US Gear - Suggestion about overcoming shipping restrictions

[Natt]

Hi all

Sorry to start so many new topics - I have definetely come out of hybernation

I have noticed a few posts mention buying gear from the US, but the issue of not shipping to Australia seems to pop up.

There is a work around - a shipping forwarder.

Essentially they are the middleman bridging the international gap. Merchant ships to them, they ship to you

The good forwarders will let you combine multiple packages to save on postage - which is a big bonus. They also free up the option of buying from the bigger chains who are usually cheaper, but don't send overseas.

Anyway the one I recently used was this guy:

http://www.forwardit.us/

He seems like a 1-2 person operation. With the pluses and minuses of being small.

I would not recommend him in particular as I am unsure if he is better or worse than the other services. But he did manage to get my two pairs of shoes and about 2 kilos of other bits & pieces to me all safe and sound.

I hope that makes sense. I would advocate doing your homework b4 using a forwarder, and find out if its useful for you (theres lots of providers). And just remember postage from overseas = expensive.

It can be a great option to get goodies

[alliecat]

Interesting - thanks for the suggestion. I didn't know such services existed and I have certainly encountered shipping restrictions in the past (you listening Patagonia? how about you Western Mountaineering?) so I will be certainly looking into this.

Although, if you hunt around, you can sometimes find online retailers who will cheerfully ignore any restrictive policies imposed by the manufacturer

Of course one other approach, and the one I've taken in the past, is to contact the manufacturer and tell them in no uncertain terms that if they insist on imposing arbitrary shipping restrictions on their products then I simply will not even attempt to buy them, and I will suggest to all my friends that they too boycott any company with such restrictive policies. Why give money to companies that try and shaft you?

One such letter resulted in the company (MontBell) putting me in touch with their NZ distributor who was instructed to sell to any Aussies who contacted them. I think MontBell have since dropped their restrictions since I've seen websites that list "restricted exports" no longer include MB. Patagonia responded with a form letter with their US phone numbers and suggested I call them to place an order. Funny, I thought we had an internet for that... And Western Mountaineering have no email contact details on their web site, so stuff them

Anyway, I hope that the mail forwarding works.

[Earthling]

Cool. I must admit the pieces I have so far ordered from the US have arrived, or are in the process of arriving, with no problems from the sellers selling to Aussies. They just want money. I know WM arent too happy, however, I will be going through an online retailer for that gear as Alliecat suggested.
A forwarder would hopefully save on postage costs, as long as their fees were not restrictive.

[Natt]

I didn't know manufacturers put restrictions on things - I just thought it was merchants choice - live and learn!

Its scary how much prices can differ - the shoes I bought were for hubbie he needs the expensive type - in Hobart he would have paid AUD$430 - from the US he paid AUD$169.

The cost of postage & the forwarder was just shy of AUD$100 (told you postage was expensive) - but it was combined with another order around 2-3 kilos in weight (possibly more) of little travel things from:

http://www.minimus.biz/

Came in a HUGE box.

Went airmail too - USPS

So even with the postage costs etc I came in way ahead.

[tasadam]

MMmmm Forward shipping - an interesting indea - especially since companies like Moontrail have free shipping in USA for many items (haven't checked all).
Could be some money to save.

[Damien]

I've been using a freight forwarding company for a couple of years now.

My US forwarding address has been set up via a service called 'US Global Mail' http://www.usglobalmail.com
I had to pay around $100AU and send in a few identity related documents, I also needed my lawyer to verify who I was in writing.

After I set it up I just ordered the equipment using the US address as the shipping address.
Most stores offer free ground shipping to US addresses for orders over $100 so it was shipped to my forwarding address for free.
When they receive the package at my forwarding address I get an email notification and details of the package via their web interface.
I then choose the shipping method and they forwarded the package and charge my credit card for shipping.

[rcaffin]

Skinny Skis in Jacksons Hole, USA just shipped me two new sets of XC skis and boots (2008 models). Exactly what I wanted, and it worked out a LOT cheaper than buying gear dated back to 2006 from local dealers at almost double the price.
Roll on next winter.

Cheers

[Nuts]

..

[luke.870]

Some really good suggestion!
I actually never had problems receiving stuff from america but as I am ordering more and more over Internet it might be important for me soon. So thank you!

[Jellybean]

I'd add shipitto.com (US shipping forwarder) to this mix. Search for shipitto.com on this forum for previous comments about them or check out their website. I've used them 20 or so times over the last few years and have always found them reliable.

[HitchHiking]

Im very lucky as I have family in canada who I forward me things. My system is .....parcel sent to a usa border town that happens to be a stones throw across from my folks. They walk over, with have coffee in the states, fetch the parcel and then walk back and its off to here. Great system! good to see other options to get around the middle men of importers

[flatfoot]

I've used priceusa.com.au. There's also a new service hopshopgo.com.

[Teljon]

Have a look at:

http://www.priceusa.com.au/

I have used them and found the service very good.

Teljon

[etrangere]

This could be quite a useful service. Previously have ordered MSR products from Moontrails no problems. Last week I tried to order the MSR E-bivy from them and they said that cascade designs (MSR, Thermarest etc) no longer will allow them to ship products to Australia and did not wish to risk losing their account by doing so. They were very apolagetic but said their hands were tied.

Does anyone here know of any US site what will sell MSR products online to Australia? If not I will have to look into the freight forwarding service.

[Lindsay]

I have used Campsavers on two occasions and had no problem with getting gear sent to Australia. They have a wide range of stuff including MSR and Thermarest, so they may be the way to go.

http://www.campsaver.com/

[ninjapuppet]

LOL.

last year i managed to order MSR groundhog stakes from moontrail. haha. i think it depends on who is serving you maybe? or maybe they've started enforcing their policy?

black diamond states that their stuff cant be shipped outside US too and e-omc wouldnt ship. But then moosejaw allowed it but their postage rates were farily expensive at $80 for a set of crampons.

dont be scared to use http://www.shipito.com
its super easy. I was hesitant at first and stuck to US sites that did ship to AU, but then there were heaps of bargains that didnt ship to Au.
Took the plunge and found it super easy to use. I signed up for an account and paid $8.50 via paypal and instantly was assigned a US address then i went shopping.

shipito then emails you when they recieve the package, and you can choose what method to ship by. You can even have pictures taken before posted to australia forf $2.50 which i dont really bother with.

They now got a service within japan to buy stuff on your behalf too because alot of cool japanese gadgets dont get shipped overseas.

[Nuts]

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[Jellybean]

$8.50 is their initial fee, they also charge a %age from the item, anything else is additional. I hadnt used them for a while, a few weeks ago I got a 350g temp gauge for my car sent. They charged freight at 3kg and by the time it arrived cost around $70 !!! I have since withdrawn the remaining funds from them and closed the account until they refund the excess....

'Sorry to hear of your bad experience Nuts - it sounds like you got shipitto.com to do the purchasing for you, rather than just buying and paying for the item yourself and then getting it shipped to shipitto.com and then forwarded from there? (That's the only time they charge a percentage of the purchase price on top of the $8.50 and whatever postage method you use). If you do the purchasing yourself but then send to your shipit.com address (either because the retailer won't send to Australia or because the retailer only uses Fedex or UPS and charges astronomical prices) you only pay $8.50USD for handling and then whatever postage you choose (if it's an expensive item it is worth using a trackable postage method/taking out insurance .. just in case. I've never had a problem, but you hear stories).

Re the 3kg freight weight vs the 350g temp gauge weight - what was the weight of the item in it's shipping packaging? That's the weight that you should be charged for shipping, if it's more than that, question it. (Retailers will generally advise the shipping weight as well as actual weight of an item). Some retailers have a ridiculous amount of packaging for small items and, as a result, you get hit for a higher postage fee, because the postage is charged according to the size/weight of the shipping package. Backcountry are a good example of this - they have a great range of goods, often at great prices, but charge through the nose to send to you direct and use one size box to send almost everything (large or small) so that small items cost more than they should to ship through someone like shipitto.com. I now only buy from them if the item/s I'm after will fill that box).

Cheers,

JB

[stepbystep]

Do NOT ship via Yemen

Sorry, 'bout that.....campsaver have a bit of a deal on at the moment, however delivery takes a LONG time, I'm at 17 days since it left their premises and still haven't got my goodies.
With a trip next weekend on the cards I will be extremely upset if I can't try my new tent out, so I'd factor this in when ordering - give yourself a month to be safe.

btw - campsaver will deliver thermarest products wheras moontrail amongst others will not, go figure....

[Azza]

I'm at 17 days since it left their premises and still haven't got my goodies.

I'd be getting a little worried about that. I've ordered several things from CampSaver shipped via USPS and they've all arrived in around 5-7 working days.

I also got a Thermarest from CampSaver and had no issues with the export restrictions a month or two ago. Export restrictions seem to crop up a fair bit of ski/snowboard gear, e.g. a lot of online sites won't ship burton outside the US and Canada. Every now and again you'll find a site that doesn't care.
So far I've resisted the temptation to setup a forwarding address.....

[stepbystep]

I'd be getting a little worried about that. I've ordered several things from CampSaver shipped via USPS and they've all arrived in around 5-7 working days.

I *&%$#! well am!!!

However, Henry Shires from Tarptent who I've ordered my Scarp1 off did some investigation and said a heap of gear has been held up in the last couple of weeks, I'm assuming my campsaver order is caught up in the same shipment.... If I don't get it by Wednesday I'll be having a hissy fit, big time - apart from anything else it will mean I have to lug an extra 2.5kg up to The Labirynth...poor me

[Nuts]

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[etrangere]

Not so sure campsaver will ship thermarest/MSR overseas. Clicked on their overseas shipping icon and read down to find

"*Exclusions: We can not ship MSR or Thermarest products internationally, nor can we ship Nemo products to Japan."

[Nuts]

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[Jellybean]

Picture 12.png

I'd be asking teltek usa what the shipping weight of the parcel was and compare that with the shipitto.com weight. It might be an error, but I've always found shipit to be spot on with weight. I did question one parcel once because the weight seemed excessive, but the weight was accurate, the retailer had been overgenerous with it's packaging.

[Nuts]

..

[sailfish]

Hmm,

I didn't know such services existed so thanks for the thread. The only times I have encounted shipping restrictions was due to contractural arrangements with importers, (sole import rights). Most retailers seem keen to not violate these rights. The problem is of course that the importers don't stock a full range and are not interested in getting one off items for you. So it's a protection racket for the import and retail structure in Australia. You may notice some options on the shipping slip. If gift is ticked you get it much cheaper.


Regards,
Ken

[stu]

I have used www.forwardit.us several times now & have found them to be reliable, fast & economical.
They charge U$9.99 for up to 3 items from the same website.
Additional items are U$9.99 as are items from other web sites.
As per other similar service providers the ordered goods are bundled into the one package for cheaper shipping.

[Lindsay]

Not so sure campsaver will ship thermarest/MSR overseas. Clicked on their overseas shipping icon and read down to find

"*Exclusions: We can not ship MSR or Thermarest products internationally, nor can we ship Nemo products to Japan."

This must be a new thing. I had a thermarest neo-air shipped in June no problem.

[Jellybean]

Yer, its ok Jellybean, ill get it sorted out, was more a heads up, something to look out for. They claim the shipping weight was supplied by the store. I dont swallow that, what if it was 35grams?....

Ive bought gear from a lot of different sources over the past few years. Even the better, well known stores mentioned often on here.... have sneaky ways of doing business!

SSC_0032.jpg

Ahh, now I understand. There has obviously has been an error, and I would say, on the part of shipitto.com, because when I questioned the weight/postage they charged me once (in that case the weight/postage was accurate), they told me that they weigh every package themselves so that they know the correct amount to charge for postage!

I take it you've sent them a copy of your photo of the package on your scales showing 34.7g and their notice advising it was 3kg?