Interesting to read about the huge shipping cost from the UK to the USA. Now I (living in the Netherlands) have shipped several frames to the US in the past year. I pack a frame rather extensively, and use extra cardboard inside for protection. Weight comes out at 8 kgs, + or - a couple of hundre d grams. I don't want to do it otherwise just to save a few bucks. Cost has been 65 to 70 USD, depending on valuta rate fluctuations. Not bad, compared to the cost mentioned for UK-USA shipment. That is for a weight between 5 and 10 kgs, so there's still room for small parts. The size requirements ar e exactly right for even bigger frames. So much for EU harmonization, last time I checked, the UK was closer to the USA than continental Europe. Although the guy at the post office told me that my parcels would probably be flown to Milan (from Amsterdam), and then across the Atlantic!
Anyway, consider this a shameless promotion for Dutch bikes, like my Gazell e Champion Mondial that's still for sale! (and more to come?)
Freek (aspiring exporter) Faro Rotterdam Netherlands
2006/4/8, Doug Smith <doug@kingsweir.plus.com>:
>
> As an example yesterday I took a pair of rims,tyres and inner tubes in a
> cardboard box for "test run" and the cost would have been £49-00GBP
> = $76-00 USD delivery for an item costing just £25-00GBP = $43-50
> USD. The faster air mail tariff will cost much more than my quotes.
> So there you go , whether there is anybody in the UK who does this
> service for less I would'nt as I've never enquired. I can see the day
> coming when the costs of shipping will become prohibtive (if they
> have'nt already) to send our goods to you in America.
> The lastest increase in pricing by The Royal Mail came into effect on
> the 1st April .
> Doug Smith
> North Dorset
> UK