This article is 💩 mammoth shit
This means its value is not in informativeness, but in memory of how it was
There may be an update at the end of the article. Or maybe not.
In this article I'd like to describe in more detail the process of sending mail to Czech Republic, Poděbrady from Russia and not only :)
Backstory.
As you know, you could take 20 kg of luggage per person on the plane. It so happened that our luggage exceeded the norm by a couple hundred grams, but this wasn't a problem, and we didn't pay for excess. By the way, to measure luggage weight you should buy luggage scales, they cost pennies, but will be useful in life.
Of course, we couldn't take everything we wanted with us. We had to ask parents to send some winter things by parcel - boots, sweaters, etc. After long preparation and studying various methods I can write how to do everything correctly and get your parcel quickly and cheaply.
Step one. Study theory. Calculate parcel price
First calculate the price - there's a tariff calculator on the site.
Choose the needed country, shipping method - can be any, I chose ground, it's cheaper.
Enter weight (at least approximate) and click "calculate". I'll immediately reassure - the price is not at all final, most likely at the post office it will be a couple hundred rubles more expensive, because magic.
By the way, Russian Post is so good that they even bought a time machine - parcels can be sent even to Yugoslavia (PS screenshot was taken while writing the article🙃).
Packing the parcel
Knowing in advance that anything can happen to the parcel on the way, it's better to pack it well. You should buy a dense cardboard box, as well as bubble wrap - the insides will be safe. Yes, extra rubles, but it's worth being safe, because it can suddenly rain on the train, the parcel can fall from a great height - I've encountered this personally, so I advise in advance.
Folding things
Alternately fold things into the box and at the same time look in the dictionary how to name them in English (this we'll need for filling out the customs declaration).
By the way, don't put anything prohibited. Pay special attention to item No. 19 and don't include "cultural values" in the parcel (Baskov in a box is absolutely not allowed, for those who haven't understood yet).
Filling out forms
Now the most interesting. Fill out customs declaration forms (form CN23) and accompanying address form (CP71). It's worth having them in several copies, just in case. Applications are filled out directly on the site via the link above or at the post office (I advise doing this online).
A couple of tips for filling out:
- fill everything out only in Latin letters
- describe each item in detail, in English (for example, don't write "boots", but write "gray suede boots", and all this - in English)
- indicate cost and currency (mandatory!), you can use approximate equivalent. Try not to send expensive things, because Czech customs may think it's a purchase, not a gift from family members
- be sure to check the box in the "gift" field, otherwise the recipient will have to pay customs duties
Fill out the rest of the items logically, nothing complicated.
PS in theory you can skip this step and do everything at the post office - this way you'll lose time and risk encountering an incompetent employee, and this is a bunch of problems when receiving, up to paying customs fees (considerable)
Important - changes from May 2016
Now the post will be more meticulous about parcels from outside Europe.
For a parcel to definitely be considered a gift, you need to meet these conditions:
- the recipient didn't pay a penny for the parcel - all payments lie on the sender
- there are no visible features on the parcel that the contents will be used for commercial purposes
- parcels only up to 45 Euro are exempt from commission payments
Sending the parcel
The most nerve-wracking step. We go to the branch, wait in line (by the way, perhaps after waiting half an hour, you'll find out that your branch can't send an international parcel, and you should go to the central branch). We give the employee everything on hand - the box, forms. There they'll fill out what you couldn't, stick stickers, seal the box with tape. After payment we'll be given a tracking number, with it you can monitor the parcel's status.
Tracking shipment, receiving parcel at Czech post
Via this link you can track the status of our parcel. The site often doesn't work, status rarely updates, but nothing terrible, we'll be patient.
Look how the parcel traveled to us in Poděbrady from Kaluga (200 km from Moscow). Everything went quite quickly (11 calendar days). They sent it to us in the cheapest way - ground mail. In general, everything is very good. By the way, don't look at "unsuccessful delivery attempt", it was quite successful :)
Eventually, you'll receive a notification, with it you should go to the post office, show your passport and pick up your parcel. You can not wait for notification, immediately go to the post office and verbally say that the parcel is here, and you want to pick it up. This is practiced very often here.
That's all, the receiving party won't have to pay a penny, because it's a gift, not goods. I'll also add that from Czech Republic to Russia parcels go many times longer, primarily because of Russian customs, there the parcel can hang for a month or two.
By the way, my parcel arrived in good condition:
Even the corners were quite intact:
In Russia I received simply beaten boxes, thank God the contents were intact.