Shipping to Saudi Arabia

Shaun @ Tru6 · 01-23-2013, 04:02 PM

We have a new customer in Saudi Arabia and just calculated shipping via FedEx and UPS. 2 boxes, 26 pounds each, total shipping was about $800. The same thing going to China or India would be about $300.

Anyone have a similar experience? Know of a trusted, lower priced service?

EarlyPorsche · 06:28 PM

Are you OK with going USPS priority? Or if your weight is too high would you be able to make 4 13lbs boxes? I haven't used it to Saudi but I have used USPS priority international with success.

cashflyer · 01-23-2013, 06:40 PM

What are the dimensions?
That can have a bigger impact on the cost than the weight sometimes.

I ship to Saudi a few times per year. I have found that DHL gives me MUCH better service than FedEx when my stuff is clearing customs in that country.

GWN7 · 01-23-2013, 07:17 PM

Ask the customer who they usually use for shipping. If they have done this before they will have a preference.

Bill Douglas · 01-23-2013, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EarlyPorsche

Are you OK with going USPS priority? Or if your weight is too high would you be able to make 4 13lbs boxes? I haven't used it to Saudi but I have used USPS priority international with success.

I use USPS to get boxes down under and they are the cheapest by FAR.

Jim Bremner · 01-23-2013, 07:36 PM

If your customer is paying the freight LET them

I'll be sympathetic to them when they allow a church to be built there.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 04:04 AM

each box is 24x16x12. If I could, I'd ship 10-15 USPS large flat rate boxes but that would be a disaster. Going to try a few box size/weight configurations.

Got word back from our customer, she thought it was a little high but said to ship it if we couldn't find a cheaper rate.

Wish we could use DHL but don't ship enough overseas to get an account.

Jim, I'm a capitalist, not a missionary. The only thing I'm exporting is cool clothes for boys, and she did order the Brumos RSR shirt, so that goes a long way in helping a customer.

Buckterrier · 01-24-2013, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

he same thing going to China or India would be about $300.

Just move your business to China Shaun.

cashflyer · 01-24-2013, 04:37 AM

I ran the numbers through my FedEx shipper account, based on South Carolina to Al Khafji, SA. The cost it gave me is $360.56 per box. I'm sure you are shipping more than me, so you should have better discounts. Call your FedEx account representative and bring this pricing issue to their attention.

Also, you don't need a DHL account - just go to a DHL shipping desk and ask for a rate.
Yes, an account would give you a discount, but stopping at their desk still gives you a price comparison point.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Take advantage of the USPS before they go tits up. I've used them for international and it's always far cheaper than FedEx, UPS or DHL. I suspect they won't be around for long (at least not in their current form) so use 'em while you can.

krystar · 01-24-2013, 07:39 AM

do you have a timeline you need to follow? 1 time shipment? or recurring?

we deal with fedex and UPS all the time. other than some parts of canada, they are so much worse than everyone else.

USPS,DHL, or a cargo consolidator shipping service. we use iParcel for internationalize palletized shipments. they deliver the pallet to country of destination then the local carrier in destination country takes over.

Robert Adams · Robert Adams's Garage

I've used USPS to various cities in Europe and Brazil and they are usually way lower in cost. Just have to watch the size (length, girth,etc.). I found on several shipments changing to several smaller boxes was astoundingly cheaper than a single box. You need to play with it a bit. I also found it's worth taking the package once done to the PO to confirm the actual shipping cost. Do the insurance too!!! Even with all that it's usually a lot less than FedEx. I'm sure you know this but make sure you get paid before shipping!

trekkor · 01-24-2013, 10:02 AM

Can you use those vacuum space saver bags and get them into just a few USPS flat rate boxes?

The bags are cheap at Harbor Freight.

KT

Shaun @ Tru6 · 01-24-2013, 01:57 PM

Thank you for all the good suggestions and advice. I now have way too much time into this now, but here's a round-up of all my calling asking for discounts and web searching today:

UPS Slow (12 days): $610
UPS 5 day: $718

FedEx slow: $638
FedEx 3 day: $748

DHL: $839

USPS: here's the real eye opener. 3 day service, hand delivered specially for the 2 boxes would be $800. If there were a way to do one box, it would be $621. Calling the USPS really helped since I wasn't getting all the options on the web site. If we went with regular Expres Mail, 3-5 days, (she said that SA is really 6-7), it would be $141 for each 26 pound box, about $300 for the two with insurance. My sense is this is the way we'll go. Though if any of the other services were about $600 for 3 day service, I think we'd do that just for the absolute safety. If I can find a proper box that will safely hold everything, we may do the one box USPS 3 day route.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 01-24-2013, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krystar

do you have a timeline you need to follow? 1 time shipment? or recurring?

we deal with fedex and UPS all the time. other than some parts of canada, they are so much worse than everyone else.

USPS,DHL, or a cargo consolidator shipping service. we use iParcel for internationalize palletized shipments. they deliver the pallet to country of destination then the local carrier in destination country takes over.

If our stuff sells, we'll ship only 2-3 times per year to her. But one thing I've got to do this spring is get a European sales rep on board, Canadian too, so this will be an issue we'll have to address better in the future.