[Wes]

I have purchased some Chinese gifts that I'd like to send back to my family in the US. What is the easiest way to do this? Hong Kong post seems to be cheaper than UPS/FedEx.

Can someone give me the lowdown on how the process works?

Do I need to leave the items unwrapped? Will the reciepient have to pay tax on the gifts (total value will be less than $100)?

Any other tips/tricks/secrets?

Thanks in advance.

[Valencia1]

Sending gifts through HK Post office by air takes 7-10 days, if by sea takes 1 month. It's about X'mas you have to check the deadline for sending parcels, since the deadlines all come in early December. If it's small in size you can send by small packets, just buy a brown envelope with a string in a stationery shop so that the post office can check the packet. To avoid damage you may wrap the gift with protecting material, better transparent. Ask for a sticker from the post office and write the description of the gift, write "sample" so it's free of tax. If you want it to reach within 1-2 days you can send speedpost, but the postage may be slightly cheaper than UPS/Federal.

[Valencia1]

P.S. Write "Nil" in value.

[PettsWood]

You can also use those jiffy bags sold in post offices (white envelops with padding built-in). They are good because they can be sealed yet considered by the postal systems as 'inspectable'. Apparently if you tie a string or 'seal' it properly, it will cost more to post as they would be classified as something else (forgotten the technical term)...

[orrock]

use hk post its cheap. small packets max is 1 kg and they say it should be unsealed for easy examination.

everything has a value even a gift or samples. on the customs declaration you can tick it a gift but still need to give a value. you will need to sign and date the declaration.

recipient paying tax has nothing to do with hk post but the customs of the country that youre sending to.

[eh?]

Hong Kong Post Air Mail is cheap and fairly fast to the United States (usually a week) if you ship before the Christmas deadline. I believe they post signs that gifts have to be left unwrapped. Besides the white bubble envelopes, Hong Kong Post also sells various size white shipping boxes/tubes for around HK$7-9.

Small Packets Air is up to 2 kg. I would suggest you pay the extra HK$13 for Registered so you have a tracking # and signature is required. Also, compensation up to HK$320 is payable in the event of loss or damage of a registered item. Buy insurance if you need more coverage. You can track your shipments on www.hongkongpost.com then www.usps.com

SpeedPost prices start at HK$160 but is guaranteed delivery within 2-3 business days to most major cities.

You need to declare a value even for gifts. A $0 value will motivate them to open your package and assign their own value. Check the United States custom website for gift limits but I would think that for under $100, your recipients probably won't have to any pay tax. They're usually a little more lenient around the Christmas season.

I wouldn't check off "sample" cuz that insinuates that your recipients are involved in business and the gov't may start asking a lot of questions. Check off gift, I have never had a problem and nobody has ever paid tax.

Call them for exact dates for Christmas deadlines - http://hongkongpost.com/eng/main.htm

[eh?]

Originally Posted by eh?

SpeedPost prices start at HK$160 but is guaranteed delivery within 2-3 business days to most major cities.

sorry, I meant... SpeedPost prices start at HK$120

[Valencia1]

Just checked with my father, who used to send things to the US. He wrote gifts and stated the value. I remember one or two times he wrote sample, because of the nature of the things he sent, though he can't remember it now. As for the brown envelopes, I don't mean to tie them with strings. They are those used in offices that come in different sizes costing $2-3 with a string that you circle around the two white circles on the flap for easy inspection. I use them to send small packets to friends.

[cb1118]

just send them by "Speedpost" of the HK Post Office.

but make sure you have sent them before early Dec, as the US Postal Service also will be getting very busy.