Cheese said:
Well that's rather interesting Oliver. I ordered a watch bezel from Germany and it cost $30 to send it DHL. I received the bezel and because it was the wrong size, I need to return it. So far the costs to return the bezel are $122 from Fedex and $134 from UPS. What's up with that?
Hi Cheese,
I try to keep it as short and on topic as possible:
Short answer upfront: time frame = cost factor.
DHL Germany = German Post = most reasonable way to ship not urgent parcels and regular mail for anyone living/operating from Germany to anywhere. Some do have contracts with DHL - they get rebates on shipping rates depending on shipping volume. International shipping usually takes at least a week, more likely 2.5 to 4 for the parcel to get to it's destination. Regular mail is mostly delivered within a week.
It's the same with USPS in the other direction. Ship a parcel, typical flat rate box, for reasonable cost and it will get here in between a week or 4. Sometimes it takes even longer (5 to 8 weeks) because we in Germany have to pay import duties on all parcels exceeding a value of 23,50 Euro. Up to 150,00 Euro it's just import tax, above 150,00 Euro additional customs duties are added. And if your parcel gets caught up there, it's a painfully slow process. Especially worse starting around November to end of January. BUT, believe it or not - these can still end up on a ship and take 4 weeks alone to cross the big pond. I have received parcels with a sticker from our equivalent of the CBP at "Hamburg Harbour City" - couldn't believe my eyes.
DHL Express and also German Post offer express services - at more cost but with much faster deliveries and depending on chosen options and surcharges they do the customs process for you.
DHL Express can be compared to UPS/FedEx. Their slowest/cheapest fares (which for customers without contract is typically what you were quoted - 100 to 130 USD) will get your parcel to almost any destination in 5 days, they can do the whole customs process for you (at a service surcharge of a couple of bucks).
So I don't know who you are dealing with and at what terms. But if you need that bezel (value?) to make it back to Germany fast & secure for a refund go with FedEX/UPS/DHL Express. If it's not time sensitive/ not a "costly" bezel, use a trackable shipping option with USPS. IMHO. (from years of experience with international shipping)
Oh, and maybe talk to the dealer if you need to include any forms for customs, or if he is going to take care of that on his own...
I mostly choose the carrier and service options depending on parcel value.
Kind regards,
Oliver