AusPost launching a US mail forwarding service

[CoRDS]

So you don't pay the US postage, just whatever they cost you? It could make buying on TFW easier, since a lot of dealers only ship to the US.

I wonder if it makes bbts and ttfsource shipping cheaper considering from them to the auspost warehouse is free for orders over $150

[Sinnertwin]

Sounds interesting, potentially devastating on the wallet, but interesting nonetheless.

[griffin]

Perfect timing for Amazon cutting us off.
It still wont help us with Hasbro site for new stuff and SDCC items, as that site require credit cards with US billing addresses.

[DELTAprime]

Perfect timing for Amazon cutting us off.

What? Is amazon stopping shipping to Australia?

[griffin]

Probably a good timing for competition...

Watch the Wreckers at DHL

http://mobile.news.com.au/travel/tra...-1227112130491

Unfortunately, those are airport workers doing the throwing into the DHL truck, so it isn't just DHL... it would be all parcel freight (including Australia Post) that gets the same "thrown" treatment.

What? Is amazon stopping shipping to Australia?

It was mentioned here, so I'm giving it a little time to see if it is permanent or just a glitch that gets corrected, before I post it in the news section.

[griffin]

They certainly must know about foreign companies keeping their monopolies in place in Australia with the many shipping restrictions of items, and the cost differential of the "Australia Tax" on those monopoly items.

The problem is that you are unable to consolidate packages, like any decent shipping forwarder does.

Still, it's a start.

It mentions a "Bundling discount", but you will have to time the purchases so that they arrive at the AusPost warehouse at the same time or within a few days to get the discount.

Bundling discount: If your parcels arrive and you pay for them on the same day, then your first parcel will be charged the full shipping costs and we will offer you a discount of AUD10.00 on each subsequent parcel.
Once your shopping arrives at your US address, we’ll let you know what the shipping charges to Australia will be. You can pay with Visa or MasterCard.

Sounds like that US Postbox scheme that I signed up to several years back but never used. You buy items and use a designated shipping address from AusPost, and when they arrive, AusPost contacts you with the international postage price and then you pay.
Not sure how much time they'll give you to wait for multiple parcels to get the Bundling discount though, but there is a fee if it sits for more than 21 days unpaid (so I guess in theory, you could wait 7-10 days for other parcels to arrive, and then get a new quoted shipping rate with the discount).
Not bad.

They even assess your items to see if they can be repacked to a smaller shipping carton, to save you international shipping. (plus $5 repacking fee)

Normal Customs fees apply, if over AU$1000.
And just be aware of the weight and dimensions restrictions... which shouldn't be a problem on Transformers purchases (but could be for other things).

This could certainly be a worthwhile replacement for Amazon if they remain cut-off from international shipping.

It could make buying on TFW easier, since a lot of dealers only ship to the US.

I wonder if it makes bbts and ttfsource shipping cheaper considering from them to the auspost warehouse is free for orders over $150

This is what I'm looking forward to... and if Hasbro Shop ever allows for paypal payments, SDCC items could be so much cheaper.

[Zippo]

New Zealand Post launched a similar service in November 2012 and I use it almost extensively now for all USA purchases, as it has been in most causes cheaper to pay for USA to USA postage and then USA to New Zealand, than direct.

However the 'base fee' for the New Zealand version is 1/2 the cost of this, and the 500g is is a few dollars cheaper - minimum cost is $17.25 + they also offer a multiple parcel discount of $6

True consolidated shipping is also coming soon.

Never used it for Amazon or HTS parcels you can't be sure that those stores will use a small outbox or spilt the shipment

[griffin]

New Zealand Post launched a similar service in November 2012 and I use it almost extensively now for all USA purchases, as it has been in most causes cheaper to pay for USA to USA postage and then USA to New Zealand, than direct.

However the 'base fee' for the New Zealand version is 1/2 the cost of this, and the 500g is is a few dollars cheaper - minimum cost is $17.25 + they also offer a multiple parcel discount of $6

True consolidated shipping is also coming soon.

Never used it for Amazon or HTS parcels you can't be sure that those stores will use a small outbox or spilt the shipment

Amazon has free shipping within US and looks to allow you to use different shipping addresses (like for gifts), so should be possible.
Hasbro Toy Shop though, last time I checked, won't sell to anyone who doesn't have a US billing address to the Credit Card they use. That was two years ago, so maybe check to see if it is still in force.

Nice to have that option there for you, with the more limited and more expensive domestic range than we have here.


This is so exciting, particularly with the ebay Global Shipping Program that costs a lot and doesn't combine purchases.

[griffin]

Also, take time to read their shipping restrictions and their Rates and Fees.

Fortunately the batteries in Transformers toys aren't Lithium based, but if they ever do, those might have a problem.
I would say that Megatron guns have the potential to be prohibited if they open up the box and see one... so perhaps avoid using this service if you are buying a Megatron gun from America.

Hmmm... they don't allow food items.
(I sometimes like to buy limited edition themed items, like Christmas or Halloween candy)

[griffin]

Also, take time to read their shipping restrictions and their Rates and Fees.

Fortunately the batteries in Transformers toys aren't Lithium based, but if they ever do, those might have a problem.

Looks like it doesn't seem to matter what type of batteries are in the toys, as I was trying to send an older Movie toy in the mail to China, and I was called back the next day because it was rejected. They said that they don't accept any batteries in mail that has to go by air (which also affects mail to and from Perth and the east coast)... so I looked up their dangerous goods PDF, which is dated 2009, and it says that non-lithium batteries like the ones that come pre-packed in our toys, are okay in airmail, provided they are removed and stored separately within the package.

I don't know how they found out that there were a couple of button cell batteries in this toy (they must xray outgoing mail as well as incoming), but it means that if you want to sell a Transformers toy with electronics to someone overseas, you can't sell it as a sealed electronic toy if you use Australia Post.

This make selling on ebay even more frustrating than it already was.
If you need to post one intact to another country, you might have to look at courier services... to see if any of them don't have this sort of restriction, because I never have this problem with American carriers. (and I'm not going to mention it to the post office, in case they start screening all my incoming mail too)

If this becomes a more vigilant issue with other carriers and even with flying, it is going to become impossible to bring into Australia electronic gimmick Transformers (by post or in person as luggage on a plane)... leaving us to pay high local prices, or miss out on them completely if they don't get released here by Hasbro Australia.