Posting Golf Clubs to the States

[ADB]

Anyone had any experience of posting golf clubs to the USA?

I have a set of interesting golf clubs I am looking to sell and think they may be more popular Stateside.

Probably stick them on EBay, but wanted to check the postage logistics.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Foxholer]

Been a while since I've sent any, and it was only single clubs (Putters) so the weight might be a consideration.

I used ParcelMonkey to check prices. As an agent/bulk shipper they are normally a good bit cheaper than a 1-off with their 'best' option.

 

[Ethan]

The price is the main issue. Try to get some boxes from your local pro shop or store. The cost is minimised if you have a box that is not too big for the club. Cut it back to a neat fit if needed.

Buy tracked courier shipping with UPS, FedEx or similar through a secondary reseller such as Interparcel, Parcel2go or others. Don't go to the post office or Parcelfarce. I have shipped more than 100 times with Interparcel and prefer them.

Make sure the package is labelled properly, with a telephone number for the recipient in case of delivery failure. Make sure also the customs label is properly filled out. If the clubs you are selling were made in the US, write that on the customs label as it may reduce charges for your buyer.

Make sure your buyer knows that there may be customs charges and those are down to them. Track the shipping yourself until it arrives at the destination.

 

[Foxholer]

.... Interparcel....

That's the one I used most! Shows how long it's been!

Definitely worth following Ethan's guide! I had 1 parcel returned - but somehow lost in transit! - through Parcelfarce/SPS (like it!) purely because the recipient wasn't available on the 2 attempts by USPS delivery - wasn't happy! That was the only problem out of over 20+ though.

 

[ADB]

The price is the main issue. Try to get some boxes from your local pro shop or store. The cost is minimised if you have a box that is not too big for the club. Cut it back to a neat fit if needed.

Buy tracked courier shipping with UPS, FedEx or similar through a secondary reseller such as Interparcel, Parcel2go or others. Don't go to the post office or Parcelfarce. I have shipped more than 100 times with Interparcel and prefer them.

Make sure the package is labelled properly, with a telephone number for the recipient in case of delivery failure. Make sure also the customs label is properly filled out. If the clubs you are selling were made in the US, write that on the customs label as it may reduce charges for your buyer.

Make sure your buyer knows that there may be customs charges and those are down to them. Track the shipping yourself until it arrives at the destination.

Great advice, many thanks. It's a whole iron set so no doubt will be expensive!

Edit Thanks also Foxholer

 

[Ethan]

Great advice, many thanks. It's a whole iron set so no doubt will be expensive!

The size of the box is a bigger driver of price than weight. The sort of box you will need is expected to be at least 5 or 10kg, so the precise weight has less effect on price.

Pack it up as tightly as you can with a box only fractionally longer than the longest iron. Trim it back to size. To get all the clubs in, wrap the heads in bubble wrap and use elastics to bind the clubs together. Split them into two groups, bind each group up and box them head to tail. That will help balance the package.

The whole kit will probably be less than 5kg, and you might get it into a box around 100 cm long.

A quick Interparcel quote for 5kg, 104 x 24 x 15 cm comes out at £45.40 for Interparcel Express Saver (UPS), guaranteed and tracked 2 day service to mainland US, or £49.81 FedEx Economy. Increasing the box to 104 c 24 x 24 pushes that up £10. If your buyer has a strong preference, let them choose and pay.

Some business people in the US have their own FedEx or UPS account and can set up the shipping service for you, at their cost. That is fine too.