# Shipping an item by sea from the US to Australia **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 28, 2002, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856 "2002-08-28T01:16:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856/1 "2002-08-28T01:16:26Z")
Hi there, oh wise ones of the world. I have bought something from someone in San Diego (CA) for USD20.00 and I live in Australia. In order to have it shipped to Australia I am getting quotes between USD300 and USD500 for airmail which, just quietly, is freaking me out. I want to avoid paying 25 times the price just to send it to me. I am seeking to have this item shipped to me by sea (I assume it will be much cheaper although it will take much longer). Can anyone give me a URL to a website where I can find out how much it would cost to send this item to Australia by sea rather than air. The packge dimensions are around 30 inches by 30 inches by 12 inches and it only weighs around 8 pounds. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856/2 "2002-08-28T01:40:09Z")
$25.40 USPS? [http://ircalc.usps.gov/speed.asp?Country=Australia&Pounds=8&Ounces=0&cmdSubmit=Continue&Contents=1](http://ircalc.usps.gov/speed.asp?Country=Australia&Pounds=8&Ounces=0&cmdSubmit=Continue&Contents=1) ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856/3 "2002-08-28T01:43:31Z")
There is no WAY something that weighs just 8lbs costs $300-500 to ship to Australia!!! Airfare to Australia from San Diego is probably $700 one way and that’s for a PERSON and their freaking luggage! Where are you getting these quotes??? ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856/4 "2002-08-28T01:50:23Z")
**happyheathen** : I looked at USPS and at 30 + 30 + 12 + 12 it exceeds the 79 inch girth maximum by around 5 inches. Thanks for trying. **LolaCocaCola** : I know, but when you calculate the volume of 30 by 30 x 12 you end up with a volume that translates to around 19kg or around 40 pounds (if I have done that right) and that’s what causes the problem. I have looked at [ups.com](http://ups.com) and [fedex.com](http://fedex.com) and they both give the couple of hundred dollars which when I convert to Australian dollars is more than I make in a week at work ! That’s kinda why I was thinking ship by sea rather than by air. Please keep trying. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856/5 "2002-08-28T01:55:34Z")
Check the USPS. U.S. Post Office. It just _can’t_ cost that much. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856/6 "2002-08-28T02:09:10Z")
Okay 40lbs is a _little_ different to 8lbs. Definitely don’t do airmail. ---
**Author:** ![MrO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@MrO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrO)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856/7 "2002-08-28T02:34:27Z")
I recently received a package from my sister, shipped from Houston Texas to Korea–not as far as to Australia, but not too different I guess. The package was a little bigger than yours, and probably weighed 15 pounds or so, packing included. US postal service airmail was going to be about $300 or $350, I think. Surface mail was $43, and it took about 2 months to get here. Sorry, no URL. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856/8 "2002-08-28T02:57:49Z")
STOP. TIME OUT! **Caught@Work** In your first post you say that it weighs **8 pounds** You then go on to say, in another post, that > [@](#): > > LolaCocaCola: I know, but when you calculate the volume of 30 by 30 x 12 you end up with a volume that translates to around 19kg or around 40 pounds (if I have done that right) and that’s what causes the problem. Excuse me. Volume and weight are two different things. You don’t seem to grasp this. Which is is? The most important thing to the cost is the weight. Did the person from whom you are buying the object tell you that it weighed 8 pounds? Where did you get that number? And where did you come up with this new number for the weight? Something is missing here. Give us some help. ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856/9 "2002-08-28T03:18:32Z")
**samclem** : Sorry, I know that is confusing, but when shipping by air, the shipping companies calculate one of two ways. Either the raw weight (if the dimensions are small), but on a ‘calculated’ weight if the item is above certain dimensions. They call it a ‘dimensional weight’. From the [ups.com](http://ups.com) site > [@](#): > > Dimensional Weight (Volumetric Weight) > > Transportation charges may be assessed based on volumetric standards such as dimensional weight. Dimensional weight pricing is applicable, on a per package or shipment basis, on all shipments larger than one cubic foot. Dimensional weight is calculated by multiplying length by width by height of each package (all in inches) and dividing by 194. See Vol. 2 of the FedEx Service Guide for additional details. If the dimensional weight exceeds the actual weight, charges based on the dimensional weight will be assessed. > > Customers using FedEx automated systems who fail to apply the dimensional weight calculation to a package may be assessed dimensional weight charges from FedEx. So, because this item is more than 1 cubic foot, they calculate the dimension weight which is 30x30x12/194 which is 55 pounds, which even thought the thing it relatively light (it’s actually a plush toy), the dimensional weight is killing me. That’s why I think by sea would be cheaper and I was hoping someone had shipped by sea (no pun!) and could give me a site I could check for pricing. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856/10 "2002-08-28T03:19:51Z")
if it isn’t fragile, pershiable, breakable (e.g. a rock), try [www.ups.com](http://www.ups.com) and again, how do you calculate weight by volume? p.s. - I have enough horror stories r.e. UPS to fill a book, so take it elsewhere, 'K? ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856/11 "2002-08-28T03:20:26Z")
Dang, that quote is from the [fedex.com](http://fedex.com) site, but they all do it the same way. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856/12 "2002-08-28T04:18:12Z")
Now we’re getting somewhere. It weighs 8 pounds. At least wait until I can talk to someone in the AM here in the states. I can’t reply until 6 PM Wed nght EST. ? ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856/13 "2002-08-28T06:04:59Z")
samclem, that would be very cool. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![reprise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@reprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reprise)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856/14 "2002-08-28T06:22:42Z")
You might want to post your question over at the [The G’Dope](http://pub31.ezboard.com/bgdope). **TheLoadedDog** works for AustraliaPost and I’m sure he’d have some idea of which packages arriving here are costing the least to send. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856/15 "2002-08-28T15:21:43Z")
If its a stuffed toy, have you conisdered getting one of those vacuum bag things which reduces volume to 1/3 rd of the original? ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856/16 "2002-08-29T02:13:20Z")
G’day **Caught@work**. I’ve got your email, but I don’t think I can help as much as someone in the USA. Those charges do sound about right. Australia Post uses the wonderful unit of the “cubic kilogram”, so it’s not surprising that the Americans are doing the same thing. Because I work for Australia Post, I only come in contact with American items that have been sent via the USPS, so I’m not familiar with the competitors’ charges. A radical solution could be to get someone in the US to remove the padding, and have it replaced here in Australia. I don’t know how easy it would be to do this and not get the toy looking like it’s been through a few rounds in the ring, but it’s worth a thought. A toymaker or upholsterer might replace it for you for a few bucks. I’ll see what I can come up with. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856/17 "2002-08-29T04:01:29Z")
Unless of course, **TLD** the padding is extremely important to **Caught@Work** for reasons that he’d prefer Customs didn’t know about;) ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856/18 "2002-08-29T04:37:45Z")
**OMG! Don’t touch the padding !!** But seriously, interesting suggestion and one that may work. I’ll look into it. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856/19 "2002-08-30T01:10:43Z")
I didn’t forget. My postmaster wasn’t in ystday. Still trying, although the stuffing idea sounds workable. ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856/20 "2002-08-30T01:45:15Z")
On the stuffing, I’ve since been told that it’s not ‘soft’ stuffing, but hard polystyrene balls (kinda like the stuff you put in beanbags I suppose). I’ve asked how much ‘damage’ their would be to remove the balls (ow!) and we can restuff them in Australia. But keep trying !! Thanks. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-an-item-by-sea-from-the-us-to-australia/125856.md?page=2)