Question
I shipped a PC game to Australia back on 08/13. The buyer just emailed me today and said she's getting kind of worried about the amount of time it's taking.
I wrote back and told her that the very first thing I mailed to Australia took over 8 weeks to arrive. It was a Baby's 1st Christmas ornament and it shipped in October and I don't think it arrived in time for Christmas. But that was several years ago. Since then I've mailed several items to Australia and I think some have taken only a few weeks. Don't remember any that have taken a couple of months like the first one.
So, my question is, does anyone have an idea of the transit time now a days? I'd like to reassure my buyer that it will arrive, even if it does take several weeks.
Any Aussies in da house?
Pat
Answer
I'm no aussie but have sent several packages via surface mail to australia in the last year. they are taking between 6-8 weeks to get there.
Answer
It all depends on how you mailed it, Global Priority only takes about 3 or 4 days, airmail about 7-10days. Slow boat could be 2 months.
Boji
Answer
G'day Piquezn,
The reality is that most mail will travel a bit slower than how it is sold. Boji is fairly accurate for averages on air and surface mail, but I don't think I have ever received Global Priority in the time frame they have quoted, and it sometimes travels slower than airmail sent at the same time. Air mail will usually take the 7 to 10 days in each direction, but can take three weeks, and will occassionally just run very slow and break the month. Surface mail will usually break the two month mark unless it gets thrown on a plane anyway (I have had a surface mail parcel arrive in 4 days on one occassion).
All of that said, whilst the international mail will get unexplained delays, I have found it very reliable in all other aspects. It would be 4 years since I lost anything between America and Australia, although I lost two letter sized envelopes (stiffened for postcards/photographs) to the UK last year.
If yours was sent surface it could still take another month or more. If it was sent air mail it *SHOULD* be here now, but may just be travelling slowly. The post office will allow a full calendar month before even accepting the paperwork for an insurance claim for a lost International parcel, and I always wait that long before considering refunding when I get concerns from a buyer (explaining to them that I am following the Post Office's own time frame). Usually the item has arrived by the 30 day mark, often with no evident reason why it has travelled so slowly, although some items seem to just get redirected, and take much longer than they should.
If you have any paper work just check that you did include "Australia" on the forms - I did send a parcel to Germany a few years ago, but addressed it to USA by habit. It took more than 2 months to return to me as "Address Unknown" (my fault entirely and I had refunded the client by the time it got back to me - he paid again when I re-sent it to him later).
Good Luck, Kevin
Answer
CROM's vice president is in Australia for two years and I've been somewhat taken aback at how long mail takes to get to her. We're so used to thinking practically instantaneous, small world, etc. I've resorted to global priority to even get small things to her. And that's not that quick. When I really need her to have something I use the global express (whatever it's called). That still takes some time but seems to be the fastest option. How does fed ex do to Australia? I haven't tried that yet. Maryanne
Answer
Well, I copied a bit of Kevin's post to my customer and that may have calmed her fears somewhat. At least I haven't heard anything more from her. But it hasn't even been a month yet, so we may have some time to wait.
From now on there is no choice. Airmail from now on. It's been quite a bit quicker for me in the past. But this time I went with the customer's wishes ans sent it surface. DUH.
Answer
But this time I went with the customer's wishes ans sent it surface.
You may have another 6 weeks until it gets to her. I have bought books using surface because the cost savings are substantial on weight, but for smaller items it is not worth the savings for the time (and stress) that it can take.
If I get a request for surface mail (eg: on a group of machinery manuals which become quite heavy), I make sure that I get a clear indication in return email that the buyer is aware that it can take more than two months or even three months. Once a buyer is *used to* surface mail, you will have no problems - but unless it is requested, I only quote/use air mail.
If anyone here is buying from Australia, use airmail rather than "economy air mail". The latter is sold as taking about a week longer than normal air mail, but whilst it can travel as quick as air mail, it can also travel as slow as surface mail (at least when I used when I first started selling on Ebay).
I am afraid that I cannot answer the Fed-Ex question - I have not used them at all. I have heard of some bad experiences, including lost parcels and parcels spending weeks in Hong Kong when friends have used TNT's courier service, so TNT is definitely not recommended.
Kind Regards, Kevin
Answer
Fed Ex from Australia
FedEx envelope that was sent from Melbourne on Friday Sept 2; received it the Tuesday morning after Labor Day (the 6th) -- don't see how it could have arrived any faster, actually.
Used to be Australian customs was a bit pickier than USA. Not sure nowadays, but it is prudent to dot all i's and cross all t's when shipping there. Including being truthful about the contents, of course.