Anyone have any experience and insight into sending gear from Australia to the USA? Moved to the US a year ago and couldn't bring the gear with me at the time. Wondering if it's worth trying to send it or just try get it sold back home and use the cash to get me some new stuff here.

We've sent kites to Germany before, it's not a huge deal really, just make sure you have and customs documents correctly filled out and insure your stuff and you should have no problem.

DM

Thanks for the reply. What was the cost of a kite do you remember? And who was it sent through? I'm not overly fussed about my board but would like to get a couple kites and a harness sent. Had family send a few boxes of other stuff for me and it's been around 70 bucks for a box 1/4 the size of a kite bag through aus post

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Matt988 said..
Thanks for the reply. What was the cost of a kite do you remember? And who was it sent through? I'm not overly fussed about my board but would like to get a couple kites and a harness sent. Had family send a few boxes of other stuff for me and it's been around 70 bucks for a box 1/4 the size of a kite bag through aus post

Hi Matt,

sending anything that is over 120cm long (i.e. a board) would be very expensive (think over $500).

However, sending a kite and bar can be done on a low budget.

You don't need to look very far to find a quote, just go to Australia Post auspost.com.au/parcels-mail/calculate-postage-delivery-times/#/

Here is a screenshot of quotes to send a parcel from Perth to anywhere in the continental US:


From my experience sending overseas with Australia Post, the box dimensions don't have an impact on the price (as long as lenght doesn't exceed 120cm). But the weight can have a big impact on cost. You also have a maximum of 20kg per box. If speed is not important, you can go via Sea but there is typically no tracking and it can take a few months, not the best idea for high value items. You can send a 5kg kite for $100 via standard air service, which is quite reasonable, and it will take 2 weeks tops.

Alternatively, you can use Interparcel to get a quote and send through other providers like Fedex, UPS or DHL au.interparcel.com/ typically more expensive but can be faster if speed is important. I have used Australia Post recently to send a 2kg box from Perth to Canada via express air, it cost $50 and took 7 days.

Hope this helps

Christian - Kitebud

I used auspost last year to send a parcel from perth to germany. You have to be careful with the size restrictions for auspost and the size of the box was relevant for pricing: auspost.com.au/sending/check-sending-guidelines/size-weight-guidelines

I read up on this after the lady in the auspost shop told us about it and macgyvered a box to meet the requirements since we always have too much stuff to take on the plane. The girth you are allowed is 140 cm, which is not much ... 35 cm wide and high and boom, that's it. With a measly 105 cm in length. Other than that you have to write everything on the declaration form and put it on the outside of your package (amount of items, value, used/new). The declaration forms were given to us in the auspost shop. There was also almost no difference between the price for sending it as standard or express. Extra insurance was not that expensive if I remember correctly. Arrived without damage after about 2-3 weeks.

Thanks for the info guys. I have had stuff sent through aus post a few times was just wondering if anyone had done it easier or cheaper with another carrier or anything kite specific I should or needed to do. Me good ole mum is all over the customs declaration forms now so that's not an issue. Just need to get my gear rounded up and give her some money to send it all by the sounds.

Hey Matt,

You can also go through someone like Pack Send although a bit more expensive it can be easier. Freight gets charged on volume or weight whichever is more expensive. Pack small!

Australia post is fine too.

DM

More importantly, what's her name and how close to wind and coast has she dragged you?

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mazdon said..
More importantly, what's her name and how close to wind and coast has she dragged you?

Her names Kate, she dragged me inland 10 hours from the coast but there's a couple big lakes and the winds average but there's some die hard kiters having a crack. Traded the dirt bike and surfboard in for a snow mobile and a snowboard so all fun hasn't been lost

You can google "freight quotes "online and you get web pages were you put in info like weight,size etc and in couple of minutes you get quotes back