Olive Oil to US
 

I wish to send 6 bottles of oil to San Diego and three to Austin, Texas. Oil from Tuscany (near Florence).

Has anyone shipped oil? Which shipper do they recommend? Any problems? Shipping requirements including packaging? Any particular paperwork required?

Thanks

Pack 'em and send 'em yourself since I guess you are there.

I live in Italy and wish to send them to friends for Xmas.

I am looking for shippers who have done this at a reasonable price and are reliable.

Poste Italiane, FEDEX, UPS .. others?

Who to choose? What are the packaging requirements (minimum and recommended)? What documents are required? Are there any charges State side (as it would be a present I wish to pay these myself)?

Do you have any Mail Boxes etc in your area? When I travel, I always look for Mail Boxes etc as I do ship packages home. I know they don't like to mail liquids (they had bottles of wine set up one time) but have done it anyway. The people there most of the time are nice and provide boxes, tape etc. They will pack the items for you even though I know what you are sending is much smaller than what I send.

You will have to fill out a form for value etc but once in the US they just drop the package off at the location. No other fees etc.

Thanks sassy27

there are MB depots in Como (where I am) but I want to be sure regarding the progess of the package from Italy to the US both concerning documentation as regards handling (breakages etc).

I always pack my stuff with bubble wrap, etc and just have them put it all in a box when I get there. Nothing so far has been broken but something leaked once but I think it was the bottle not how it was wrapped and didn't do any damage to the other items in the box. I also never had to report any damages and the packages are delivered in a timely manner. I one time used a different service in Scotland and was very unhappy with them. The paperwork with this other company was just awful.

There are restrictions on shipping liquids from Italy. I found this out when I shipped some cosmetics to my daughter in the US and they never arrived. I would use a service who understands what's necessary.

When I carry olive oil from Italy to friends and relatives I always buy it in stainless steel tins. Most producers sell it in tins, and these are also the best containers to conserve the oil.

As far as customs, you're allowed to send a gift of a certain value without the recipient paying customs. It was at one time $50, but may be more now. You need to write on the package, "Gift, value < $50", or whatever it is now.

I am not taking it myself but sending.

I want names of shippers.

I want to send bottles (they are of a special design) not tins.

I am not really "getting" this. You live there. You have shippers. The olive oil producers would probably do it for you.

Gretchen - you are not really "getting" this.

I want feedback from those who have already done this so I can choose a shipper which is reliable both with regard to paperwork and handling.

Ask your Italian neighbours who they would use. Local expertise would win out over asking random strangers on a travel forum.

I wouldn't ask my Italian neighbors how to ship bottles of olive oil overseas. Most would know nothing about it. I think you should ask a producer of olive oil, who ships his own oil overseas.

<i> I think you should ask a producer of olive oil, who ships his own oil overseas.</i>

I think probbaly not. Such a person ships probably large volumes for commercial sale, not small quantities for personal use. Unless of course they also ship to residential addresses in the U.S.

I think the OP is way overthinking this. Wrap in bubble wrap, pack in box with wadded paper or more bubble wrap, then take to the local post office, UPS, FedEx, DHL, Hermes, etc. and get quotes. If the pricing in Italy is anything like the pricing in the UK, Spain, or Germany, the post office will be cheapest.

The only paperwork you need to fill out is the customs form.

Thanks sparkchaser.

I have thought of the PO but my concern is that maybe they do not handle items with appropriate care.

What I am really after is feedback from people in the US who have done this.

Being the week of Thanksgiving perhaps this is not the best of occasions to hear from those on the other side of the pond!

Unless you hand carry it to the recipient, you should count on a package being thrown or dropped. That's why you wrap it up in bubble wrap and pack the box with crumpled paper or other padding. I have used this method for years to ship beer and alcohol from Europe to the U.S. and have never had a bottle break.

I think Sparkchaser has it EXACTLY.
OR go to a gift shop and ask what they do and who they use.

Gretchen - please stop commenting.

I want feedback from the US from Fodorites who have actually shipped oil to the US.

I DO NOT want answers from the sending end but the receiving end.

Is this so hard to understand?

How does the recieving end know who handled the packing/shipping? You would get more useful responses if you stopped lecturing those trying to help you. We have shipped wine from Italy and have used the producer to send it. I would think an olive oil producer would provide the best assistance/advice. Or, the place where you purchased the olive oil. Can't they ship it for you?

Sorry, nochblad but you are making a mountain out of a mole hill. It's not rocket science. People ship bottles of liquid all over the world, every day.

1) The store where we purchased olive oil shipped it for us - all we had to do was give them the reciepients' addresses and pay the bill. They took care of the rest. The bottles were packed properly (the company had "custom" styrofoam boxes) and all arrived in perfect condition - no real "effort" on our part.

2) Now, we've also ship liquids (including a bottle or two of olive oil) ourselves so if you wanted to buy the olive oil and ship it yourself - that's OK too. Since you probably won't have custom designed boxes - use common sense - purchase an appropriate size box, bubble wrap the olive oil bottles and use lots of styrofoam peanuts to take up the remaining space & cushion your bottles in the box. Don't put too many bottles in the same box - better to send two or 3 smaller boxes than 1 larger heavier box.

If shipping your own then you'll have to choose the shipper - Post Office, UPS, Fed-Ex or DHL are the obvious choices - each nows how to handle packages and will advise you of any necessary paperwork and one is not better than the other - they are just different shippers who charge differently for their services. You'll pay based on weight/size of package and how quickly (or slowly) you want the packages to reach their destinations.

Nochblad,

Mail Box will ship for you. They will do everything, wrap it, box it and all the necessary paper work. Bring a copy of your passport, they will ask for it. I love using them. I take my stuff and they do everything! No hassle at all.

My packages arrived in great shape according to my husband and within a week.

Good luck!

RoamsAround - cafegoddess

Thank you

The Mail Box Inc I used was the one by Santa Maria Maggiore.

Many of the vineyards that ship wine also ship their oil. Find out who they use. A co-worker used to have vineyards ship wine and oil when he vacationed in Italy. It came in boxes like the wine is shipped in (styrofoam liners). He always had them list all of it as oil because you can't ship wine to my state. The styrofoam liners come in various sizes. How many are you shipping to each person?

http://www.uline.com/BL_5450/Styrofoam-Wine-Shippers

http://www.amazon.com/Bottle-Wine-Sh.../dp/B00C5TXVLY

You can also buy cardboard packs, but I don't think the protect as well.

http://www.mrboxonline.com/pulp-wine...bc5b4b5f4ef69c

Wine skins would be another option, but I think they are expensive for something like this.

http://www.amazon.com/Wine-Skin-Wine.../dp/B0033C6FOM

Oh nochblad. I know what you are trying to do and it seems to be very unpopular with the folks who post here. I do ship packages from Europe because the price doesn't come to much more than a second bag and I don't have to worry lugging the second bag. I do send liquids but just don't say anything but in your case since that is all you are sending, I would ask first. I also do not buy my liquids from the actually distributors but rather from mom and pop stores and supermarkets. I highly doubt they would know what shippers to use. I don't understand why you would need to by from the direct supplier unless that is how you are getting the oil.

We have received olive oil from a friend in Italy who produces a small quantity of oil, and sells and ships it to the States. She packs it herself, and then, from my understanding, uses a shipper. She is near Assissi. Her oil is in tins, and comes in a box filled with packing material; each tin is individually wrapped. I would think a shipper in your area could tell you exactly what you need to do.

<i>I DO NOT want answers from the sending end but the receiving end.</i>

I have been on the US receiving end of goods shipped from Europe. It just shows up like any other package and I've never had to pay a duty or anything.

Like I said before, you're overthinking this.

You can't ship liquids using the Italian post office in glass bottles. That I know for a fact. I live in Italy and ship all kinds of things to family and friends in the US. I learned this after my package containing liquid cosmetics didn't arrive. Unfortunately the employees at the small post office in my town didn't know it either.

When I suggested asking a producer of olive oil, I wasn't talking about a large factory, but the type of small local olive oil producer commom in Italy, who ships small quantities to the US. I suggested just asking them who they use. The most used international shippers in Italy are DHL and UPS. Fedex has a bit of a bad reputation in Italy.

I have used DHL, UPS and Fedex on many occasions but essentially for documents. bvlenci - I am not aware of Fedex's bad reputation. I have not experienced problems with them. As regards MBE they of course do not ship themselves but use Fedex or UPS.

I will not be shipping tins but special bottles which have an external "gold" filigrana - a sort of gold coloured metal mesh surrounding the bottle.

My point is - every one here says they can deliver on time, at a certain price and without breakages. What I am after is feedback from people who have actually sent oil in bottles from Italy and their experiences. Have they had problems with customs their end (since these bottles will be gifts I want to be certain that there will be no problems), have they had any breakages, has there been any damage to the packaging etc.

I am prepared to pay for the best shipper but who ist it?

At the risk of your ire, breakages (sic) is because of poor packing. People have given you first hand experience--you send it and it is received. No other problem.
On any given day for any given shipment, something can happen.
I repeat, as others have done, inquire at gift shop type producers what they do. Or just pack it up and use the agencies you have used previously.
Sparkchaser also lives in Europe so does have experience on both ends.

I will also add the shipping offices will know exactly what paper work is necessary and the regulations.

Thanks for the vote of confidence Gretchen. :D

Gretchen - breakages (sic)???

First hand experience - what I have not yet received is first hand experience in terms of what I have asked.

I am still waiting for definitive info from people who have actually shipped oil to America with input from the US.

Did the package arrive safely? Was there any damage - even external? Any suggestions?

Is this such a strange request?

Yes, you've gotten "first had experience". I had olive shipped from Italy to my home and to other peoples homes in the US. We've also forwarded on several bottles (requiring repacking by us) to our home in the Caribbean.

And, yes, all packages arrived safely - with no damage, either internally or externally. There were no "problems" with customs, either when the packages arrived in the US or in the Caribbean - in fact on our shipments no duty was assessed upon arrival in US, and we only paid a small amount of duty when we claimed our package in the Caribbean - all we had to do there is declare a "value' and the customs people assessed the duty.

As I and others have said you are way "over thinking" this. As long as you take reasonable care packing the bottles and use a reputable shipper (Fed-Ex, UPS, DHL) you should have no difficulties. In our case, we purchased our Olive Oil at the retail shop of a small "producer". What we did was common place and they were very familiar with shipping 'gift packages" all over the world.

Over the years I've had olive oil from Italy, a small hand made model boat from Bequia, a bigger model boat from Mauritius, a ceramic plate from Italy, more olive oil from New Zealand, wine from France, porcelain from England and much, much more shipped to me in the US - everything has always arrived safely. All came by either Fed-Ex or UPS.

We also regularly send packages (20 to 30 packages every year for the past 10 years) of every description from our home in the US to our home in the Caribbean. Every one has arrived in good condition with no internal damage.

RoamsAround - thanks again!

"First hand experience - what I have not yet received is first hand experience in terms of what I have asked."

"I am still waiting for definitive info from people who have actually shipped oil to America with input from the US."

Last month from Florence, Italy, I shipped, Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, Truffle Honey, Honey with almonds,pesto. and my hair curlers.

I dropped everything off to Mail Box, Inc., on Via Della Scala 13R, Firenze, Italy. I did not wrap anything. They will do it for you. They do all the papaer work for you. You will need to provide a copy of your passport before the package(s) can go out.


"Did the package arrive safely? Was there any damage - even external? Any suggestions?"

Yes, it arrived within seven days, no breakage or leakage. I was not home yet when it arrived. My husband told me the package was in great shape. I also used them in London two weeks ago to send 48 boxes of chocolate biscuits from M&S. I will never send a package on my own. Mail Boxes, Inc., made it easy to send packages back home. They picked-up my boxes from my hotel in london.

"Is this such a strange request?" No

I hope this helps. Thank you.

cafegoddess - again thank you

Maybe after answering twice by two people, and others, who also have received items it will finally be enough for the OP!! LOL But then, we still don't know what she will choose to send.

Your welcome. I am missing Florence.

I am curious to know what the OP does and if it works out. So please post back.

I was going to offer my address for a test run:). Olive oil from my travels is a huge hit but I can only put so much in my luggage. I have shipped other liquids using MBE with much success.