Shipping Tricks for/from the EU (19 Viewers)

[GreekRedEye]

There is an existing thread for shipping tips and tricks. That is super helpful for folks shipping in and from the U.S.

For those of us living in Europe - what do you find works best for shipping within the EU? Shipping to the U.S. and Canada? Having moved to Germany relatively recently, I find the postal systems expensive and hard to navigate.

 

[ukas]

DHL is pretty decent within EU. I buy some stuff from Germany on regular basis basically. Never had problems with national postal services, also.

 

[cpac54]

International shipping from Europe to N. America isn’t cheap; no way around that.

Can’t speak for Germany, but I’ve been using UPS for European and International shipping increasingly more this past year. Fast and competitively priced with Swiss Post, but with full insurance options for those who need it.

 

[Eriks]

I’ve found that UPS to the US/Canada and DHL within EU are the best options, from Sweden at least.

 

[cpac54]

International shipping from Europe to N. America isn’t cheap; no way around that.

Can’t speak for Germany, but I’ve been using UPS for European and International shipping increasingly more this past year. Fast and competitively priced with Swiss Post, but with full insurance options for those who need it.

Sorry, brain fart… I wrote DHL, but meant UPS. Corrected my original post.

 

[GreekRedEye]

This is all good information.

I am about to unload some noob questions:

Where do you get boxes for both DHL and UPS?

Are there standard sizes and is there an ideal one for chips?

Is it better to pay online and print postage or better to pay in person?

 

[Eriks]

This is all good information.

I am about to unload some noob questions:

Where do you get boxes for both DHL and UPS?

Are there standard sizes and is there an ideal one for chips?

Is it better to pay online and print postage or better to pay in person?

I just reuse boxes that come in, usually from whatever stuff the wife and daughter gets shipped. There are no free boxes to be picked up USPS style.

They have different price categories for different max measurements/weights

 

[cpac54]

I just reuse boxes that come in, usually from whatever stuff the wife and daughter gets shipped. There are no free boxes to be picked up USPS style.

They have different price categories for different max measurements/weights

This.

I receive enough chips from the USA (my wife says “too many” lol). I always try and re-use that packaging if it’s possible. Otherwise, I will re-use sturdy boxes from other shipments. Main thing for me is that the box is strong and big enough to allow for proper padding out of contents inside to help mitigate the risk of any damage during transit.

 

[Eriks]

This.

I receive enough chips from the USA (my wife says “too many” lol). I always try and re-use that packaging if it’s possible. Otherwise, I will re-use sturdy boxes from other shipments. Main thing for me is that the box is strong and big enough to allow for proper padding out of contents inside to help mitigate the risk of any damage during transit.

Box-in-box, plenty of padding and a shitload of tape is my go-to method

 

[Santa123]

This is all good information.

I am about to unload some noob questions:

Where do you get boxes for both DHL and UPS?

Are there standard sizes and is there an ideal one for chips?

Is it better to pay online and print postage or better to pay in person?

I shipped within the EU and to the U.S. everytime with DHL. In February I shipped 900 chips + buttons ( cloth to 10kg) etc. to the U.S. with DHL for 78€ + 28€ for insurace up to 2.000€.

I typically reuse boxes. I think most german do this.

With DHL I prefer to pay online.

 

[Baxit]

Hi, as of today 22-aug-2025, most EU National Posts (France, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Austria and counting) have stopped shipping parcels to the US due to the tariffs situation. Troubled times!

 

[ukas]

Facts. Lithuanian national and commercial post services also stopped shipping parcels from 21st Aug. The post only accepts document and gift shipments under 100 dollars in value to the US.

 

[SwissChip]

Swiss Post stop shipping parcels to US from Aug 26. 2025
Got to check if it‘s only for larger packages (2kg+) or any documents (bubble mailer)

 

[SwissChip]

As of August 26, 2025, Swiss Post will temporarily no longer be able to accept postal shipments to the USA.
Document and express shipments are still possible.
This is due to new customs regulations issued by the US government.
Swiss Post is in close contact with the

Swiss authorities (DETEC, OFCOM, PostCom) and is working hard on alternative solutions.
All postal companies worldwide are affected by the customs regulations.
Swiss Post is examining the possibility of enabling gift shipments from private individuals to private individuals up to a value of USD 100 (approximately CHF 80) as soon as possible.

 

[cpac54]

 

[mipevi]

Yep, it's too bad, hopefully will get resolved soon. Pretty sure over 90% of my sales action comes from the US, you European guys need to step up now!

 

[SwissChip]

You’re right!

 

[cpac54]

#CONEU only!

 

[allforcharity]

Canada is still open for business.

 

[Anthrax]

WTF? just checked DHL here, and we can only send packages to the US as gifts and 100$ value max.

 

[cpac54]

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna226828

If I’m reading that right, future shipments will be taxed according to the tariff rates for the shipment origin… so 39% in the case of Switzerland. lol.

Goodbye U.S.-based sales for me, I guess, because I sure as shit ain‘t eating those fees.

 

[Anthrax]

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna226828

If I’m reading that right, future shipments will be taxed according to the tariff rates for the shipment origin… so 39% in the case of Switzerland. lol.

Goodbye U.S.-based sales for me, I guess, because I sure as shit ain‘t eating those fees.

good news for us, that your future sales will probably stay here

 

[cpac54]

good news for us, that your future sales will probably stay here

The reality is, I’ll just end up being very restrictive with regards to what chips I purchase going forward, because I know that re-selling them down the road will be more difficult / result in me taking an even bigger loss than now. Oh well, at least my wife will be happy!

 

[Syzygyy]

That is huge

Hi, as of today 22-aug-2025, most EU National Posts (France, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Austria and counting) have stopped shipping parcels to the US due to the tariffs situation. Troubled times!

 

[Thomacetti]

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna226828

If I’m reading that right, future shipments will be taxed according to the tariff rates for the shipment origin… so 39% in the case of Switzerland. lol.

Goodbye U.S.-based sales for me, I guess, because I sure as shit ain‘t eating those fees.

Why would you ?
I paid all additional cost on packages from US, hard to expect us to pay for those both ways.

It just killed the EU chips for the US market, not the other way since it has been like that for since forever.

 

[cpac54]

Why would you ?
I paid all additional cost on packages from US, hard to expect us to pay for those both ways.

It just killed the EU chips for the US market, not the other way since it has been like that for since forever.

I wouldn’t. The reality is though, unless it’s something rare, whatever we’re selling over here can likely be found stateside with far less hassle going forward.

Will make it far more difficult to offload chips from the EU at market prices (more so than it already is).

 

[Thomacetti]

All I can say is that my chip retirement timing wise, couldn't been better

In case I buy or sell chips, I just take them with me on one of my US trips to Vegas or meet-up.

 

[cpac54]

lol

 

[Jeevansluck]

lol

View attachment 1557463

I’m actually feeling depressed about this. Truly, I feel like a kid and someone stole my bike, and well, that is the feeling

 

[divinerites]

May be the right time for me to open a thread « pay for my Las Vegas trip » and I will carry your chips from EU to USA.