When family members live overseas, you may think that sending them a gift isn’t possible. However, this is not the case. You’re able to send them gifts through international shipping. However, if this is your first time doing so, you may not know what to do. Read on to learn how to send gifts to family members who live abroad.
Shipping Options
When it comes to international shipping, there are a few options at your disposal. But keep in mind that your choice of shipping heavily depends on what you are sending. For instance, if you choose to go with a courier, inquire about what they will and will not deliver. You can’t send food unless it’s packaged by the original manufacturer. Items also cannot be perishable. You’re also prohibited from sending things like perfume and anything related to photographs. As for the pricing, it also depends on what you plan to send. The bigger the package and how long it takes to deliver can end up costing you more than the gift itself. According to Ship 7, if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, forwarding mail from a home address can be more cost-effective than shipping directly from the seller. Either way, the choice is yours to make.
Dealing With Customs
Regardless of how you plan on sending the package, you want to make sure it goes through customs. You can check this by using the tracking number provided by the courier service. More often than not, many gifts and packages being sent overseas are held in customs for at least 24 hours. This is done to ensure there’s nothing wrong with the package or that it doesn’t contain anything suspicious. When it comes to customs, every country has its own set of rules and regulations. As such, it’s important to know what is and isn’t allowed to be imported. In addition, make sure that whatever you’re sending isn’t over the allowable weight.
Don’t Procrastinate
Even with international shipping companies, it’s not uncommon to encounter delays. To ensure your gifts arrive on time, never leave sending them to the last minute. Make sure you leave plenty of time for your packages to arrive and keep track of when you need to send them so that they are on time. According to Personal Planner, it might be a good idea to keep track of these dates in a personal planner or a calendar so you can be sure that the recipient gets the gift when you want them to. Keep in mind that the busiest times of the year are Thanksgiving and Christmas, so it might take longer than expected for your packages to arrive.
Sending gifts overseas is pretty easy once you understand the rules. Plan ahead, and make sure you’re aware of what is permitted prior to shipping your gifts.
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