Sending a laptop to my Fiancee in Ukraine

[DavidandIrina 1]

My Ukrainian fiancee (soon wife I hope) has a busted laptop, so I just bought her a new Acer Mini laptop and was going to ship it off tomorrow express mail via USPS. However, I got to thinking that maybe it isn't the most efficient way to send it. What do you all recommend? Think it is safe to send through USPS? Would hate for a 300 dollar laptop to vanish... I think the USPS only insures up to 100 dollars anyways, so I'd take a 200 dollar hit which would suck.

Any safer ways to send it? Think it is ok? Its going to Kiev.

David

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

It will probably cost you an $100.00 to just send the $300.00 laptop.

[DavidandIrina 1]

It will probably cost you an $100.00 to just send the $300.00 laptop.

It only weighs 2.5 pounds, so I doubt that much, but yes, I know, I've sent plenty of package to Ukraine. Probably 400 dollars in shipping costs alone so far for various packages....

[HAAA 0]

Can you UPS / FedEx (or similar)? It would be safer, and maybe at that weight not much more money to ship it????

[Casprd 167]

I've sent a bunch of stuff to Ukraine among other places. MP3 players, iPhones, clothes and a bunch of other high dollar stuff. I always use USPS global express and haven't had anything not show up. The tracking number with global express I think deters sticky fingers in the customs office. Cost wise it has always been significantly less expensive than UPS or fedex and from Oklahoma to Dneipropetrovsk usually takes less than 7 days. If you're shipping to Kiev from a larger US city on the east coast should be even faster than this. USPS automatically insures it for $100 but you can buy extra insurance. They should ask you if you want this at the counter. Last package I sent that direction was probably a couple of pounds and ran about $30.

[Barbara J 115]

My Ukrainian fiancee (soon wife I hope) has a busted laptop, so I just bought her a new Acer Mini laptop and was going to ship it off tomorrow express mail via USPS. However, I got to thinking that maybe it isn't the most efficient way to send it. What do you all recommend? Think it is safe to send through USPS? Would hate for a 300 dollar laptop to vanish... I think the USPS only insures up to 100 dollars anyways, so I'd take a 200 dollar hit which would suck.

Any safer ways to send it? Think it is ok? Its going to Kiev.

David

I just sent a box 7.3 pounds and cost me $63 to Aus but I always use USPS and never had a problem .

[Never_lose_hope 10]

It only weighs 2.5 pounds, so I doubt that much, but yes, I know, I've sent plenty of package to Ukraine. Probably 400 dollars in shipping costs alone so far for various packages....

I believe that she must pay custom since is coming from another country.

[amerisian 5]

I believed USPS is safe. I assumed you already bought the laptop,as you will send it tomorrow, right? On the other hand, it would be better if she will inquire how much is the laptop on her place and just send her money to buy it. Shipping cost free. Not sure. Just my opinion.

[baron555 934]

My Ukrainian fiancee (soon wife I hope) has a busted laptop, so I just bought her a new Acer Mini laptop and was going to ship it off tomorrow express mail via USPS. However, I got to thinking that maybe it isn't the most efficient way to send it. What do you all recommend? Think it is safe to send through USPS? Would hate for a 300 dollar laptop to vanish... I think the USPS only insures up to 100 dollars anyways, so I'd take a 200 dollar hit which would suck.

Any safer ways to send it? Think it is ok? Its going to Kiev.

David

I would only trust FedEX. Maybe better to just wire her the funds to purchase locally?

[Never_lose_hope 10]

I would only trust FedEX. Maybe better to just wire her the funds to purchase locally?

[Casprd 167]

I believe that she must pay custom since is coming from another country.

As long as the "declared value" is under I believe $250 then she won't have to pay customs duties. I usually put a value of $50 and class it as a gift with no problems.

[Canadian in GA 34]

I would trust UPS or fed ex. and make sure there is insurance. but you can talk to the USPS and see what insurance they have, and for sure MAKE SURE you hae a tracking number on it. also when you state what is in the box on th paper, i wouldnt write "laptop" but maybe something like " Business supplies" or something along those lines, stating it is a laptop but not those exact words, to make sure it doesnt "go missing"

Edited April 28, 2011 by Canadian in GA

[Lena and Igor 5]

When I was in Ukraine last time, we went to a local popular computer retailer and bought a netbook with a webcam. It cost the equivalent of 320 USD. This is a better solution in my opinion.

[Captain Hammer 113]

Although some have had great success with USPS, our experience has not been so good. The Ukrainian postal system is notoriously corrupt, and electronics or jewelry tend to disappear with regularity. You are better off wiring her the money to buy something locally. Any chance you can return it for a refund?

Otherwise, I'd recommend Fedex. The odds are a lot better that she'll receive it.

[sea-monkey 13]

Does UA not have import duties?

This is for RU:

Items containing articles admitted as imports are delivered to addressees subject to payment of customs duties at the rate of 30% of the cost of the articles:

If the cost of the contents is between 101 USD and 1,000 USD.

If the quantity of articles imported exceeds three times the limit according to the internal standards set.

So pretty much you can send under $100 USD worth of stuff to RU without them getting taxed. There is no such verbage for UA. The word duties is not even mentioned on the UA or Belarus guide on USPS.com.

Russia:

http://pe.usps.com/text/Imm/ps_013.htm#ep1603920

The Ukraine

http://pe.usps.com/text/Imm/tz_015.htm#ep1363043

Belarus

http://pe.usps.com/text/Imm/ab_019.htm#ep4580983