liont

Any quilters here have experience with international shipping from online fabric stores?
International shipping typically jacks the price up by at least a third.

I am wondering if anyone here has advice to stretch the buck further?
Any recommended online stores with good international shipping rates?

Thanks!

justflyingin

Actually making good friends with someone who frequently flies to the states would be a good move. Esp. a frequent flyer who gets two bags. That way, maybe he/she would be willing to let you fill up one suitcase with fabric with purchases either from Ebay or stores or both.

Tashana

I was in the same pickle a few years ago. I would stock up every time I flew home. I see that you are in Panama. Never been there but I would try and use local cloth. I am sure the quilts would look awesome. My husband travelled to Africa often and every time he brought some nice local fabric. All my international friends know that if they want to give me something locally made fabric is way to go. I know I am not being helpful, but trying to look at the bright side Good luck!

MTS

Most reputable online sellers should only be charging the cost of Priority shipping.
If it seems out of whack, find another seller. (I also won't buy from a site with inflated shipping.)

Check the flat rate prices here for your country - weight is maxed at 20lbs for Priority packages:
http://postcalc.usps.com/

I sometimes act as an "aggregater" for my overseas friends.

This way they can order from numerous sites, take advantage of free shipping and sales promotions, and have the package sent to my US address.
Also, they can buy from shops that don't normally ship overseas - like Connecting Threads.
If a shop won't take their cc or Paypal (because of THEIR address), then they just tell me what to order for them.
When they're done, I just pack it up in one big package and send it off to them.
They pay me via PayPal.
It's seamless, and requires minimum effort on my part.
Heck, I want to be helpful but let's not go overboard. ;-)

Yeah, it's a big postage bill, but they're used to it, and the abundance and variety of fabrics available from the US sites is always going to be larger and less expensive than these same fabrics in their own countries (shipping/business import tax).

Also, most seem to escape paying any import tax.
I think mostly on the FR Envelopes.
But that's never guaranteed.

woody

Sign up for Hancocks of Paducahs newletter http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/ (email sign up) they have free shipping, even international around every 3 months or so. There is a minimum spend of usually around $100, but you can get up to 2 battings as well so I think it's worth it. They will send you an email with the free shipping offer and code.

auntpiggylpn

Try Missouri Star Quilt Company. They only charge actual shipping charges. They are wonderful to work with! You might have to call them on the phone to get the shipping set up. I was going to post a link to their website but their web host is down right now. Just google Missouri Star Quilt Company and you should be able to find it.

liont

Thanks so much! I will look into Missouri Star Quilt company. I sure will be looking forward to Hancock's free shipping.

Tashana, I am not thinking of where I am as of now. I might be moving to Asia next. There are indigenous fabric there, but nothing beats US cottons as a staple. For your information, where I am now (Panama) does not have regular postal service, meaning there is no mailman - hard to believe but true. We have to use a mail forwarding company that gives us a Miami street address. We collect our mail at their office. They charge by the gram.
Boy, do I miss the mailman!

QKO

We use actual postage rates for International shipments, and then apply shipping discounts based on the amount of purchase. This is done so that our Int'l customers get the same benefit as our USA customers get when they use Free Shipping coupons.