Korean Job Discussion Forums

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

Anyone have experience using USPS Economy (Surface) Parcel Post (yes, I know it takes 4-6 weeks)? How was it? Any problems?

Edit: USPS = United States Postal Service (not UPS, United Parcel Service)

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

supernick · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Ella,
Why don't you just use regular surface mail. It takes about 3 to 5 weeks and it has always worked for me. UPS have about the highest rates going.

There a re limits on the maximum weight and you should ask your post office, but I think 30kg is the max. If you have more, just seperate your things and use multiple shipments.

My friend shipped his things from Toronto last year and it cost him $50 or $60.

Make sure you use a postal code (zip code) and if you have a Korean contact phone number, write it down on the address slip.

Some things in Korea can really suck, but my mail man gave me his business card with his cell phone number. I've never had a problem and if I did, I know who to call.

Be very carefull what you pack in your boxes and make sure that the items are listed on the mailing slip, Korea customs has too much time and like to check shipments.

Good luck and welcome to the ROK.

dharma bum · Joined: 15 Jun 2004

i've had a few things shipped by surface mail, and it works pretty well if you're not sending anything valuable (the packages can get pretty banged up sometimes) and you don't need it right away (the 4-6 weeks usually ends up being 2 months in my experience). other than that, i've never had any problems having things sent this way.

buster brown · Joined: 26 Aug 2005 Location: Seoul

Use an M-bag if you're shipping papers or books, it's quite a bit cheaper. The only downside is that the Korean mail carriers treated my shipments like a couple of sacks of potatoes...one box was busted open and my books were a little disorganized when I got them. Just tape your boxes a little extra and they should be safe even from rough handling.

Novernae · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

I have green coffee shipped from the states all the time. I pay for airmail express, and it's about $4/lb. Only once did I bother having something shipped the slow way (4-6 weeks), and I never saw it while I was in Korea. Ordered it in May '05, never saw it, finally was returned to sender in Dec '05, apparently undeliverable, and I just had it shipped to Canada since I'm back for a vacation.

I have things delivered USPS airmail all the time, and I've never had a problem. Often my parcels arrive within a week. I also have them sent to my school.

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

What's an M-bag?

Novernae - was the package that was ultimately undeliverable shipped by a retailer or an individual?

Novernae · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

justagirl · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Cheonan/Portland

There are cardboard envelope mailers that are a single price to mail to Korea. I think it's about $8, and you can put up to 4 lbs in it. They are the global priority mailers that have the adhesive strip you pull off to close the envelope. It is the cheapest way to send something to Korea. I'd have my mom fit 2 skirts or shirts in one of those envelopes. Other times, she'd fit in food treats or other surprises. We always got them within 4-8 days.

edited to say that the envelopes are about 10"x16" or so