Shipping beer to Australia (Cost?)

[L.R.]

I have a friend in Australia currently, and he has a birthday coming up. I was thinking about sending him a 12 pack of our local brew (can't find an international online dealer for it, and it's not in Australia anywhere).


Legalities of shipping beer aside (I'll just mark it as Barbecue sauce, or something), does anyone have any idea of the cost of shipping there? I'm getting wildly different quotes from different sources/people. So if anyone has any experience shipping ANYTHING around 10lbs to Oz, your experienced advice is welcome.

Also, if there's a better sub-forum for this, let me know.


Cheers

 

[JustinW]

Make sure it isn't locally available - there aren't many specialty beers you can't get somewhere in Oz.

Shipping will be ridiculously high and will take months at the cheapest rate (they don't call it seamail anymore).

You will have to declare that you are sending a pressurized liquid (but you could list it as a soft drink, I guess). If Australian customs inspect it, it may get destroyed or your mate may have to pay alcohol excise duty - which will be a hassle filled trip to the customs office at the airport or maybe seaport.

It's definitely doable, though for the reasons above I usually send easier stuff home. If you do try it, please post here on how you go.

 

[jobro]

Duties are covered by the receiver, so you need to inform your buddy they will need to pay the invoice before the shippment is realeased from customs. It might slip through though. I just bought 18lb worth of stuff and it cost $110 to ship with UPS to Perth. With tracking. Tracker is here. It says it was shipped by UPS Worldwide ExpeditedÂ

Australia thread is here. Might be the best place to ask.