# Kiwis: Shipping from New Zealand to the United states **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 23, 2009, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiwis-shipping-from-new-zealand-to-the-united-states/503960 "2009-07-23T03:24:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiwis-shipping-from-new-zealand-to-the-united-states/503960/1 "2009-07-23T03:24:59Z")
I’m going to New Zealand! I’m probably going to spend a significant amount of time rock climbing and I want to bring all my gear say 20-30Lb(Right now it’s stored in a box 3x2x2 feet, but could easily go smaller). Bringing it shouldn’t be a problem, but since i’m not going back to the U.S after NZ I will need to somehow ship it back home. I’m looking at 200-250 NZD to ship my gear from NZ to The US by New Zealand Post. Thats 1.5 - 2.5 times(using the International flat rate system, assuming I will need 2 boxes) what it would cost me to send it from the US to NZ using USPS! What gives, I know the U.S System is subsidized, but thats a pretty hefty difference. Is there a more economical way of shipping from NZ to US? At these costs It might actually make more sense to bring my gear and sell it instead of shipping it home. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiwis-shipping-from-new-zealand-to-the-united-states/503960/2 "2009-07-23T03:32:32Z")
I don’t think you’re allowed to ship them. 😛 Yes yes, I realize the OP doesn’t mean to actually ship New Zealanders nor kiwi birds. ---
**Author:** ![dynamitedave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed655f/32.png) [@dynamitedave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dynamitedave)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiwis-shipping-from-new-zealand-to-the-united-states/503960/3 "2009-07-23T06:40:12Z")
After poking around a bit, I’ve found [this crowd](http://www.jetta.co.nz/ratecom.htm). Can’t vouch for them but any others I looked at want NZ$400 or so for 15kg. I looked through this [list](http://www.nzsearch.co.nz/category.aspx?id=913) checking likely sites. Got as far as page 4 but dinner’s calling. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiwis-shipping-from-new-zealand-to-the-united-states/503960/4 "2009-07-23T07:08:25Z")
I would go on the trip with clothes that I don’t want to keep, leave them behind and return to the states with all my gear in my checked luggage. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiwis-shipping-from-new-zealand-to-the-united-states/503960/5 "2009-07-23T08:47:15Z")
That sounds an awful lot for so small a box. Are you looking at air freight or sea freight? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiwis-shipping-from-new-zealand-to-the-united-states/503960/6 "2009-07-24T05:31:15Z")
**mad monk** I’m not coming back. New Zealand is the start of my round the world backpacking trip. (Soon to be no job + Grad school starts in September 2010 + 3 years of savings in the bank = Adventure) **Quartz** Thats why i’m trying to figure out a cheaper alternative. See postage rate from NZ post [here](http://www.nzpost.co.nz/NZPost/Templates/ReclaimRed/RateCalculator2/InternationalParcelsIEC.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID=%7B379DD4A4-49E7-4F22-A06C-733B58A21C55%7D&NRORIGINALURL=%2fCultures%2fen-NZ%2fOnlineTools%2fRatefinder%2fInternationalParcels&NRCACHEHINT=Guest) ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiwis-shipping-from-new-zealand-to-the-united-states/503960/7 "2009-07-24T05:41:14Z")
**Dynamite Dave** Thanks for the lists. I made it through page 6 and everyone seems to want even more the NZ post! ---
**Author:** ![dynamitedave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed655f/32.png) [@dynamitedave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dynamitedave)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiwis-shipping-from-new-zealand-to-the-united-states/503960/8 "2009-07-24T06:00:23Z")
> [@Harmonix](#): > > **Dynamite Dave** Thanks for the lists. I made it through page 6 and everyone seems to want even more the NZ post! I was surprised at the costs too. Jetta seem to be a good deal, but you need to collect at the other end, plus there could be fees at the US airport. They are more of an excess baggage outfit it seems. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiwis-shipping-from-new-zealand-to-the-united-states/503960/9 "2009-07-24T16:35:51Z")
Check out:[Luggage forwarding](http://www.luggageforward.com/index.jsp) I entered New Zealand/US, 1 package under 25lb - US$193. Have you also taken a look at what the cost to ship from your next destination is? Would it be worth it to carry the gear for one more stop and ship from there?