Courier service to Australia?

Just sold my Sigma 180mm macro on the other forum and the buyer is in Australia. Have totally underestimated the weight and am struggling to bring it in at under 2KG (I estimated it at around 1.4KG) and once I go over the 2kg then Royal Mail is a total no go.

Can anyone recommend a courier to Australia that doesn't cost an arm and a leg for a 2.5kg package with extra insurance?

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Nothing to see here, move along please ....

Mike,

I've only used UPS, Fedex and DHL, and none of those to the UK... Not sure if any of them qualify as being cheap either.

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http://www.pbase.com/iberg

http://www.photobucket.com/home/i_berg

Mike - don't use DHL - had a lot of poor service from them on overseas stuff.

Ok thanks .. I may have to send 2 parcels in that case.

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Nothing to see here, move along please ....

I have used UPS from the States to UK for something heavier than 2kg.

Cost was possibly circa £60.

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Hyram

Bodies: K20D (2), K10D, Super A, ME Super, Auto 110 SLR, X70, Optio P70
Pentax Glass: DA* 300, DA* 60-250, DA* 50-135, DA* 16-50, DA 70 Ltd, FA 31 Ltd, DA 35 Ltd, DA 18-55 (2), DA 12-24, DA 10-17, M 200, A 35-70, M 40, M 28, Converter-A 2X-S, 1.4X-S, AF 1.7, Pentax-110 50, Pentax-110 24
Other Glass: Sigma 105 macro, Sigma-A APO 75-300
Flash: Metz 58 AF-1 P, Pentax AF160FC ringflash, Pentax AF280T

If the buyer is not in a hurry for it, It could go by surface mail, on a ship. Much cheaper. - Can take up to three months, tho'.

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No man is worth his salt, who has not been banned from at least one Forum, and two Flickr groups.

Mowog.

I gave my estimated postal price based on insured airmail and he paid .. so therefore it's my problem not his.

I would not be happy having to wait 3 months for a lens I just paid good money for

I based the weight on the Sigma web site .. I just forgot about the case, paperwork and packaging.

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Nothing to see here, move along please ....

Have a look at http://www.parcel2go.com/

I've not used them to send anything but have had things sent to me and they seem OK.

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K10D, Pentax 18-55AL II, Pentax-A 50mm f2, Pentax-A 28mm f2.8, Pentax-A 35-70mm, Sigma 18-200.
Flikr

I've used http://www.collectmyparcel.com/ for sending parcels within the UK (at far less than you pay at the Post Office) - they are basically reselling DHL etc.

When it comes to international couriers - they are all pretty much as bad/good as each other, had stuff go missing over the years from all of them... they always pay up though, but that's not much help when you actually wanted the missing item!

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Still shooting in the dark (literally and metaphorically)...

What, half a lens in each parcel

Clarky sold me his 16-45mm so pop him a PM to see what courier he used ?

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Gareth

My outfit K5 gripped - Pentax-FA 50mm f1.4 - Pentax 16-45mm F4
Pentax 18-55mm WR - Kenko 1.5x TC - Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 Di LD - Metz 48 AF1 - 2 x Cactus V2 triggers
fully portable mobile studio and some mobile strobist studio stuff !

Flickr

Lens in one parcel and box, case and paperwork in the other.

I have managed to get it in at 1.98 Kilos without the manual and warranty card so as long as the post office scales agree with mine I should be ok and can send the other bits in a jiffy bag.

Still £30 to send it though ...

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Nothing to see here, move along please ....

I have bought a number of items off ebay UK. They have all been sent Royal Mail. A little slow but no problems.

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K5, K20D, Bigma, Sigma EX 105, Sigma EX 10-20, Sigma EX 28-70 F2.8, Sigma Ex 1.4TC,
Pentax 135 F3.5, Pentax 30mm F2.8 , Pentax 50mm F1.7, Pentax 55mm F1.8,
Super Taks: 35mm F3.5, 50mm F1.4, 135mm F3.5, 200mm F4
Vivitar TX 200mm F3.5,Vivitar (Komine)135mm f2.8, Vivitar 2X TC, Vivitar T4 400mm F6.3
Tamron SP 35-80,80-210 F3.8, Helios 44M, Mir 1B 37mm F2.8, Jupiter 9 85mm F2, Chinon 28mm F2.8, 3M-5A 500mm F8 etc etc

Do you know anyone flying out here who could pop it in the post for you.

I always use Aussie Post to ship internationally, never had a problem with them, but that isn't going to help you much.

Royal mail have always been good when I have purchased items from the UK, But as you say it can get expensive, just wear the cost Mike and mark it down to experience.

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Camera:|K-7|
Pentax Lenses:|DA12-24/f4 ED AL|DA35Ltd Macro|FA31Ltd|FA77Ltd|FA50/1.4|F70-210|FA20-35 f4/AL|A*200/f4 Macro ED|A50/1.7|A50 Macro f2.8|1.7xAF adapter|
Voigtlander|125/f2.5SL Macro APO Lanthar|
Sigma Lenses:|EX DG 100-300 f4|2X & 1.4X TC|
Flashes:|AF540FGZx2|RingFlash AF160FC|

Aliengrove - Jon where are you?

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http://www.pbase.com/iberg

http://www.photobucket.com/home/i_berg

Hi Mike

I've used CollectMyParcel.com to send 5kg parcels to France and Spain. They resell DHL services; I'm not keen on DHL but I don't think they're any worse than any of the others.

Just done a quick check for you on collectmyparcel.com: £37 for 2.5kg parcel measuring 45cm x 15cm x 15cm. 2-4 day delivery and £50 insurance - extra insurance available for a price.

Hope this helps.

Martin

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K20D | DA*16-50 | DA*50-135
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MacBook Pro | Dell U2410 Monitor | Wacom Tablet
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