take_time_2_travel

My husband and I are returning to Italy next month and want to find out the best way to ship items home vs. carrying them around Italy. (We are not talking furniture...maybe some Murano stemware, etc.)

Last year when we were in Italy, we were told by some shopkeepers that the Italian postal service is not very reliable and that many places don't offer UPS shipping. One storeowner asked if we had a Fed Ex account (which we didn't).

Does anyone know what the most reliable, yet economical, method of shipping is?
(We thought about setting up a Fed Ex account, but did not know how pricey it would be compared to other companyies to ship from Italy.)

Any advice is appreciated!

take_time_2_travel

Sorry...didn't spell "companies" correctly in my post!

MaureenB

Your best bet will probably be the stores, since they will know the ins and outs of shipping and insuring, and will have contacts. Otherwise, it's quite expensive. We were looking to ship a large box of clothing, and decided it was cheaper and safer to pay Lufthansa the extra 95EUR for an additional piece of luggage, rather than deal with the postal or delivery services. I posted a thread asking about it several months ago, so you can probably find all the advice I received if you click on my name above and/or search this forum for Italian postal service/shipping. Good luck!
(P.S. Buy lots of Murano glass! I wish I'd bought more while there.)

take_time_2_travel

Thanks Maureen.

After I posted this question, I just saw your thread!

The only reason we were ever concerned with the Italian postal service was that we had Italian store-owners tell us it was unrealiable.

We did ship Murano stemware, vases, etc. home via UPS as that particular store offered it. However, a shop(owned by Prof. Augustino Dessi) in Florence (where we bought WONDERFUL masks made by him) recommended that we carry the masks with us...which we did...all over Italy and in our laps on the plane ride home!

This time around, I thought it would be worth checking out other options.

Hope your daughter had a wonderful time!

Thanks!

MaureenB

Thanks-- my daughter had a wonderful time studying in Florence. Then, I met here there in early May and we spent 15 nights: Rome, Florence, Venice, Santa Margherita Ligure (Cinque Terre and Portofino), and Nice (Antibes and St. Jean Cap Ferrat). It was a blast. I wrote and posted individual trip reports on each city.

Bailey

I've had many things sent from Italy through various shops. AND I have sent packages home from Italy using the Italian postal service.
One package has never arrivied...it was the one that I sent using the Italian postal service.
I will stick with having the shop arrange shipping...preferably through
FedX or another carrier.
It isn't difficult to set up an account with FedX.

sandper

Hello
Am I reading that if you have a FEDEX account-which I do-they can ship and bill it to you?
Thanks

Dayle

Hi Take time,

I shipped home a beautiful ceramic platter from Ravello. The shop took care of the shipping and it arrived via DHL.

Platter - 230E
Shipping - 35E
Customs Duty - $35.00 (nasty surprise)

If you ship something, you only have a $200 allowance before owing duty.

If you carry it home with you, you have $800 per person.

Take all this into account before you purchase.

Buon viaggio!

take_time_2_travel

Sandper,

When we were trying to ship from Italy last year, one storeowner asked if we had a Fed Ex account. He said that if we did, it could be shipped using our account, so, yes, I believe that is correct.

What I can't tell you is how many store owners offer this option...thus my posting.
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Bailey,

You are right...I did a Yahoo search for Fed Ex and see that setting up an account is easy as long as you have a credit card.
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Dayle,

Is the shipping restriction $200/package? Or $200 total?

Last year, we listed our on-board purchases (carried on and in suitcases), but I don't remember if we listed the shipped Murano glass on the form the airlines had us fill out.

We too were surprised to get the customs fee upon arrival of our package!
--------

Has anyone gone over the $800 limit? How steep was the fee?

Thx!

Dayle

My understanding of the government web page LONG explanation is $200 total.

Cicerone

The duty free allowance of US$800 applies ONLY to things you physically bring back with you on the plane, it does NOT apply to goods you ship back, that is why you were "hit" with the customs duties on the glass you shipped. It probably would have been a good idea to have read the US Customs page before your trip, go to customs.ustreas.gov. Click on "Travel" on the main page and then "Know Before you Go" to get to the import duty section.

Shipping by FedEx on your own account is fine, you could also ship by UPS as well on your own account, you might want to look at prices for both and see which would be cheaper. Look at ground shipment versus air; ground will be slower but cheaper. Also look at insurance rates, it is my impression that Fed Ex does not always offer insurance, sometimes they only offer US$100 per package, which may not cover the cost of the contents.

I agree on not using the Italan postal service.

Gerardo

We use DHL but I am sure most of the big courier companies are just as good.

HappyTrvlr

I used DHL three day air from Venice; they also packed the box of pottery for 55E total.
It arrived in perfect condition; we could check on it by using the tracking number for DHL.

take_time_2_travel

Dayle, Gerardo, and Happy Trvlr,

I have never heard of DHL...are they easily located in Italy? Or is this something offered at the stores?

Thanks!

take_time_2_travel

Cicerone,

Thanks for the link! I will check it out.

(On our previous trip...I would have still bought the Murano glass as it wasn't an outrageous fee.)

Thanks!