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Shipping from US to France

jetmal

Brilliant_Rock
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Feb 10, 2006
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Hi All,

I've never shipped any jewelry over seas and it looks like I may have someone interested in one of my pieces I am trying to sell. What are your suggestions on how to ship a ring ?
Thanks!
 

marymm

Ideal_Rock
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Apr 21, 2010
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If you're mailing via USPS First Class International Registered Mail, insurance/liability is limited to a pay-out of $42.56 regardless of the declared value of the item or the amount of insurance you purchase. http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/immc3_009.htm

Per the USPS Country Conditions for Mailing for France - http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/fh_005.htm#ep1162625 - "platinum, gold, and silver; precious stones; jewelry; watches; and other valuable articles are prohibited in Priority Mail Express International shipments to France (including Corsica and Monaco)."

If the value is $2499 or less, it appears you can ship jewelry/gemstones to France via Global Express Guaranteed (GXG), although items containing nickel is prohibited. If you send it via GXG and declare it as a gift, the value is limited to $72.00. https://www.usps.com/international/gxg.htm

Each person has to make their own calculations regarding stone/jewelry value and risk of loss when it comes to international shipping, and the USPS rules vary depending on the destination country ...
 

jetmal

Brilliant_Rock
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Marymm thank you so very much for all of that info.....I really apprecitate it. :twirl:
 

Diamond_Hawk

Brilliant_Rock
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Apr 8, 2014
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marymm|1463937804|4034824 said:
If you're mailing via USPS First Class International Registered Mail, insurance/liability is limited to a pay-out of $42.56 regardless of the declared value of the item or the amount of insurance you purchase. http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/immc3_009.htm

Per the USPS Country Conditions for Mailing for France - http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/fh_005.htm#ep1162625 - "platinum, gold, and silver; precious stones; jewelry; watches; and other valuable articles are prohibited in Priority Mail Express International shipments to France (including Corsica and Monaco)."

If the value is $2499 or less, it appears you can ship jewelry/gemstones to France via Global Express Guaranteed (GXG), although items containing nickel is prohibited. If you send it via GXG and declare it as a gift, the value is limited to $72.00. https://www.usps.com/international/gxg.htm

Each person has to make their own calculations regarding stone/jewelry value and risk of loss when it comes to international shipping, and the USPS rules vary depending on the destination country ...

The wealth of information from the PS community is vast! Thumbs Up.
 

seekingshiny

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 4, 2012
Messages
46
OP, I've never shipped to France so do not have specific advice, but wanted to suggest also getting quotes from FedEx and UPS (which also will ship internationally) but most importantly to get proper insurance in the event that something happens. In order to get proper insurance (and for you to claim full value from the insurer), you will also have to declare the full value of the good, and I know that in the EU can be strict about levying customs/import duties. I would make sure that you make your buyer very aware that they will likely have to pay these duties, and that you as the seller cannot be responsible for these.
 

Snowdrop13

Ideal_Rock
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Aug 27, 2011
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2,960
I just wanted to say that as a European buyer having received many parcels from the US (mostly jewellery), I have found FedEx the best to deal with in terms of speed of shipping, clarity and accuracy of tracking and ease of dealing with customs charges. I'd highly recommend them to you!
 

MollyMalone

Ideal_Rock
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Unless the piece is relatively inexpensive, shipping via the US Postal Service is the only viable option. UPS will not knowingly accept jewelry items with a declared value of more than $500:
https://www.ups.com/media/en/terms_service_int_pr.pdf

And the maximum declared value possible with FedEx for us consumers is $1000. FedEx transport of more expensive pieces is possible via its Declared Value Advantage program -- but that's a contracted service available only to pre-approved merchants & even they can't use it to ship to France:
http://images.fedex.com/us/services/pdf/FedEx_Jewelry_Shipping_Program.pdf
 

marymm

Ideal_Rock
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Apr 21, 2010
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MollyMalone|1464176544|4036110 said:
Unless the piece is relatively inexpensive, shipping via the US Postal Service is the only viable option. UPS will not knowingly accept jewelry items with a declared value of more than $500:
https://www.ups.com/media/en/terms_service_int_pr.pdf

And the maximum declared value possible with FedEx for us consumers is $1000. FedEx transport of more expensive pieces is possible via its Declared Value Advantage program -- but that's a contracted service available only to pre-approved merchants & even they can't use it to ship to France:
http://images.fedex.com/us/services/pdf/FedEx_Jewelry_Shipping_Program.pdf

And keep in mind the FedEx max declared value of $1000 is just that: value of the article. Per FedEx "Declared value is not insurance, and FedEx does not sell insurance." http://www.fedex.com/us/small-business/updates/January-2011/shipping-jewelry.html

Unlike vendors with third-party insurance who can readily ship via UPS and FedEx domestic/international mail, consumers really cannot safely ship via FedEx and UPS due to carrier limitations and lack of insurance. If a consumer chose to ship via FedEx/UPS and the parcel was lost, there would be no coverage for the item (though the consumer might be refunded the cost of shipping).
 

MollyMalone

Ideal_Rock
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Jun 2, 2013
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marymm|1464188745|4036142 said:
And keep in mind the FedEx max declared value of $1000 is just that: value of the article. Per FedEx "Declared value is not insurance, and FedEx does not sell insurance." http://www.fedex.com/us/small-business/updates/January-2011/shipping-jewelry.html

Unlike vendors with third-party insurance who can readily ship via UPS and FedEx domestic/international mail, consumers really cannot safely ship via FedEx and UPS due to carrier limitations and lack of insurance. If a consumer chose to ship via FedEx/UPS and the parcel was lost, there would be no coverage for the item (though the consumer might be refunded the cost of shipping).
"Declared value" isn't worthless, I.e., limiting you to reimbursement of the cost of shipping. ETA Even vendors with their own 3rd party insurance policy elect to participate in FedEx's Declared Value Advantage program. Rather, the declared value is the uppermost limit of liabilty FedEx and UPS is willing to assume. Meaning you cannot expect them to pay out *more* than the declared value if the item is lost in transit. See, e.g., the explanation of declared value on second page page of FedEx Jewelry Shipping link in my post above & Definitions section here
http://www.fedex.com/cg/shippingguide/terms/#2
UPS reimbursed me for the purchase price of a wedding gift (plus their shipping charge) after it was lost somewhere en route to the bride & groom.

The reason FedEx and UPS disavow that this is insurance is because offering "insurance" would require them to comply with the various statutory & regulatory requirements-procedures imposed on insurance carriers by each and every state. An onerous burden on a company that is not devoted to being in the insurance biz.
 
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