What's the best way to send a package and what are nice things to include?

[YoungBuck]

Going to Russia from the US, I was thinking of using the USPS flat-rate boxes. $60 for medium size (20lbs, ~0.15 cubic foot) or $25 for small (4lbs,  0.05 cu.ft.).
I'm definitely going to pack a few sweets for sure. This is currently on my list...

Swiss and German chocolate with Ghirardelli (California chocolate)
Hot chocolate mix from Mexico and Mexican candy for her to try
Postcards from Los Angeles and surrounding towns
Perhaps I'll include an embroidered handkerchief with a romantic saying or go to Olvera street and pick up something local.

Any ideas on what to send?

[Lily]

In Russia, the chocolate is often of a better quality then it is in the U.S.
 
Suggest being specific as to what the particular person prefers. You may want to ask her the question.
 
If someone would have asked me this question years ago, I'd go for a particular book in English which is not possible to find in the FSU and which was available on Amazon.
Or, it could have been a particular perfum that is out of production but is still available on the ebay.

[calmissile]

Going to Russia from the US, I was thinking of using the USPS flat-rate boxes. $60 for medium size (20lbs, ~0.15 cubic foot) or $25 for small (4lbs,  0.05 cu.ft.).
I'm definitely going to pack a few sweets for sure. This is currently on my list...

Swiss and German chocolate with Ghirardelli (California chocolate)
Hot chocolate mix from Mexico and Mexican candy for her to try
Postcards from Los Angeles and surrounding towns
Perhaps I'll include an embroidered handkerchief with a romantic saying or go to Olvera street and pick up something local.

Not sure you want to send it USPS if you want it delivered anytime soon.
Since you are in L.A. you can drive to Glendale and have MEEST ship it for you.  They are said to have a good reputation and it is consistent with my dealings with them as well.
500 E. Harvard St.
Glendale, Ca.  91205
818-547-4910

Their containter goes out to Europe every Wednesday I believe.

[BillyB]

Swiss and German chocolate with Ghirardelli (California chocolate)
Hot chocolate mix from Mexico and Mexican candy for her to try

You're living in America. Buy American. See's candies are a good American candy. Their truffles are always a hit with RW.


Get the lady a book with scenic pictures of your state of California. That gift can give her a glimpse of her future home.


If your lady has any kind of sophistication, every gift you give her will have meaning and the meaning is more important than the gift. Start giving her stuff made from other countries and will be hard for her to decipher the meaning or assume there isn't one. Don't tell her all gifts are made in America. She will figure it out.

[mendeleyev]

It will go thru customs, meaning that she may have to pay a fee to redeem the package. Things like books are "printed matter" and some are prohibited but not in every case. Its just not consistent and as an example, a book on the US civil war could be a history book to one inspector but a manual for terrorism to another. Clearing customs in Russia will take weeks on a package in most cases; they're backlogged right now so it could be longer.  Don't be surprised if you beat your package to her, and if it beats you, be grateful that it made it safely.

For things like candy, etc, declare it for less than $100 of course. If a Russian customs inspector determines the value to be greater than $100, your lady will pay a 30% tax in order to receive the package. Even though you are using a US flat rate box, if the inspector believes that the package weighs 70 lbs or more, you lady will pay a 50% tax on what he estimates as the real value. I doubt if your chocolate will be that heavy but the weight will obviously depend on what you ship, and how much the customs inspector likes the taste of your chocolate.

Tracking is only up to the point it reaches Russia, after that it is usually all a mystery as often the Russians don't feel the need to update either you or the USPS about the location of a package.

[GoodOlBoy]

In Russia, the chocolate is often of a better quality then it is in the U.S.

Without a doubt.
Marina and I only eat chocolates from the local Russian stores here in Miami.

Any ideas on what to send?

Many years ago, I sent Marina a T-shirt that said "Miami" and had a colorful outline of the downtown skyline on the front.

I also broke all the rules and tucked a crisp (completely clean) $20. bill in the shirt with a note, something to the effect: "I know you work hard every day Marina, go have a nice lunch tomorrow and think about our meeting in Greece".

Without posting to much personal info.... Marina sent me an e-mail with her wearing the T-shirt....
It is true what they say, if a Russian woman is into you, she will let you know.
 
GOB
 
FWIW.... I also drew an outline of my hand on the back of the package, she loved it.

[Vaughn]

Good morning members,
 
It's been a long time since I've sent any packages to Russia, but I used to fill out the address label in Cyrillic, having no faith that the local post office there would be able to decipher my English....  is there anyone who's been recently active in sending packages that could comment on that aspect?
 
I can confirm what Mendeleyev posted about value. Once I mailed my fiance a Pendleton jacket (relatively higher dollar item), declared it at full value - and she had to pay about a third of its value to receive it. We were probably lucky that it arrived at all.
 
Things may have changed, but back in the day it was foolish to specifically & accurately list on the customs form any items highly treasured by females - lingerie, perfume, jewelry etc... as they were prone to be pilfered and given as gifts to girlfriends by thieves....

[ML]

Get the lady a book with scenic pictures of your state of California. That gift can give her a glimpse of her future home.

And it can lead to misleading and unrealistic expectations . . . if your home and its surroundings is nothing like that displayed in the pics.

[CDW]

YB

Don't send any, because you haven't met the woman yet!

[BillyB]

And it can lead to misleading and unrealistic expectations . . . if your home and its surroundings is nothing like that displayed in the pics.

I'm pretty sure the woman understands Mt. Shasta, The Golden Gate Bridge, and the Redwood forests are not youngbucks home and that they would have to drive to those places.
 
 

[BillyB]

YB

Don't send any, because you haven't met the woman yet!

I thought about that but youngbuck is young and these type of early romantic gestures fits right in with what young people do. But....if the woman reacts to the package favorably, youngbuck should plan to meet her face to face withing two months. The gifts he sends won't get a commitment from the lady but may hold her interest in him for a couple of months. After that she may look for another favorite man if she thinks this isn't going anywhere.
 
Youngbuck should not expect anything from the lady in return for the gifts. If he waits too long, she could commit herself to the first man that states he's flying to see her. She may even commit a locale guy. Who knows? She may even be dating dating one or some right now. Until Youngbuck meets her and they agree to an exclusive relationship, everybody is free to do what they want.

[YoungBuck]

I thought about that but youngbuck is young and these type of early romantic gestures fits right in with what young people do. But....if the woman reacts to the package favorably, youngbuck should plan to meet her face to face withing two months. The gifts he sends won't get a commitment from the lady but may hold her interest in him for a couple of months. After that she may look for another favorite man if she thinks this isn't going anywhere.
 
Youngbuck should not expect anything from the lady in return for the gifts. If he waits too long, she could commit herself to the first man that states he's flying to see her. She may even commit a locale guy. Who knows? She may even be dating dating one or some right now. Until Youngbuck meets her and they agree to an exclusive relationship, everybody is free to do what they want.

Bingo BillyB! Although, I think people just appreciate getting gifts; I know I would. And that it will be her birthday, so you get the picture.

[Doll]

Mendeleyev, I've been sending packages to Russia for 11 years.
The girl will NOT have to pay any fee.
Candies are ok, YB, send them.

[Doll]

  Calmissile, if he uses MEEST, the package will be there in 3-4 months.
Global Express rules.

[calmissile]

  Calmissile, if he uses MEEST, the package will be there in 3-4 months.
Global Express rules.

You might be right about Global Express for Russia.

The current cost and timelines for MEEST are:
Ukraine  20 lbs  About $85 via Air  1.5 weeks
Russia    20 lbs  About $85 via Air  4 weeks.

What is the cost and timeline for shipping 20 lbs to Russia via Air with Global Express?

Just looked it up.  You are right!  Even to Ukraine the delivery is now faster than MEETS.

Thanks for bringing it up.  Looks like I will switch to USPS for Ukraine also.

[Doll]

Probably more than $200.
YB is not sending 20 lb. GE is fast, they deliever home.
I use it and only.
I know it is costy, but they are my kids and a grandchild.
 

[calmissile]

Probably more than $200.
YB is not sending 20 lb. GE is fast, they deliever home.
I use it and only.
I know it is costy, but they are my kids and a grandchild.

As I read it from their web site, the fixed price flat box for 20 lbs is about the same price as MEEST.

[Doll]

As I read it from their web site, the fixed price flat box for 20 lbs is about the same price as MEEST.

I was thinking of flat rate and even got the box- nothing fit in.
I send clothing, toys- they are bulky.

[mendeleyev]

Mendeleyev, I've been sending packages to Russia for 11 years.
The girl will NOT have to pay any fee.

Doll, it depends on the weight, the customs declaration and the inspector if the package is opened. I've sent plenty of packages that required no payment, sent a few that required a fee, received many that required none, and received a few that did. If customs officials never inspected packages and never followed Russian rules on weight tariffs, there would be no point in having a customs service in the first place.   

If you'd like to see the ugly side of Russian custom fees, join one of the Ebay sellers forums.

[Doll]

I don't need to join Ebay forums in this regard. There is a weight and cost ( how you estimate) of the package. that have limits. They all get opened and searched. I've probably sent 100 of them (or more)- the Russian "side" has never paid any fee. YB is going to send a couple of things that will go through the customs smoothly, I guarantee.
 
(I sent packages over $500 value- no fee paid there).

[Faux Pas]

  Calmissile, if he uses MEEST, the package will be there in 3-4 months.
Global Express rules.

Priority from the USPS will usually arrive in Siberia 4-5 weeks