Parcel forwarder Shipito warns its customers about shipping knives via USPS. It gets many packages returned if they contain any type of knife when shipped by USPS. There are no problems to ship regular kitchen knives by Fedex, TNT, DHL or Airmail.
Please also take into account the rules and regulations of your local postal services and customs.
Below is the information regarding restrictions posed by USPS for shipping lithium batteries. Shipito, a freight forwarder, recommends to follow these requirements in order to ship lithium batteries without having your packages returned.
Lithium Cell: refers to things like AA, AAA, C, D batteries, as well as button cell batteries that you can find at a retail store.
Lithium Battery: refers to two or more cells wired together and to battery packs and modules like those found in laptop computers and smart phones.
New Lithium battery Limitations Effective November 2012:
Lithium Battery Do’s
Lithium Battery Don’t
If you follow these requirement, your packages should be going through USPS smoothly.
USPS has notified Shipito that customers will need to use their middle names when sending packages to Russia. So Shipito freight forwarder asked customers sending packages to Russia to add their middle names to the name field in the Shipito account.
Russian Post only requires name, surname and address to identify the recipient. Russian Post can not violate the rules of the Universal Postal Union. And this is perfectly described on the Russian Post web-site.
Update
Shipito recognized that it was misinformed by a USPS representative. Middle name is not required.
Postal and courier services increase prices every year. Unites States Postal Service (USPS) is not on exception. On January 27, 2013 new prices will come into force.
Remember to send your packages before the weekend at old rates.
I’m continuing to post detailed fee structure for sending my packages from the United States of America to Russia. The fees of both Shipito and USPS grow every year, so you may find it useful to compare the figures from my previous post for 2010-2011 and 2012. This article will be updated each time I send a new package from the USA to Russia via Shipito throughout 2013.
Shipito fee structure 2013
Total per 1 kg of gross weight: $32.53
Total Shipito fees (not including USPS shipping, insurance and Shipito monthly fee): $28.81
TOTAL: $159.4
Shipito service plan: Old Virtual Mailbox ($100 / year, available for old customers only)
Total per 1 kg of gross weight: $27.87
Total Shipito fees (not including USPS shipping, insurance and Shipito monthly fee): $31.88
TOTAL: $180.87
Shipito service plan: Old Virtual Mailbox ($100 / year, available for old customers only)
Do you use Shipito or any other shipping forwarder? If you do, are you satisfied with its fees and service? How much did it cost you to send you package?
Just in Time for the Holidays, U.S. Postal Service to Begin Global Shipping of Packages with Lithium Batteries. The Postal Service has worked collaboratively with the International Civil Aviation Organization, the Universal Postal Union and the Federal Aviation Authority to secure the changes needed to allow international mail shipments containing lithium batteries to begin.
Effective Nov. 15, 2012, Postal Service policies will be changed to allow specific quantities of lithium batteries — when installed in the equipment they are intended to operate — to be sent to many international destinations, including APO (Army Post Office), FPO (Fleet Post Office) and DPO (Diplomatic Post Office) locations when permitted by the destination or host country.
Items which can be shipped may include: cameras, video cameras, mobile/smart phones, Bluetooth headsets, laptop computers, shavers, portable DVD players, tablets, two-way radios, GPS devices and most other small electronic devices requiring lithium batteries to operate.
Items which cannot be shipped include any lithium batteries not installed in the equipment they are intended to operate. In addition, when installed, they may not exceed the quantity or limits defined in the IMM or DMM.
Domestic shipments of packages containing lithium batteries, and electronic devices containing lithium batteries currently remain unchanged.
The Federal Register final rule, and IMM, DMM and Publication 52 revisions, will be available at pe.usps.com.
Yesterday, when making yet another order on Modnique, I have found out that it allow to ship to Russia and the Ukraine now.
This amazing private sale club have been shipping to most countries of the world, but not to the two countries mentioned above. The news is really great because few private sale sites offer international shipping. Moreover many US online store that offer worldwide shipping use Fifty One, so they deliver packages to Russia via DHL Express. Luckily Modnique offers USPS Express Mail for customers from Russia instead!
Note that if you want to ship your order to Russia, you must pay via Paypal. If you want to use your debit or credit card, you may ship to your virtual US address instead.
Packages with lithium batteries and electronics with lithium, Li-ion, Li-pol batteries can be delivered through Shipito Airmail Priority shipping method again. Tracking is not available at this moment, but packages are insured. Shipito Airmail Priority packages are handled by postal services around the world.
USPS does not accept lithium batteries and electronics with them because they use passenger planes to transport packages. But some other postal services do NOT have these restrictions, because they use cargo planes. Shipito Airmail Priority packages containing lithium, Li-ion, Li-pol batteries are routed through these postal services, so you may easily overcome the lithium battery restrictions! Moreover Shipito Airmail Priority is cheaper than USPS for light and small packages, so you can even save money by using it.
Update (08/13/2012)
Customers from Russia can also use Shipito Airmail Express. This shipping method comes with both tracking and insurance.
Update (11/07/2012)
Customers from Russia can also use Russian Post Standard. This shipping method comes with both tracking and insurance.
I’ve already mentioned that using Shipito Airmail instead of USPS makes sense in the following cases:
Shipito shipping method comparison for Oregon warehouse: USPS, Airmail, Fedex
In the following charts I compare shipping rates for Shipito Airmail Priority/Economy, USPS Priority/Express Mail and other shipping methods. The shipping rates to Russia are for the Shipito warehouse in Tualatin, OR (Both Shipito Airmail and USPS Priority/Express Mail are cheaper in the Californian warehouses of Shipito).
| Weight Dimensions Insured amount |
USPS Express Mail | USPS Priority Mail International | Shipito Airmail Economy | Shipito Airmail Priority | USPS First Class International Parcel | FedEx International Economy | FedEx International Priority | DHL Express | FedEx International Economy Freight | USPS Priority Flat-Rate box 2 | USPS Priority Flat-Rate box 1 | USPS Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate box |
| 0 lbs. 8 oz. 9.60×6.80×5.40 $20.99 |
$43.6 | $40.16 | $5.01 | $5.51 | $13.58 | $146.64 | $170.45 | - | - | $55.02 | $69.93 | |
| 0 lbs. 10 oz. 9.60×6.80×5.40 $58.99 |
$49.51 | $40.16 | $5.93 | $6.55 | $16.11 | $146.64 | $170.45 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 0 lbs. 10 oz. 9.80×7.40×4.40 $5.72 |
$49.51 | $40.16 | $5.93 | $6.55 | $16.11 | $146.64 | $170.45 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 lbs. 0 oz. 16.00×14.40×2.60 $103.00 |
$55.64 | $45.38 | $19.09 | $21.07 | $28.72 | $147.79 | $171.6 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 lbs. 15 oz. 14.00×9.40×7.20 $48.54 |
$61.79 | $50.6 | $28.01 | $30.9 | $38.8 | $159.55 | $187.7 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 lbs. 3 oz. 14.20×12.80×10.40 $41.05 |
$67.92 | $55.82 | $30.37 | $33.5 | $215.35 | $245.39 | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 3 lbs. 10 oz. 16.00×12.20×6.20 $27.99 |
$67.92 | $55.82 | $34.12 | $37.64 | $46.37 | $178.79 | $207.61 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 lbs. 11 oz. 16.00×11.40×10.20 $94.12 |
$67.92 | $55.82 | $35.07 | $38.68 | - | $215.35 | $245.39 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 lbs. 14 oz. 24.00×15.40×5.20 $19.99 |
$67.92 | $55.82 | $36.47 | $40.24 | - | $215.35 | $245.39 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 6 lbs. 4 oz. 20.20×16.00×11.40 $105.91 |
$84.27 | $70.1 | $59.03 | $65.11 | - | $312.94 | $389.34 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 7 lbs. 7 oz. 25.80×15.00×4.80 $198.91 |
$89.37 | $74.64 | $70.31 | $77.56 | - | $198.55 | $215.77 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 29 lbs. 2 oz. 36.50×19.00×14.00 $764.21 |
$199.4 | - | $273.74 | $301.97 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Weight Dimensions Insured amount |
USPS Express Mail | USPS Priority Mail International | Shipito Airmail Economy | Shipito Airmail Priority | USPS First Class International Parcel | FedEx International Economy | FedEx International Priority | DHL Express | FedEx International Economy Freight | USPS Priority Flat-Rate box 2 | USPS Priority Flat-Rate box 1 | USPS Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate box |
| 0 lbs. 8 oz. 9.60×6.80×5.40 $20.99 |
$0.42 | $2.87 | - | $0.42 | - | $0.42 | $0.42 | - | - | - | - | |
| 0 lbs. 10 oz. 9.60×6.80×5.40 $58.99 |
$1.18 | $4.78 | - | $1.18 | - | $1.18 | $1.18 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 0 lbs. 10 oz. 9.80×7.40×4.40 $5.72 |
$0.11 | $2.56 | - | $0.11 | - | $0.11 | $0.11 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 lbs. 0 oz. 16.00×14.40×2.60 $103.00 |
$2.91 | $6.81 | - | $2.76 | - | $2.06 | $2.06 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 lbs. 15 oz. 14.00×9.40×7.20 $48.54 |
$0.97 | $3.42 | - | $0.97 | - | $0.97 | $0.97 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 lbs. 3 oz. 14.20×12.80×10.40 $41.05 |
$0.82 | $3.27 | - | $0.82 | $0.82 | $0.82 | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 3 lbs. 10 oz. 16.00×12.20×6.20 $27.99 |
$0.56 | $3.01 | - | $0.56 | - | $0.56 | $0.56 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 lbs. 11 oz. 16.00×11.40×10.20 $94.12 |
$1.88 | $5.48 | - | $1.88 | - | $1.88 | $1.88 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 lbs. 14 oz. 24.00×15.40×5.20 $19.99 |
$0.4 | $2.85 | - | $0.4 | - | $0.4 | $0.4 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 6 lbs. 4 oz. 20.20×16.00×11.40 $105.91 |
$2.97 | $6.87 | - | $2.82 | - | $2.12 | $2.12 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 7 lbs. 7 oz. 25.80×15.00×4.80 $198.91 |
$4.83 | $8.73 | - | $4.68 | - | $3.98 | $3.98 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 29 lbs. 2 oz. 36.50×19.00×14.00 $764.21 |
$19.13 | - | - | $20.18 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Weight Dimensions Insured amount |
USPS Express Mail | USPS Priority Mail International | Shipito Airmail Economy | Shipito Airmail Priority | USPS First Class International Parcel | FedEx International Economy | FedEx International Priority | DHL Express | FedEx International Economy Freight | USPS Priority Flat-Rate box 2 | USPS Priority Flat-Rate box 1 | USPS Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate box |
| 0 lbs. 8 oz. 9.60×6.80×5.40 $20.99 |
$44.02 | $43.03 | $5.01 | $5.93 | $13.58 | $147.06 (list rate $149.84) | $170.87 (list rate $203.23) | - | - | $55.02 | $69.93 | |
| 0 lbs. 10 oz. 9.60×6.80×5.40 $58.99 |
$50.69 | $44.94 | $5.93 | $7.73 | $16.11 | $147.82 (list rate $150.6) | $171.63 (list rate $203.99) | - | - | - | - | - |
| 0 lbs. 10 oz. 9.80×7.40×4.40 $5.72 |
$49.62 | $42.72 | $5.93 | $6.66 | $16.11 | $146.75 (list rate $149.53) | $170.56 (list rate $202.92) | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 lbs. 0 oz. 16.00×14.40×2.60 $103.00 |
$58.55 | $52.19 | $19.09 | $23.83 | $28.72 | $149.85 (list rate $204.69) | $173.66 (list rate $273.6) | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 lbs. 15 oz. 14.00×9.40×7.20 $48.54 |
$62.76 | $54.02 | $28.01 | $31.87 | $38.8 | $160.52 (list rate $277.64) | $188.67 (list rate $337.14) | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 lbs. 3 oz. 14.20×12.80×10.40 $41.05 |
$68.74 | $59.09 | $30.37 | $34.32 | $216.17 (list rate $409.19) | $246.21 (list rate $458.88) | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 3 lbs. 10 oz. 16.00×12.20×6.20 $27.99 |
$68.48 | $58.83 | $34.12 | $38.2 | $46.37 | $179.35 (list rate $317.91) | $208.17 (list rate $378.79) | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 lbs. 11 oz. 16.00×11.40×10.20 $94.12 |
$69.8 | $61.3 | $35.07 | $40.56 | - | $217.23 (list rate $396.47) | $247.27 (list rate $459.94) | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 lbs. 14 oz. 24.00×15.40×5.20 $19.99 |
$68.32 | $58.67 | $36.47 | $40.64 | - | $215.75 (list rate $394.99) | $245.79 (list rate $458.46) | - | - | - | - | - |
| 6 lbs. 4 oz. 20.20×16.00×11.40 $105.91 |
$87.24 | $76.97 | $59.03 | $67.93 | - | $315.06 (list rate $602.92) | $391.46 (list rate $764.35) | - | - | - | - | - |
| 7 lbs. 7 oz. 25.80×15.00×4.80 $198.91 |
$94.2 | $83.37 | $70.31 | $82.24 | - | $202.53 (list rate $361.45) | $219.75 (list rate $397.82) | - | - | - | - | - |
| 29 lbs. 2 oz. 36.50×19.00×14.00 $764.21 |
$218.53 | - | $273.74 | $322.15 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
New Shipito Airmail is available in both California and Oregon warehouses of Shipito shipping forwarder. You may choose between Shipito Airmail Economy, Airmail Priority and Airmail Express:
Limits for the new Shipito Airmail:
Shipito Airmail has always been charged as flat fee per pound, so it has never been the best option for heavy packages. USPS easily beats it’s price for packages heavier than 10-15 lbs. It is recommended to use Shipito Airmail only for small, light and inexpensive items.
New Shipito Airmail allows to ship bigger and heavier packages than old Airmail. And should be significantly faster than old Airmail.
Note that pricing is different for Oregon warehouse, because Shipito service provider does not have any shipping depot in Oregon. This means that all packages have to be transported to California first and shipped to the final destination from there.
Shipito shipping method comparison for Oregon warehouse: USPS, Airmail Priority/Economy/Express, Fedex
Major advantages of Shipito Airmail compared to USPS:
Note that you may UPS, Fedex and TNT shipping methods are available depending on your country. Besides getting the cost of shipping from Shipito, make sure to learn more about customs fees and duties in your country.
Also note that Shipito may be able to negotiate better rates for the new Economy/Priority/Express Airmail if the volume is high enough.
