Sending package to USA - how does it work inside USA?
 

Hello,
I'm from EU, so I don't know much about the internal process of delivering packages in USA.

In my native country, we have one 'general post service', and then multiple alternative providers like UPS, DHL, or others.

I want to send a package to company in USA, as I have ordered a product and received broken device.

So I'm wondering how will it arrive, if I use "general post service" from here...


Thanks for help :)

Post office seems to be a little slow these days but if you have a correct address the package should arrive. We gripe about our postal service but most things arrive like they are suppose to. There are size and weight restrictions.
https://www.usps.com/

The USA has 1 Government run postal service. DHL, UPS, FedEx are private companies that deliver packages for a price.

http://www.fedex.com/cn_english/serv...wservices.html
FedEx ships worldwide too I think.

Reason foe Edit: Links

When I send it via UPS, will it arrive to some general post office, or will it be handed directly to them?

If UPS or other companies are used, the package is usually delivered directly to the person it's addressed to.

If you use general post service (Slovenska posta), the package arrives at post, and you have to pick it up there.


Thanks

In the USA, the "postal service" is supposedly a private company with government funding ...

Services such a Federal Express, U.P.S., D.H.L. and so on, are door-to-door services. You hand your
items to them on your end. They transport it. Someone of their folks hands it to the addressee on
this end. Since September 2001, items entering the USA are screened in various ways before leaving
overseas for US destinations, after arrival in USA, and sometimes at way-points along the way.

If it were my parcel, I would use one of the commercial door-to-door carriers with an end to end
tracking number. It will get to its destination and should it go walk-about, tracking will help
it get found.

Cheers,
~~~ 0;-Dan

If you use your government's postal service and international postage rates, they will given it to the United States' Postal Service (USPS, not to be confused with UPS, which is United parcel Service, a private carrier), and it will be delivered directly to the address you have on your package. It may take longer, but it will get there.

Using UPS or DHL or others are also available UNLESS you are shipping to a USPS post office box. Private carriers cannot deliver to a Post Office Box.

Best bet: take the package to your local government post office and see what it has for premium/expedited service to the US, delivery by the USPS.

@ Skyer

I would go for DHL if I want to make sure the package is delivered.
I don't know the prices (quite higher than a "national post service") but then you can also track the package etc.

I have done this [too] often. Yes, FedEx, UPS or DHL are the best options because the package can be tracked and the recipient has to sign for delivery. That is an important proof they received it. Also don't forget that most companies require a RMA (Return Material Authorization) before they accept a device for return.

Ask your local customs organization how they handle repaired materials on return. Either you have to draw up a document with the device serial# so you don't have to pay VAT when the package returns into the EU. Sometimes the price of the document is higher than the amount of VAT. But you pay either way. If you draw up a document with serial# and the manufacturer sends you a replacement with a different serial#, you have paid for the document and pay VAT as well. 90% of companies sending a repaired device back put either the repair costs (if it was out of warranty) or the retail value (when the device was still in warranty).

Think deeply if it is not cheaper to replace your device instead of having it repaired after you inquired for all costs.

jlinkels

The entire shipping world has many ways to deliver a package. As above you might go to some commercial carrier who at some point might ship it via another or even a government postal facility. The companies calculate the costs to send part of their shipments to the USPS for what they call the last mile.

I have seen the insides of Fedex, UPS and USPS and they all are kind of rough on packages. A PopularMechanics test showed a package with tracking and tip and impact monitoring was best treated by the USPS.

All carriers and post offices can track packages. It tends to be an issue of cost. Fedex is pretty high while USP and USPS tend to be more closely priced.

Broken stuff generally doesn't have any tariff.

Each provider routes it through their own network. Finally, depending on the size and weight of the package, it is delivered to the recipient either by a courier or truck.

For international packages, there may be a cooling period and also package scrutiny.

OK.

Thank you all for your answers.
I think I have a generally clear vision about how does it work now.

I'd like to ask few more questions though. I asked them to replace my device, and yes, RMA is required.
By RMA requirements, I understand placing the RMA number on the outside of the package. I really don't have any experience with this, it probably sounds as totally petty problem for those who live in US, but things really are different here :)

So are there any special things I should be aware of?

Jefro, "Broken stuff generally doesn't have any tariff." could you elaborate?

I'd like not to pay any more than I have to - I already payed for UPS, Shipito (BN doesn't ship outside US), and the package itself, so.. I'm pretty squeezed up.


Thanks again for so many useful responses.

Stick it in the mail.

If "the mail" decides to employ a private service (as the US Postal Service does do for "express mail") then that's their business. You simply mailed the package and told the powers that be how fast you wanted it to get there and paid the price they named.

I rather suspect that every country's "post office" winds up doing more-or-less the same thing.

Prepare a shipping label and affix two of them on the box. Put one loose inside the box. Stick one on your device with tape. Print the return address smaller than the recipient's. Print the RMA bigger.

Example shipping label.
If you ship with FedEx you have to hand them the box open, they will close it for you. You have to state a value for customs purposes, which you can best put on $100,-. Description: "Defective goods for replacement". If you use regular mail you have to fill out a form with these data which the post office will hand to you.

jlinkels

Follow jlinkels's advice on labeling, and like he said, place one copy of print out, on the box, one inside the box, and one on the product.

If you want the best quality shipping use UPS (but don't ship to a PO box address). (UPS has the best quality tracking. You can go on line and see where the package is at all times.)

If you want the cheapest, ship government parcel.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne@WayneSallee.com

Here's a funny true story with UPS:

This was posted back in 1999
I saved the post, and here it is:

*********
I work for a company where we accept a large number of UPS packages. We kept
missing/losing deliveries and when we traced them, the log showed they were
signed for by "ITR."


After numerous complaints and claims, UPS finally called the driver in. She
explained that she was given WAY too many packages to deliver and, at the end
of the day, she would pull her truck up to the good ol' Missouri and toss
whatever remained in the truck.


ITR = In The River.


True story. She lost her job, we got a new delivery person on the route and
things are much better now.

*********

So as long as your package isn't signed by ITR you should be fine. :-)

Wayne Sallee
Wayne@WayneSallee.com

"Jefro, "Broken stuff generally doesn't have any tariff." could you elaborate?"

Each country has taxes on products entering and some leaving.

An example was a stereo I shipped US Postal Service from Japan. The customs rules were if it were new, it was subject to a tax or tariff. Since I had opened the original box and powered it on, it was by definition used. (and US Customs opened the outer box to see)

Check with the customs office in both your country and the US for rules. Generally broken and used electronics are exempt.

Also including phone numbers with the addresses is also a good idea.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne@WayneSallee.com

Alright,
thank you all for useful posts. I think I'm going to stick with local post company -it seems that it will be like 200€ cheaper for me, and they also say they support tracking. I'm not sure if it's going to work for international packages, but let's see.

Thanks again, and in the end, I might post the results just for you to know how did it all end :)

Have a nice day...

Yes they have tracking, but it's more like, letting you know when it arrived. It's not the same quality of tracking that UPS does. But even so, with the big difference in price, you probably want to stick with cheaper method.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne@WayneSallee.com

Depends on the service they provide. Some postal services employ a tracking program on packages and letters to tell the customer where they are at in the world. It tells location as in plant and times in and out. It is no different than other carriers.

Ok, I know that. The US Postal Service Does not do this, or at least did not last time I checked. Fedex dose it some, and UPS does it best.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne@WayneSallee.com

Also the US Postal Service has a really great rate for shipping books, that's real cheap. But who buys books anymore? :-)

Wayne Sallee
Wayne@WayneSallee.com

The US Postal Service tracks packages just like that other company. They just charge an extra fee. Dunno why since they track it internally anyway?



What does Track & Confirm show?

Enter your label number to see the status of your item. If you shipped with Express Mail®, you’ll get point-by-point tracking details. If you used another service—Delivery Confirmation™, Certified Mail™, Registered Mail™ —you’ll see when it went out for delivery.


The book rate is almost free. Yes, you can ship other stuff that is in that category. Movies, dvd's and such.