Sending small parcel/letter to USA

Nikiya

I found a thread on this issue but you could only post replies.
We need to send a small parcel (could pass as a letter really, since it is just two passports) to the USA. Not in a hurry, needed in two weeks time, but it has to be a reliable service. I am totally confused with quotes and reviews... I read in one comparison site (myparceldelivery) both UPS and Hermes use "MPD" international (??). I also used parcel2go as recommended here and it gives me Trakpak, Aircitipost and others. Never heard before of any. DHL seems to charge twice or more the price of any of the previous. But Royal mail, with GBP 150 insurance and delivery confirmation was the cheapest... are they reliable? Thanks!

Bayonetta

I usually use RM for USA and abroad deliveries - I would definitely go for the first class insured and tracked option for something like passports though!!

pollypenny

We post to the UsA regularly, using RM, insured when necessary.

LilElvis

FedEx. I wouldn't want to send anything to the States with any value or if it needs to be there within a timeframe without using a service like this. The US postal service is extremely slow and unreliable. The last time I sent a parcel to California via Royal Mail my Christmas presents actually arrived on Valentine's Day!

Nikiya

If Fedex delivery services are as good as their CS I would not recommend them. Spent quite a bit of time on their page giving all details of my delivery in order to get an estimate just to get a message saying "the rating service is not available".... Their CS number is an 0845, which means you are already paying them to find out how much they charge. Only one alternative Nº worked but they sent me to the above tel Nº....

LilElvis

Nikiya wrote: »

If Fedex delivery services are as good as their CS I would not recommend them. Spent quite a bit of time on their page giving all details of my delivery in order to get an estimate just to get a message saying "the rating service is not available".... Their CS number is an 0845, which means you are already paying them to find out how much they charge. Only one alternative Nº worked but they sent me to the above tel Nº....

Have a look at some parcel delivery shops who deal with them. It might be a pain from this end but is really the most secure way to ensure that something actually arrives. Their 'letter' sized packet will get there in 2 days max. My parents credit card got fried when they were on holiday and they got a replacement in 3 days. I lived and worked in the States for several years and their postal service is beyond a joke, so any carrier that uses them as part of the chain will take an age. Two weeks to send a cheque from San Francisco to Plano, Texas - we gave up and used FedEx or UPS for anything that actually mattered.

Lily-Rose_3

I would go for Royal Mail Airmail too.

Bit risky sending passports though. Better have a track and trace service.

Nikiya

Thanks! The point is, as LilElvis says, USA mail is involved in that country, and we cannot risk for the docs to arrive next month.... I have been trying to find out prices and they are all very expensive. DHL seems to be a bit cheaper, has anybody tried them?

BritAbroad

I would not send using Royal Mail, even a tracked/signed for service, because once it arrives in the US it's handed over to USPS, who ignore the requirements for tracking and signature. Plus if it doesn't fit in the mailbox USPS will just dump it on the doorstep, regardless of the signature requirement.

Look at something like Transglobal Express - they use a number of couriers and the rates tend to be better. Family sending us stuff have used them several times and they've always been reliable.

Nikiya

Yes, that is my concern. Actually we've just found out that DHL is cheaper than the others. Will research TE as BritAbroad suggests but in any case I am much happier with DHL's quote than with the others! Thanks everybody!