Parcel posting from Berlin to the US

Hello,

Does anyone know the cheapest way to post a small parcel to the US with Deutsche Post. They told me surface post doesn't exist in Germany anymore and I must use the small yellow box they sell and go through DHL. Is this true? Thanks for your advice.

Bring packages and letters to any number of shops which offer a dozen shipping options, and the meister(in) there will pick the best. In Friedrichshain, on Samariterstr, up from Frankfurter Allee, on the right, up past Riegarstr, there is a shop, but they are everywhere in berlin. These guys speak english and don't seem to hate americans (at least, not me, but I'm not very american).

Best not to go into a DP for anything. They are totally shit.

I stuffed my christmas gifts into a couple of those large air mail envelopes and air mailed them (to Canada.) It seemed to be fine.

#1 how odd that they told you surface mail does not exist anymore. DHL Paeckchen International has two different rates to USA - EUR12.90 is the low rate and airmail is EUR25.80! Last time I posted to US they told me DHL's lowest international is in fact surface. Also, you are not obliged to purchase their little yellow boxes either, you can use your own.

Well, surface mail does not exist for mail sent to countries in Europe anymore, that much is true. But if you mail stuff to countries outside of Europe, then you can still choose between surface mail and airmail.

#5 DP also have two rates for Paeckchen to Europe - standard and airmail. Could it be that "standard" is in fact airmail and "airmail" is express?

Deutsche Post

My experience with DP,is that they are the biggest rip off ever,unfriendly and overpriced.I would use another mail company like DHL,UPS,at least they are happy to have your custom.

http://www.dhl.de/dhl?skin=hi&check=yes&la...xmlFile=3001057

USA is Zone 3

#7 I've never had any problems using DP/DHL for all my eBay stuff, although they are rather expensive for international parcels. How comparable are UPS rates, I thought they were dearer?

Hello? <knock, knock>
No one has mentioned this yet, I thought everyone knew:

DHL -is- DeutschePost . At least in the sense DHL is DP's international face. If you ship a package with DP, the package is shipped DHL.

If you're shipping within the EU, Hermes now does europe (used to be germany only). They offer 500€ insurance included with the rate, and ship by size, not weight.

Yes, Deutsche Post now owns all stock in DHL and ALL Deutsche Post parcels, national and international, are handled by them. No, not everyone is aware of that!

Hermes is great if you have an agency near you!

Have you checked their website? There seem to be hundreds of Hermes Packetshops in Berlin...

Hermes and then choose "Packetshopsuche" on the left and enter "Berlin"...should be able to find one that's near you...each little red box on the map is one with their opening times etc!!! There are 20 within a 1,7km radius from where i live!

Thanks for the tip gooner_gal - the nearest agent to where I live seems to be on Wilhem Strasse! Next time I do some eBaying will consider them for shipping parcels to Europe since DP/DHL is getting very expensive. I heard somewhere that DP were changing their parcel distribution system again next year!

Deutsch post is a fucking rip if you try to get anything sent to you!

For one, they never seem to deliver parcels to your house...
If you are lucky, you only have to go to the nearest post office and pick it up.

If you are less lucky, you have to go to the fookin' sollamt way out in wilmersdorf (and hard to find).
There you will have the pleasure of taking a number and sitting in a waiting room, then, when you are called up (if you hear your number) old men will ask you various questions (in german only) about your package so they can charge you duty.
Sometimes they make you cut it open and pull it apart, which is probably already is, considering how well they treat parcels.
If you take the bahn, it is a 5+ block walk both ways, if you take a car, good luck with the traffic.
oh, and they close about five, so if you happen to be one of the few people with a job in this town, forget it.

I always bitched about USPS, but I never realized how only moderately crappy they really were.

I really never have any problems with DP/DHL. If I am not in when a parcel arrives they almost always leave it with a neighbour in the same house. Only when no-one's at home do I have to go to the Post Office to collect. But that's only 2 mins walk away.

As for Air Freight:
Whether shipping within the EU or world-wide, there is always a choice between Air or Land rates, for both "Päckchen" or "Paket".
The "Land" option still uses aircraft as opposed to shipping, but these parcels are flown to a central distribution facility, from where they are then distributed by slower methods.
The "Air" option means flown direct to, or as near as possible to the destination City.

In my experience, "Land" to USA can take anything from 2 weeks to 5 or 6 weeks. "Air" usually takes around 10 working days, but has been known to be quicker and also, a little slower.
MT

The Zollamt has got nothing to do with DHL/DP or any of the parcel delivery services. Its a govemental thing called duty. Its a nice trick they like to play on you yanks(or sometimes us Brits). Getting more money out of you if you buy something in the US, that you could have bought here in Germany! Actually, if you buy anything over I reckon €150 euros now and import it you got to pay duty on it - hence checks at airports

#16 I read someplace that the "EU finance ministers have agreed new limits for travellers' duty free allowances, setting a new higher ceiling of 300 euros for people entering the EU by land or sea and 430 euros for air passengers" - this does not include alcohol, perfume, tobbaco allowances ... but don't quote me on that!

The duty exempt amounts (by post) into EU still stands at 45 euros for gift packages and 22 euro for purchases. They should increase those too ... what can you buy for 22 euro these days?

#14 I feel your pain! When we first moved to Berlin I noticed my postman always left a note in my letter box to go pick up a parcel at the Post Office. I started to get really annoyed at this and complained to Deutsche Post, as I was home most of the time. A few days later we received a letter of apology and a book of stamps. Nothing changed, so we complained again! We got another book of stamps but the postman now rings my bell and comes up the lift with the parcel. I've told him it would be no problem for me to come downstairs and save him the time but he just gives me the evil eye and grunts!

The parcels that need signatures, come with DHL courier and are always left with neighbours if I am out. It's the done thing around here ... this Xmas I had 11 parcels in my hallway waiting collection!