US Shipping companies

[petethepilot]

Hi,
does anybody have a freight/shipping company they wish to recommend? I remember Ferrins talking about setting up a place they USA delivery only stuff could be sent to and then sent over here in bulk! Do they exist as I'm keen on a couple of purchases from USA only vendors.

Thanks,

Pete

[Yossarian]

http://www.shipito.com/

I think idgolfguy may have an account set up already?

[LarryLong]

I'm currently getting a few packages combined through http://www.comgateway.com - I've had a few packages delivered there and I'm getting them to combine them and send to me.

I'll let you know how it goes when I get it. So far, so good.

From memory comgateway and shipito are quite similar, but the pricing models are slightly different. comgateway was better for what I was looking for.

[Daves]

I don't think Ferrins ended up going down the Freight Forwarder route.

I did a bit of research a while ago and found a number of Freight Forwarders. Have not used any yet, but here are the links for the ones not mentioned as yet;

http://www.usabox.com/

http://myus2.myus.com/Programs/?myus...FRQWawodhCDwTA

http://www.ship2me.com/

http://www.mailnetwork.com/

http://www.mailforwarding.biz/

http://www.bpm-lux.com/index.php?gcl...FQQTawod_CH2Sw

http://bongous.com/?gclid=CPCr5sycsKACFRQWawodhCDwTA

http://www.nevershoppedout.com/mail-forwarding/

[LeftyHoges]

Not sure if you get a choice of freight companies from these mail forwarders but I've found that DHL has been far cheaper than FedEx and UPS (but if you use UPS you're asking for trouble anyway). Just as fast too.

[markTHEblake]

I'll let you know how it goes when I get it. So far, so good.

Larry, about time you let us know "how it goes", or didnt you get the shipment?

[LarryLong]

Larry, about time you let us know "how it goes", or didnt you get the shipment?

Oops!

Yep, came through no problems eventually, but what did happen was that the packages were all shipped separately with DHL, and they took ages because it was around Christmas time and apparently some planes got stuck somewhere in China or something. For some unfathomable, no doubt logistically efficient reason, half ended up with Australia Post and half ended up with a regional agent that they use. I know this, because I had to follow them up with DHL, who didn't exactly have a great handle on where the packages were at all times. In the end I had two of five arrive about a week before Christmas, and the other three didn't arrive at the regional carrier's depot until a few weeks after new years, and I ended up going in and picking them up myself because I was sick of waiting.

Honestly though, this was all just DHL and I don't think comgateway were to blame for that. DHL probably do a much better job than that most of the time too.

As for comgateway, I was a little disappointed with the charges. It's a bit steep because it is all volumetric weight, which I kinda knew when I started. Also, if you combine packages, they really don't re-pack, so there is not much of a saving to be had there. I bought a few things that were great candidates for bundling up into one big box - t-shirts, a watch, some cameras and a couple of other little things, but they sent five separate packages and they were all bigger than they needed to be.

Would I use them again? Probably, but only if I was shopping for something that was ridiculously cheap in the US and I couldn't find it in a shop with their own International shipping option. Stores like Amazon, RBG and others have much cheaper shipping, and the rates from comgateway aren't attractive enough to make it worth combining packages from multiple stores.

I'm actually considering giving PriceUSA a go next time. I'll give you a review in a year or so.

[markTHEblake]

if you combine packages, they really don't re-pack, so there is not much of a saving to be had there. I bought a few things that were great candidates for bundling up into one big box - t-shirts, a watch, some cameras and a couple of other little things, but they sent five separate packages and they were all bigger than they needed to be.

Yeah, i picked up on that, their rates would be awesome if they did.


I have just done a bit of googling and cherry picked these out for more scrutiny. There is a lot I like about all of them, but I wont bother waxing lyrical because someone will think I am getting a commission so just check it yourself. I think it all depends on the situation.

www.shopaholiques.com one woman operation works from home. charges $20 plus actuals USPS and $2 to consolidate.

www.priceusa.com.au
have to use them for buying, but its a local business, and we pay in AU. for a small cost you can get covered for return shipping. Click Orders to see estimated costs.

www.viaddress.com
cheap cheap cheap. see comparison on home page. $40 for 5lb to AU and no extra costs for anything.

I'll give you a review in a year or so

noted, but only 33 mins after getting a reminder was a good effort.

[AndyP]

I'm sure there are more recent threads around on this, but this is what appeared on my search and seemed to have plenty of links.

I just tried to purchase some running shoes from Amazon and this order won't ship directly to Australia. Since it is $30 difference per shoe, it is worthwhile looking at using another company to ship it to me. Has there been any consensus on the best US forwarding company?

edit: Further searching shows that shipito seems to get many mentions.

[graham_w]

Shipito are good, and if you don't pay the yearly fee you can't combine packages and it costs you $8 a time. Then shipping to AUS, which is expensive no matter which way you look at it for shoes. I bought two pairs of shorts I couldn't get in Aus, and got them to sent to shipito. Their $8 charge plus shipping (which started at $40 for USPS and up from there for UPS and FEDEX options) it starts adding up very quickly.

[Daves]

http://www.ozgolf.net/showthread.php...hipping-Agents

[Humphrey]

http://www.ozgolf.net/showthread.php...hipping-Agents

I certainly can't complain about the service of comGateway. I was notified a few hours after the package arrived, and after paying, the items were picked up on Wednesday(our time) & delivered Saturday morning.
I was very happy
No startup fees, so if I never use it again it's cost me shipping only. But the option to use my "virtual US address" is always there.

[AndyP]

http://www.ozgolf.net/showthread.php...hipping-Agents

I did find that one, but it didn't give much of a consensus. Interestingly, you also provided a thread link in that thread, which was for a forwarding thread. This is what I found after my initial post. What do you use, Daves?

Is comGateway the one owned by Paypal?

[AndyP]

I used comGateway in the end. I got a bit of a shock with the estimated postage cost coming to about US$90 after repacking the three pairs of shoes ($US146 beforehand). In previous years (2010, 2011) when I've had two pairs of shoes shipped directly it has cost $35, $40 & $44 without repacking. I got it down to $US76 with some welcome voucher codes that comGateway provided.

Besides that the process has been very easy.

[LeftyHoges]

I used comGateway in the end. I got a bit of a shock with the estimated postage cost coming to about US$90 after repacking the three pairs of shoes ($US146 beforehand). In previous years (2010, 2011) when I've had two pairs of shoes shipped directly it has cost $35, $40 & $44 without repacking. I got it down to $US76 with some welcome voucher codes that comGateway provided.

Besides that the process has been very easy.

Would you like the $20 that I owe you / OZgolf to help pay for shipping?

[AndyP]

My money and OZgolf's money are completely separate. To have otherwise would be unethical, and I'm all about the ethics.

[LeftyHoges]

My money and OZgolf's money are completely separate. To have otherwise would be unethical, and I'm all about the ethics.

Well, I could pay OZgolf $20, then you could "borrow" that. But then you'd have to change your sig.

[LeftyHoges]

Does anyone have an account I can use for this? Buying a pair of shoes for my nephew.

[AndyP]

For what? ComGateway?

[LeftyHoges]

For what? ComGateway?

Any one. Comgateway, shipito, etc.

Or are you only allowed to ship it to the accounts registered address?

[AndyP]

You're probably better off creating your own account, as you get some extra discounts on the first shipment. That was the case with ComGateway anyway (which I have only used once).

[LeftyHoges]

You're probably better off creating your own account, as you get some extra discounts on the first shipment. That was the case with ComGateway anyway (which I have only used once).

Ok, cool. Thanks Andy.

[Captain Nemo]

Read about these guys in sat smh...
http://www.ustooz.com/

[Courty]

I heard of this site just recently too: https://www.parcelbound.com/

[markTHEblake]

If you have an AMEX card including Australian bank issued MyUS give you a considerable discount,
and they unpack and repack when consolidating packages
and only charge by actual weight.

http://www2.myus.com/amex
2years free on Premium membership which is 15% off standard rate
plus another 30% off the shipping cost when you pay with your AMEX, so effectively a 40% discount

*no i havent used them, i just got the info off their website