Help with sending parcels abroad

NonnaLor - have only just seen your post. Thanks for letting know how long the parcel might take.

I hope to send it this week.

RRose I use Royal Mail track/trace/sign to send parcels to family in the USA. I paid £22 to send a1.5kg parcel on 18 May. I’ve been checking it’s progress via the tracking no and it only got to San Francisco today! Usually takes around 2 weeks.

Yes, there was a customs form when I sent via Parcels2Go. As I recall, I filled everything out online and then printed it. I think one bit had to go in with the parcel.

I had to drop mine off at a branch of Curry’s and they were super-helpful!

Thanks to all for their posts. The parcel hasn't been posted yet because DH brought it home to check if I wanted to pay extra for the "guarantee".

Melanie61 - thanls for your offer of help. Surely a customs declaration is needed - form CN22? It says this on the Royal Mial website and there was a similar form on the address label when the sender sent me the parcel containing the goods.

Others - did you complete one of these forms when you used other methods than Royal Mail?

I will look onto the other methods suggested here.

I don't want to be ripped off and the recipient has asked for the parcel to have a tracking number. I definitely want it to be tracked for my own peace of mind.

Ramblingrose we had to send something important and personal and yes, we were quoted £59 at the local PO for a guaranteed delivery to Australia. It was a tiny parcel and not heavy.

I sent it tracked for about £15 and it did arrive safely and reasonably quickly (about 10 days).

We have to pay a bit extra to track parcels to Australia from our Post Office. One airmail parcel took nearly a month to arrive at Christmas and, although I could track it, there was nothing I could do about it as it meandered from depot to depot in Australia.

Thank you for the recommend, I will investigate.

I’ll second Parcels2Go. I sent a heavy box of presents to the USA with them last Xmas and was very impressed with the service. I was kept updated at to its progress and my son received it within the week.

The previous time, I’d sent via Royal Mail but they didn’t receive the gifts until late February and they stunk of damp and mould.

Just used Parcels2Go online, and very impressed. Paid and printed off label, took to nearest drop off point (they will pick up but you pay extra) and was then able to track it all the way to Spain. It was delivered in 5 days, much too early for GD's birthday!

There is no such thing. I send parcels regularly to the US. If you want to use Royal Mail buy online - look for Royal Mail Pricing - it's easy, you can just follow the directions through. Then you can take your package to the PO post prepaid although I might use a differ PO as it looks like a little bit of dishonesty is going on. I personal would report it. Another alternative is a courier which is sometimes cheaper. UPS or DHL for example.

I have a post office. There is no such thing. How much postage did you pay and how heavy was the parcel. I’ll try and help.