International Swapping Tips

[zzdia]

Ok, so I'm an international swapper and I thought I'd put this out here so people won't be so afraid of swapping internationally. Yes, swapping internationally is more expensive, but there are ways to minimize the cost and get the most bang for your buck. (These are mostly based on my experiences)

- First up, if you're sending to a small country like mine, it will take some time for it to get there (a month is the norm for me). Don't panic right off, it'll get there in time. Patience is a virtue for both shipper and receiver. I've also noticed (maybe it's just in my country) that there isn't much difference in the time it takes to get to me in shipping priority and ordinary mail. I'd say go ordinary airmail because it's cheaper. I use ordinary airmail (even if it has no tracking number) and so far I've only had one package go missing from those I've sent out. If you've got perishables (say you're in the snack swap), express shipping is great. It's the fastest and it's got reliable tracking (but it's also expensive).

- Weigh your packages. Seriously, keeping a kitchen scale with you and being aware of the prices of the different weight ranges will really help you out. You won't get shocked by the price when you go the PO to send out because you've already done the weighing and calculating at home. You can split your packages into two to maximize weight limit for a certain price.  For example, our mail is weighed in grams. I once sent a package that was a little less than 350g. If I had sent it as one package it would be in the 251-500g weight and it would have cost me Php840, but I split it up into a 100g package (Php170) and a 250g package (Php420) and it cost me a total of Php590. Yes, it's a bit of work thinking about the weights and putting together your items into packages, but the savings are worth it.

- Still on the subject of weight, unless a box is absolutely necessary to keep what you're sending safe, go with either a padded envelope or even a regular envelope (I sometimes make my own envelopes from cartolina, it sturdier than a regular envelope even if it isn't as secure as a padded envelope). When you're weighing your package, weigh it along with the container, because that's how the PO will be weighing it. Also, wrapping your items within the package may add to the prettiness and the fun factor, remember that even the wrapping paper will contribute to the weight of the package.

I know I'm kind of rambling on, but I hope this helps someone out there! I just wanted to share.

[Onyxnox]

Good ideas!

If you have bulky items that take a lot of space, but are soft and volumous, like something made of yarn, or sending materials like roving, etc, you can also vacuum pack the item too.  Either take a zip bag and squish out as much air as possible - or I actually have a vacuum sealer for food, and used that for some things in the past.  I remember trying to send a box to Israel and in the box, it was over $50 CDN, but when taken out of the box and squished into an envelope, it was $25. 

Or I sent a package of ground spice to a friend once.  Loose, it did not fit through the letter slot, so it would have cost me $10.  Carefully squished and and vacuum packed flat, I was able to send it as an oversized letter, so less that $2.  Something to consider for those stuff an envelope swaps too.

Vacuum sealing could help keep some perishables fresher longer, and keep things from banging around so much too if they are fragile.

Some countries have prepaid packages too, where you can fill it all you want, within reason, and it is just one flat rate.  Canada has letter envelopes, and soft envelopes like this, and the US has boxes (oh I wish we had boxes!!!).  I know I have pushed the envelope so to speak by stuffing the heck out of the soft envelopes and wrapping them in tape.  It must have weighed about 7 lbs, and I got glares and a lecture, but they still sent it!

[Harvey]

Boxes themselves can also add to the weight, especially when you add a lot of extra padding to fill it up. As well as using envelopes I often wrap packages in bubble wrap or similar and then use a solid brown paper to cover it. This weighs less and means you fit the covering to the package rather than having to add filling to a box. I also suggest you think about the items you are making if you are worried about cost - be sensible about the materials you use and how heavy they are going to make the package. A few times I have wanted desperately to make something but have resisted because it would have made the cost of sending beyond my range. Generally the cost of sending is between $25-$50 Aust. Bookmark swaps have let me do it for around $10 for four partners and the highest cost has been $80.

Sending to other countries is a fun experience, have patience once you have sent and think about what you are making and how you will package it and you will enjoy it.

[LimeRiot]

Thank you all for sharing these tips! There are so many awesome swappers around the globe and it's always fun to craft with them.

I think if you're just dipping your toe into internationally swapping, it's a good idea to pick a swap that has a pre-defined size. Something like a Hoopla or ATC or Altered Tin swap where the package is relatively small and you're only sending one item.

[Annchen]

I really like one tiny thing and various wishlist swaps to keep the weight and cost down. That way I know I'll send something small and for the wishlists I can pick something lightweight to craft.

Another option is to let your partner stuff or fill the stuffie/pillow/heat pad to save on weight and bulk. (after talking to your partner of course). I received a set of awesome heat pads sent in a flat envelope and then filled them with rice myself. The cost would probably have been ridiculous to send them filled...

[rlynn]

zzdia, these are great tips.  I was actually surprised last time I shipped to you.  It really wasn't all that expensive compared to a priority package I might send to someone in the U.S. 

And you are such a wonderful swapper, I hope these tips encourage more people to swap international.  I understand why but with some amazing craftsters all over the country, you can seriously miss out on some wonderful swapping experiences.  I still adore the artwork you sent me in the pinterest swap!

[Craftsunderground]

These are great tips. In almost every swap, I mail something from the US to Canada. Last time I also mailed to England, and before that to Australia. I had no idea of how to wrap or which way to send the items and it is difficult or impossible to decide it when you are in the post office.
I am going to get a scale and read up on the requirements. I really love shipping iternationally, but the cost can be prohibitive. I have only had one item go missing and that was to someone in Greece. I mailed it the day their PO went on strike. Neither package from that swap ever showed up
I particularly like the tip to divide packages to get lower costs.
Thanks again.

[Kitten Wrangler]

A few more tips:

When sending to either Australia or New Zealand, please ask your partner about what can and can't go through Customs and Quarantine. We're both island nations, colonised fairly recently in the scheme of things, and we both work hard at keeping all sorts of bio-hazards (including, for example - dried lavender) out of our countries.

Just because everyone else is sending extras and a snack, doesn't mean you have to too. I just don't do extras - and I don't do them, because it increases the cost of shipping.

Remember that a 'large' item is not just size - it's also quality. You can make incredibly detailed and small, intricate items that could qualify as a large.

[craftaddiction]

Some more tips if shipping from the us:

Don't use flat rate boxes for international packages. They usually cost more. For example one package I sent would have cost around $40 for a flat rate box or $20ish for an envelope. I sent a lot more than would have fit in an envelope for around $13. I have never had any problems sending the cheapest method. It still usually gets to my partner well before their package will get to me, even the time I sent weeks before they did. It usually takes about 2 weeks to get to them. I see no reason to pay 3 times more just for it to get to them only a few says quicker.

Smaller international packages don't cost as much as you think. I don't know how many swaps I have organized where people have said they couldn't afford to ship internationally and then they paid more (or about the same) to ship domestically. If your package is 1 pound or less (ie a scarf and small extras), it is quite affordable to ship internationally. I've even shipped to Canada a few times for less than domestic packages. It has been awhile since I checked, but it use to be around $9 for a 1 pound package to Canada (I've shipped some for $6) and around $11 to the UK.

[rlynn]

Some more tips if shipping from the us:

Don't use flat rate boxes for international packages. They usually cost more. For example one package I sent would have cost around $40 for a flat rate box or $20ish for an envelope. I sent a lot more than would have fit in an envelope for around $13. I have never had any problems sending the cheapest method. It still usually gets to my partner well before their package will get to me, even the time I sent weeks before they did. It usually takes about 2 weeks to get to them. I see no reason to pay 3 times more just for it to get to them only a few says quicker.

Smaller international packages don't cost as much as you think. I don't know how many swaps I have organized where people have said they couldn't afford to ship internationally and then they paid more (or about the same) to ship domestically. If your package is 1 pound or less (ie a scarf and small extras), it is quite affordable to ship internationally. I've even shipped to Canada a few times for less than domestic packages. It has been awhile since I checked, but it use to be around $9 for a 1 pound package to Canada (I've shipped some for $6) and around $11 to the UK.

True.  True.  Good additions, craftaddiction.  I used to ship priority for every package, domestic and international.  Now I ship first class for all.  I think part of the reason folks think they need to ship priority especially for international is that little note in the swap information that says you have to ship air for international.  Do they even ship by boat these days anymore?  The postal worker where I ship packages is why I stopped shipping priority for international packages.  He looked at my package and told me that I would save over 18 dollars if I just bought an envelope and shipped first class. He also told me it would get there in about the same amount of time.  It was a revelation for me.  My international packages shipping costs are quite comparable to my domestic depending on weight.