Postal

[Son of Clyde]

Can someone help me with a postal issue?

I purchased a rather expensive necklace for my fiance in Simferopol and now I'm afraid to send it.

Pavel, in Kiev has told me he has been waiting a month for a parcel and there will be taxes to pay when it finally arrives.

I was going to send the necklace in an envelope you would mail a cd in. I thought if I said the value was much less than the true value it would not be questioned. I would not insure it because if I did, the postal employees would know the actual value of the necklace.

If I send it FedEx they will charge well over $100.00 to ship it.

I would appreciate any suggestions. This really stinks that we can't trust the postal service in Ukraine to ship something safely. To make matters worse the person picking up the package has to pay a hefty tax on it.

Thank you.

 

[jb]

Clyde,

Why don't you do what others are doing?  Find someone going to your lady's area and ask them to be your mule.  My wife, step-son, and I, have carried gifts to and back from Russia many times for friends, as well as others have performed this service for us when we need something of value delivered.

We never trust the postal system or the customs people not to rip off a gift.  We just never give them the chance.

[Goombah]

Generally, you are better off buying jewelry there.  I took $360 worth with me and declared it thinking the limit was 200 Euro per piece - wrong!  The limit is 200 Euro total - I ended up paying $150 in duty tax, and spending 2 hours doing it.

Kevin

[Son of Clyde]

This is rather complicated.

Irina does not receive gifts at her home address so she was going to give me her girlfriend's address for me to send her gift. I was going to order flowers and candy online.

She had an argument with her friend and never gave me the address where to send the Woman's Day gifts so I only sent her money via Western Union for English lessons and support while she is off from work.

When her friend asked Irina what I had given her for Woman's Day she said, nothing. But she had not ever given me the address where to send her gifts. I had promised her we can have our own Woman's Day at a later time. 

I wanted to buy her a necklace in Kiev but it never happened and she didn't seem to want one at the time. It was more a time to spend for me to meet her son.

So she ended up buying herself flowers with some of the money I sent.

I saw this vintage, white gold, diamond necklace yesterday at a huge discount and could not pass it up. A $350.00 necklace for $182.00 at a very reputable store.

I might have found a "mule" who can deliver the necklace. But I will most likely have to pay him for the duty taxes.

[Bruno]

Clyde,

I have always use post for send somethinh with Galina and without problem... only for expensive package, i take a special insurance for the value of the gift... she have always receive all in the week...

About your system of address, i understandt nothing... have you some address of your lady of not  ? ... have you send present to a other lady ?...

A necklace withe gold + diamond for 350$ ( sold at 182$ )... your are lucky guys in US... myself, for a ( very little white gold + very very little diamond ) fiance ring, i have pay almost 1000 euro... i understandt why russian think we are greedy... all is so much expensive in Europe...

[Son of Clyde]

Hi Bruno,

Are you dealing with Russia or Ukraine?

From all I have heard, the Postal Service in Ukraine is not the best with mail tampering and stolen packages. I have had success with small gifts but it takes 3 weeks and the person has to sometimes present an international passport or id and pay taxes. My lady would have to pay a huge sum for taxes if I was to honestly insure the package for what I paid for the necklace. Should she have to pay for my gift?

[jb]

Clyde,

Well,,, I guess we run with a different sort of crowd, neither me nor my friends are nearly as honest with the Customs Agents as you and Goombah are.  We never pay dutys or taxes on what we bring into Russia.  I can only speak for Russian Customs, I don't know about Ukraine, but in all the times we've been in and out, we've never been subjected to a personal search.  They may x-ray a piece of luggage, but never a person on the way in.  We just put an expensive piece of jewelry in our pocket and sail right through the "Nothing To Declare" line.  It saves lots of time and money.

[Bruce]

Clyde - If I were you I'd follow JB's lead.  Put the expensive piece in your carryon or pocket and walk on through.

[Bruno]

Clyde,

My actual experience is with Ukraine... my previous experience was with russia a lot of year ago, i have loose a lot of letter and gift... and letter take one month...

Certainly, my position in Europa help me with the post... and the Belgium post have a lot of option... and they collaborate with the Deutch post who work very good in FSU...

For taxe, i pay some export taxe in Belgium... and package are prior type... normally, it is a system for business but i use the number of commerce register from my work ...

[Son of Clyde]

I think I have found a possible "mule" but they are not leaving the US until April 16. Maybe I should keep the necklace here until I see her next and just send flowers and candy on her birthday from an online delivery service. It seems a lot safer and there is no duty tax.

[dostogirl]

I know it's a late response, but I've though it may help you, guys.

The best way to send jewelery is EMS (Global Express Mail) through a regular post office (based on my experience and some other stories from RW here). UPS and DHL are too expensive. EMS is pricy, but not as expensive as DHL/UPS. EMS is delivered much faster then regular air mail and it is somehow delivered differently. Usually when you get EMS in Russia they call you and  deliver your package to you door.

About the value of your package, be careful. If you write a value that is more than $100, the receiver in Russia will pay 13% tax, so it may be too pricy for you and your significant other. Besides, high value on a package may attract unnecessary attention. Postal workers may think there is something very expensive and they can "lose" the package. 

Here is the link to the EMS prices.

http://pe.usps.gov/text/pub51/51tbla.html#_Toc498745158