Help onforwarding an internet purchase from the USA to Australia
January 19, 2018 1:04 AM Subscribe
I know there are onforwarding services that will receive parcels from backwards American companies that only ship to the USA / NAFTA, but would prefer to help out a fellow MeFite first, if that appeals...
So I bought these cool Star Wars battle drones for me & lil' Ubu for xmas.
Only, the batteries last just 7 minutes before you have to spend 30 minutes recharging them.
I tried to buy extra batteries from the supplier, but they only ship to USA / Canada.
I might have antagonised their customer service a bit, because after a first email went unanswered for a couple of days asking why it's impossible for me to buy spares when they sell their drones in major retail outlets down under...
...in the second email I had a bit of a rant that if they want to MAGA maybe instead of building walls to keep Mexicans out, maybe they should demolish the walls that prevent people wanting to buy their products from overseas, from actually buying their products. Land of business acumen & entrepreneurialism, not.
Anyway...I know that because 90% of USian businesses have this insular view that the only market in the world is in North America, there are services that will receive your parcel, and then send it on to you.
But if anybody here is interested in some kind of tit-for-tat exchange, if you could be the "customer" then I could send you something in return.
Suitable for:
- homesick Aussies wanting Tim Tams
- people who want to gift their Republican uncle some Vegemite as a prank, by telling him that it's a kind of herbal Viagra
- any other suggestions
The batteries are small and weigh very little. Like, maybe 100g for the lot, which I think equates to a quarter of a pound or a 16th of a volumetric cubit times a nautical dram.
Would just need to be taken to USPS.
So I bought these cool Star Wars battle drones for me & lil' Ubu for xmas.
Only, the batteries last just 7 minutes before you have to spend 30 minutes recharging them.
I tried to buy extra batteries from the supplier, but they only ship to USA / Canada.
I might have antagonised their customer service a bit, because after a first email went unanswered for a couple of days asking why it's impossible for me to buy spares when they sell their drones in major retail outlets down under...
...in the second email I had a bit of a rant that if they want to MAGA maybe instead of building walls to keep Mexicans out, maybe they should demolish the walls that prevent people wanting to buy their products from overseas, from actually buying their products. Land of business acumen & entrepreneurialism, not.
Anyway...I know that because 90% of USian businesses have this insular view that the only market in the world is in North America, there are services that will receive your parcel, and then send it on to you.
But if anybody here is interested in some kind of tit-for-tat exchange, if you could be the "customer" then I could send you something in return.
Suitable for:
- homesick Aussies wanting Tim Tams
- people who want to gift their Republican uncle some Vegemite as a prank, by telling him that it's a kind of herbal Viagra
- any other suggestions
The batteries are small and weigh very little. Like, maybe 100g for the lot, which I think equates to a quarter of a pound or a 16th of a volumetric cubit times a nautical dram.
Would just need to be taken to USPS.
There are special rules and regulations for shipping and on-shipping batteries, particularly lose or spare batteries,
from the US to Australia. What sort are they? If they are allowable, you can use my US shipping service if you like.
posted by Thella at 1:49 AM on January 19, 2018
from the US to Australia. What sort are they? If they are allowable, you can use my US shipping service if you like.
posted by Thella at 1:49 AM on January 19, 2018
Perhaps you may have some luck putting this on the Mefi Jobs section of Metafilter.
posted by sciencegeek at 3:09 AM on January 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by sciencegeek at 3:09 AM on January 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: The sellers mention a limit of two batteries per customer / order, which appears to align with regulations about LiPo batteries so they are probably doing that deliberately.
I obviously wouldn't be expecting anybody to do anything to avoid safety regs. If only two can be sent in a parcel I would comply with that.
On preview: I've been away so long I had no idea about MeFi Jobs. Thanks.
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:10 AM on January 19, 2018
I obviously wouldn't be expecting anybody to do anything to avoid safety regs. If only two can be sent in a parcel I would comply with that.
On preview: I've been away so long I had no idea about MeFi Jobs. Thanks.
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:10 AM on January 19, 2018
Response by poster: Oh, wait. I've spent a week on this and only *just* noticed they've got a UK site, down in the fine print.
Ironic, considering how I was ranting to them about how USA online businesses suck and everybody buys from England these days - because the Brits realise the rest of the world actually exists.
The UK site will ship to Australia, and probably for about a Pound instead of half a Benjamin.
Still, their customer service sucks. They could have just directed me to the UK site in the first place.
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:18 AM on January 19, 2018
Ironic, considering how I was ranting to them about how USA online businesses suck and everybody buys from England these days - because the Brits realise the rest of the world actually exists.
The UK site will ship to Australia, and probably for about a Pound instead of half a Benjamin.
Still, their customer service sucks. They could have just directed me to the UK site in the first place.
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:18 AM on January 19, 2018
I see you have a solution, so this is a suggestion for future endeavors.
For things like this, check AliExpress. They will be cheaper and will ship anywhere.
posted by duoshao at 4:29 AM on January 19, 2018
For things like this, check AliExpress. They will be cheaper and will ship anywhere.
posted by duoshao at 4:29 AM on January 19, 2018
Mod note: One answer removed: I see OP's tongue firmly planted in cheek, but let's not start any diplomatic incidents. By which I mean let's minimize the shtick, thank you.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane (staff) at 6:21 AM on January 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane (staff) at 6:21 AM on January 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:14 AM on January 19, 2018