usps priority mail flat rate box

[Fritzinger]

Does anyone have experience getting electronics from the states in usps flat rate boxes? I have someone in the states who insists that he can send me a tablet this way with the following (miraculous-sounding) guarantees:

1. His 60$ shipping fee for the box includes all customs (by my calculations with the [value x1.1 x 1.14] rule, tax on my end should be at least 90$)
2. If it doesn't arrive usps will pay him insurance and he can then pay me, so it's risk free

This sounds too good to be true given the price of the same item here (150$ more) and the fact that UPS and FedEx are 300$ to ship the same package (admittedly there is other heavier stuff in with the tablet too).

Now I know my fellow south Africans, being the suspicious lot that we are will say, "of course it's too good to be true, that's because it is!) but what I need to convince this fellow of the risks is

a) experience of being charged on this end despite the flat rate on the other end
b) experience of losing stuff on this end and usps squirming their way out of paying insurance

Anyone got good or bad news for me?

 

[Rudimental]

As far as I understand it, and I might be wrong, it is impossible for the seller to pay for customs without an agent handling the import, and USPS is just ordinary parcel mail. Had about 4 or 5 USPS parcels with no issue, so I don't know what would happen if the parcel went missing, especially if it went missing once it had reached SA.

If you're concerned, then why not just use one of the handling companies that people here go on about, uh it was Postbox Courier, or something.

 

[Space_Chief]

Does anyone have experience getting electronics from the states in usps flat rate boxes? I have someone in the states who insists that he can send me a tablet this way with the following (miraculous-sounding) guarantees:

1. His 60$ shipping fee for the box includes all customs (by my calculations with the [value x1.1 x 1.14] rule, tax on my end should be at least 90$)
2. If it doesn't arrive usps will pay him insurance and he can then pay me, so it's risk free

This sounds too good to be true given the price of the same item here (150$ more) and the fact that UPS and FedEx are 300$ to ship the same package (admittedly there is other heavier stuff in with the tablet too).

Now I know my fellow south Africans, being the suspicious lot that we are will say, "of course it's too good to be true, that's because it is!) but what I need to convince this fellow of the risks is

a) experience of being charged on this end despite the flat rate on the other end
b) experience of losing stuff on this end and usps squirming their way out of paying insurance

Anyone got good or bad news for me?

Only way to prepay customs fees is to use something like Pitney Bowes or FedEx.

With Priority Mail International Flat Rate® Envelopes and Small, Medium, and Large Flat Rate Boxes, you already get …

Ordinary Indemnity Insurance up to $277.79 for Medium and Large Flat Rate Boxes.

Package Pickup to have your carrier pick up certain Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Envelopes at your door.
You can add the following option online for Priority Mail International Medium and Large Flat
Rate Boxes…

Insurance for loss to the maximum amount allowed by the destination (see the Individual Country Listings) but never to exceed $5000.
You can add the following options at a Post Office™ to …

Insure the contents.

Insurance for Priority Mail International Medium and Large Flat Rate Boxes for losses to the maximum amount allowed by the country (see the Individual Country Listings) but never to exceed $5,000.

Registered Mail™ for security for Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes. Some countries have restrictions on Registered Mail.

Get proof of mailing.

Certificate of Mailing as a way of proving the date you sent it. This can only be used for unregistered Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes and Small, Medium, and Large Flat Rate Boxes.

Get proof of delivery.

Return Receipt with the recipient’s signature sent by postcard. Available only for Priority Mail International parcels when combined with insurance, and for Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes when combined with Registered Mail service. Some countries don’t allow return receipts.

Learn more about Extra Services ›

According to USPS:

Customs, duties and other fees assessed by the destination country for an item can NOT be paid to the United States Postal Service when the item is mailed. The recipient of the mailpiece is the only one who can pay the customs fees.

If you're paying your seller using PayPal, it will be the seller's responsibility to prove delivery to you. If the item is lost and does not arrive, you can file an item not arrived claim with PayPal. PayPal will ask the shipper to prove delivery and that won't be possible.

The safer option is of course EMS aka USPS Express Mail Flat rate. That's a 5-6 business day service from USA to your front door, by driver. Customs fees, if any, are paid in cash to the driver.

(Note that irrespective whether the item is shipped by First Class Mail, Priority Mail or Express Mail, if paying with PayPal, the shipper is fully responsible for proving delivery. It's not your problem. )

If your shipper is saying customs is included, be weary that he may be under declaring the items. Customs may nail you and ask you for proof / invoice. For private individuals there are no consequences if the shipper under-declared without your consent and you're honest with the invoice. Note also that if the item is lost, insurance will only pay out what was declared. PayPal will however pass the entire liability to the shipper - i.e. product cost when paid by PP.)

 

[Space_Chief]

My experience?

Well I've not had any with non deliveries from private individuals. But I've had a company lose a shipment or two. They usually then reship and file a claim with the shipper, or they write it off.

One has to report non-delivery within 90 days for USPS items and about 120 days for Japan Post.

 

[noxibox]

The only time I had a problem with USPS Priority Mail International was when they sent the parcel to the wrong country, Germany, where Deutsche Post then lost it.

It is unlikely they are pre-paying the customs duty though.

Had about 4 or 5 USPS parcels with no issue, so I don't know what would happen if the parcel went missing, especially if it went missing once it had reached SA.

My experience with various postal services around the world is that they'll do everything possible to avoid paying out a claim for a lost or damaged parcel.

 

[Space_Chief]

https://www.usps.com/ship/file-international-claims.htm

I have no idea how good they are about processing claims, but from what I know from friends who have had to deal with US government agencies, these are usually very efficient.

 

[Hurricane]

Hi Guys,

It seems like you guys know what you're talking about I have a package that shipped from the US yesterday
using Priority Mail Express International(USPS). Will this package be delivered by hand or to Post Office for collection ?

Also once the package reaches SA the tracking number stop working how do I get the South African tracking number.

Thanks

 

[ichigo]

Hi Guys,

It seems like you guys know what you're talking about I have a package that shipped from the US yesterday
using Priority Mail Express International(USPS). Will this package be delivered by hand or to Post Office for collection ?

Also once the package reaches SA the tracking number stop working how do I get the South African tracking number.

Thanks

When I receive items from Ebay I always get a parcel slip in the postbox to go and collect it at the nearest one.

 

[noxibox]

https://www.usps.com/ship/file-international-claims.htm

I have no idea how good they are about processing claims, but from what I know from friends who have had to deal with US government agencies, these are usually very efficient.

Very efficient at avoiding paying out as we discovered. The distributor on the other end confirmed that getting them to pay out a claim is harder than squeezing blood from a stone. But Deutsche Post and Royal Mail are no better. In the case of international parcels expect each postal service to blame the other.

 

[Space_Chief]

Hi Guys,

It seems like you guys know what you're talking about I have a package that shipped from the US yesterday
using Priority Mail Express International(USPS). Will this package be delivered by hand or to Post Office for collection ?

Also once the package reaches SA the tracking number stop working how do I get the South African tracking number.

Thanks

Express = EMS. It gets delivered to your address.

You can track it here:
http://sms.postoffice.co.za/TrackingParcels/

The US number will work. The link will spit out the local number too.

If there is VAT to be paid, the guy will ask for a fee at time of delivery.
If nobody is at home, they'll drop it at your local post office, just before closing time. You can go to your local post office just before closing time and collect it then. Or go the next day.

If item is held by customs - which usually means they don't believe the invoice - they will send you a fastmail notification which will usually takes 3-5 days. You can track your parcel above and see what's happening. If the item seems stuck at customs, that's probably happened. You'll need to go to them or fax your invoice. Going there allows you to collect immediately. For Cape Town, that's Capemail, in Epping. They take credit cards.