Shipping flatware to Ukraine

[Muddy]

Am I going to have any problems with customs? if I send this 65-Piece Flatware to Ukraine by USPS
Priority mail international takes 6-10 days, its 14 pounds

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=309171&PseudoCat=se-xx-xx-xx.esn_results

[BC]

probably cost more to send than the price.. or darn close.

[felix8787]

The only problem that I see Muddy is that it will take longer then 6-10 days with usps. The 6-10 days is how long it takes to get to Ukraine and when it gets on land, there is no way for you to track it. It could take a few weeks give or take, for your package to arrive depending on where you are sending it to. Their postal system over there is really bad.

[kievstar]

I would send DHL.  I have never had a problem with anything with DHL to Ukraine from USA.

[Muddy]

probably cost more to send than the price.. or darn close.

Not with USPS priority mail International, under $50

[Muddy]

The only problem that I see Muddy is that it will take longer then 6-10 days with usps. The 6-10 days is how long it takes to get to Ukraine and when it gets on land, there is no way for you to track it. It could take a few weeks give or take, for your package to arrive depending on where you are sending it to. Their postal system over there is really bad.

I have used USPS express mail 2 times to send a purse and documents, it worked very good. It was delivered in less than 9 days to a small city near Odessa

Took about 5-6 days to ge to  Ukraine and clear cusotms there and only 2-3 days to deliver it from Kiev to that city

I could track it online and it worked really good

tracking record:
Shipment Activity        Location                               Date & Time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delivered Abroad  UKRAINE                                10/02/08     12:45pm

Out of Foreign Customs   UKRAINE                                10/01/08  8:57pm

Into Foreign Customs     UKRAINE                                10/01/08  2:06pm

Arrived Abroad           UKRAINE                                10/01/08 12:23pm

International Dispatch   UNITED STATES                          09/27/08  4:57pm

Processed                LONG BEACH CA 90810                    09/27/08  4:55pm

Processed                SANTA ANA CA 92799                     09/26/08  3:51pm

Acceptance               IRVINE CA 92623                        09/26/08 11:59am

[felix8787]

When I used them, it took forever LOL.

[Vaughn]

Very elegant pattern, Muddy. I cannot speak for Ukraine, but I've sent a few packages to
Russia in the past. Here is what I see might be a potential problem - unless cost is of little
concern. The set retails (on sale) for $170 - so for starters, will you insure the shipment?
If so - be prepared to double the $50 ship cost, maybe more. Then, at the other end, when
local customs sees its value - and again, I speak for Russia only, the recipient might be hit
for a considerable customs fee to take possession...

I had a horrid experience in sending my future wife a pricey woolen jacket
and skirt, Pendleton brand. I declared full value although I opted not to insure. When the
package arrived - my beloved had to cough up $40 worth of rubles to satisfy the
thieves at customs. The "horror" wasn't so much the forty bucks - but the fact she had
to scramble and gather money to get her "gift".... what would have been a nice surprise
went over like a rubber crutch as far as I was concerned.

One way around this is to underdeclare, and without insurance - but then you take the
risk of losing it all without recourse.

[Muddy]

I had no idea they must pay customs there

I didn't know

[Muddy]

I am sending 3 packages to Ukraine, the total value is $450, any idea how much they must pay Customs/Postal Service to get the packages?

Thanks

[Vaughn]

Better check on this. I recall the old benchmark for packages to Russia was
a hundred dollars. Often I would gather small gifts and supplies, list them on
the customs form, but underdeclare their value so as to total $90 or less.

All to keep her from having to shell out rubles upon receipt.

OK, let's help out Muddy - who's shipped pricey stuff to Ukraine before?

Any links to Ukraine customs fees (if they even exist) ?

[kievstar]

Muddy where do you live and which city do you want it delivered to.  I maybe able to help you since I visit Ukraine several times a month.  Only issue is I just had lower back surgery on Monday and not allowed to lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for awhile. 

But consider DHL.  I have shipped items over $1,000 usd with no problem.  But I shipped DHL to Kiev and stopped there.  I do not trust any other cities in Ukraine.

[felix8787]

Muddy, I sent stuff to Russia and Ukraine, the places that I sent stuff to in Ukraine were Vinnitsa and Yuzhne. The package to Vinnitsa finally arrived something like 4 weeks later and don't even know if it even made it to Yuzhne and that was through usps. Now IMO, if you are going to send stuff out, I would send it through UPS, because it will get delivered directly to her. Are the 3 packages going to the same place? I imagine they are, right? But if you don't want to go that route on spending a small fortune to have the packages delivered, then you can go the usps route, but from personal experience, I wasn't satisfied with their delivery. I wouldn't declare anything above $25.00 because there is the risk of thieves going through your packages. Once they see how much, they just might open it up.

felix8787

[viking]

Or can you break up the set into smaller parcels and ship seperately?

[Muddy]

Muddy, I sent stuff to Russia and Ukraine, the places that I sent stuff to in Ukraine were Vinnitsa and Yuzhne. The package to Vinnitsa finally arrived something like 4 weeks later and don't even know if it even made it to Yuzhne and that was through usps. Now IMO, if you are going to send stuff out, I would send it through UPS, because it will get delivered directly to her. Are the 3 packages going to the same place? I imagine they are, right? But if you don't want to go that route on spending a small fortune to have the packages delivered, then you can go the usps route, but from personal experience, I wasn't satisfied with their delivery. I wouldn't declare anything above $25.00 because there is the risk of thieves going through your packages. Once they see how much, they just might open it up.

felix8787

The problem is UPS, FedEx, or DHL do not deliver to her city. Her city is about 2 hours from Odessa, and I dont want to ask her to go to Odessa to pickup the packages from the FEdEx office

[felix8787]

Really? Well, the choice is yours to make muddy. Look into it before you make a decision.

felix8787

[GoodOlBoy]

Muddy, nice flatware. I especially like the 22-karat gold accents.

I would only use DHL. If you have to make arrangements on the other end for her to collect the flatware, so be it.

I can't speak for shipping into the Ukraine, but I can say a lot about shipping into Russia.

Believe me, "Fat Yuri" would be using this flatware during the holidays if you were to ship USPS (into Russia).

[Muddy]

I had a horrid experience in sending my future wife a pricey woolen jacket
and skirt, Pendleton brand. I declared full value although I opted not to insure. When the
package arrived - my beloved had to cough up $40 worth of rubles to satisfy the
thieves at customs. The "horror" wasn't so much the forty bucks - but the fact she had
to scramble and gather money to get her "gift".... what would have been a nice surprise
went over like a rubber crutch as far as I was concerned.

I recieved this pm

The recipients for my packages in Ukraine never had to pay a duty. You can put any amount of $ value on the customs form that you like, I think automatically all packages are insured for $100. Just make sure on the customs form that you select GIFT since there will be no duty paid on gifts.

[groovlstk]

In the past, I sent dozens of packages to Ukraine via USPS Global Express. Not one went missing, not one was opened or had the contents groped, and the receipients never had to pay a duty upon receipt. The packages always arrived within 7-12 days, depending on the season.

Russia is a different story, the times my wife and I have shipped stuff to our family in Moscow via the same USPS Global Express the delivery time is more like 30 days. So far we haven't lost anything and the recipients haven't been asked to pay a duty, but I don't have the same confidence I had when sending to Ukraine.

[Muddy]

Ok, I could not send the flatware by DHL, or FedEx, or UPS because they just don't deliver to her city.

But meest.net do deliver to her city

On Dec 5 I decided to try meest and sent her a package which she has not yet recieved but she will this week I believe

On Dec 12 I decided to send the flatware to her by USPS because meest just takes too long

Today(Dec 22) she recieved the flatware I sent her by USPS, no problems at all

[mendeleyev]

Shouldn't have to pay a duty tax is correct.  But that doesn't necessarily stop a postal employee from asking for one.  The English language link to the Ukrainian national postal service (private enterprise and not government run) is http://www.ukrposhta.com/www/upost_en.nsf.

Muddy, you are probably aware that it is considered bad luck to receive certain kitchen utensils, including knives (of any sort), as a gift.  With that in mind, because many women take these pretty seriously, you may wish to offer to "sell" this to the receptient for 5 UAH or some other very tiny sum.  That is how I outfitted my mother in laws kitchen some years ago.

I apologize in advance if you've already got this worked out.


PS...its a beautiful pattern! 

[Muddy]

Shouldn't have to pay a duty tax is correct.  But that doesn't necessarily stop a postal employee from asking for one.  The English language link to the Ukrainian national postal service (private enterprise and not government run) is http://www.ukrposhta.com/www/upost_en.nsf.

Muddy, you are probably aware that it is considered bad luck to receive certain kitchen utensils, including knives (of any sort), as a gift.   With that in mind, because many women take these pretty seriously, you may wish to offer to "sell" this to the receptient for 5 UAH or some other very tiny sum.  That is how I outfitted my mother in laws kitchen some years ago.

I apologize in advance if you've already got this worked out.


PS...its a beautiful pattern! 

No, I did not kow

[mendeleyev]

You seem like a nice gentleman and obviously have good taste so I hope you own't mind another question...or two.

Have you met her yet?

If so, and the relationship is growing, I'd ask her about it even if it means giving away the surprise....but since gift are exchanged on New Years day you'll need to get crackin' as the expression goes.

If you've not yet met, then I'd advise you to think thru some ideas:
- It's much to "personal" to give if you haven't met.  That only leads to an expectation of more expensive gifts later.  But if you've met--why not speak with her about it.  Email her a photo and let her give thumbs up or thumbs down.

- Most UW/RW like to pick out their own kitchenware.  Sometimes a man's idea of a good surprise when it comes to housewares and clothing is a RW's idea of "he wants to control me."  In Ukraine and Russia apartments are so small that sometimes some or much of the furniture stays for the next occupant.  That means that when she personalizes a home, outside the kitchen there is very little left in which to make her own statement, to design as she dreams.  A well meaning gift for the kitchen can inadvertantly subtract from her ability to do that.  This is a very touchy area.

- She's in Europe and some of the nicest silverware, glass cultery, stemware, etc, can be found in Europe.  Unless she is very young and just starting out, there is a chance that for the same amount of money spent, she'd enjoy shopping with you to pick out a set she likes best on your next visit.

[Muddy]

Yes, I have met her, 18 months ago
The flatware was for her mother for New Year
Regards

[mendeleyev]

Well you have a good eye for quality and beauty!  Please don't let my wife see that pattern!