Hi, I’m meant to be buying a s/h frame from someone in the states. Before I showed any interest I did a mock-up order on the UPS website and it showed a few options ranging from $150-$200. I was prepared to pay this but the seller has been to UPS and Fedex today…the prices quoted are roughly $600!!!
Does anyone know a cheaper way to get it over here? I’m sure a few of you out there will have had frames posted over here.
Cheers to anyone who can help. If someone comes up with a solution I end up using, there’s a red Thomson faceplate in it for you! (Only one of these available 😆 ).

Box it as small as possible – or not at all if possible – well bubble wrapped would probably suffice. Affix wood-batten between the rear dropouts for rigidity. Make sure the Trade Tarrif code (or whatever it is called) is on proforma’s and correct.

Make sure the marked value is nominal or as low as it can be (this affects insurance value [and therefore cost], tax liability and import duties). I am not advising using incorrect monetary values – because it may get damaged or lost, and fraud is illegal.

Specialist carriers I hate to say it – they offer unbeatable quality services but are expensive because they own fleets of planes, huge robot warehouses etc. etc.

I expect USPS would probably be the most cost effective – but not so protective. Try their calculator.

Last resorts – maybe take the family to Disneyworld on holiday, and bring it back in the hand luggage, or wham an advert on Craigslist to get some tourist to bring it in for you – a bit whacky – just depends on how badly you are strapped. Enjoy! 🙄

P.S. If I win – please dontate £2 to build a new Community Center in Glyncoch.

try one of the uk based courier arranging companies like parcel2go and parcelmonkey. They do arrange to collect from the usa but you will need to call them for something that big.

£211 for a 6kg 120x80x20cm parcel with £1k cover from this place: http://www.worldwide-parcelservices.co.uk/

no idea what they are like though.

also worth trying TNT (but need to register)

Try friends or relatives (or friends of) in the air force, either US or GB and get it in for Free.

USPS (not UPS) Global Priority is the way to go. I’ve had a few large frames sent over and even a whole bike split into two boxes. A frame should cost about $50-60, and the bike was $130 inc insurance. It is vital , though, that the frame is packed as small as possible. an inch too big and the price can double!
Check the USPS site for size limits.
It is possible to insure the frame using this service but it is not tracked – something the sender might baulk at. Some are game, some aren’t.
Allow another 20% for customs duty this end. It might slip through, but probably won’t.
It may take 2 or 3 weeks to get here, but I know of one instance where a frame arrived the next day!