  And no one here is likely to be willing to
> pay me what my time is worth.

A Freight forwarder is a specialist in getting your box and contents
from, e.g. Philadelphia to, e.g. "Nantes" (in France).  Check your
"Yellow Pages"

He will pick up whatever it is that you want to ship, pack it in boxes 
or crates if necessary.  He will complete the necessary paperwork, get 
your box on the airplane or the ship.  He will pay the customs duties, 
customary bribes, etc, etc.

Of course you could do it yourself.  If you know how!  If this is going
to be an ongoing activity you may wish to learn how to do it yourself.

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