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International Shipments

zulkafilabbaszulkafilabbas Posts: 2
edited 2014-09-17 01:19 in General Discussion
I was wondering whether Parallax ships parts internationally? I'm based in Pakistan. If so, what are the shipment charges.

PS: I looked around for an FAQ regarding shipments, couldn't find anything, if there are any related posts, please point me to them.

Thank you.

Comments

  • banjobanjo Posts: 448
    edited 2014-09-14 08:50
    Welcome to the forums!
    Yes, Parallax ship internationally.
    I've not myself seen any FAQ regarding shipments, but what I've done myself is to fill the shopping cart with what I want and then advance until the shipping costs are shown.
    Last time I ordered for about $250, the shipping was $12,75 to Finland and I received my package within 1 week with customs involvement and all.
    Typically my order has been sent within 1-2 business day after placing the order.
    I have though not idea if they ship to Pakistan and what the shipping costs and delivery time might be.
  • zulkafilabbaszulkafilabbas Posts: 2
    edited 2014-09-14 18:42
    banjo wrote: »
    Welcome to the forums!
    Yes, Parallax ship internationally.
    I've not myself seen any FAQ regarding shipments, but what I've done myself is to fill the shopping cart with what I want and then advance until the shipping costs are shown.
    Last time I ordered for about $250, the shipping was $12,75 to Finland and I received my package within 1 week with customs involvement and all.
    Typically my order has been sent within 1-2 business day after placing the order.
    I have though not idea if they ship to Pakistan and what the shipping costs and delivery time might be.

    Thanks for your input.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2014-09-14 23:59
    Pakistan? The real issue is how things are on your end.

    If you have to ship FedEx, DHL, or UPS insured to avoid theft and to cut through red tape at Customs, it gets more expensive. Parallax has no control of destination governments and how they view imports of electronics from the USA.

    Added to all that is an ever changing list of sanctioned nations (like Russia, Syria, and Iran) that both your government and the USA may be worried that something is intended for. In some cases, I can't even import electronics to Taiwan that actually had its chips made in Taiwan. Go figure.

    International payments can be simple or absurd. I just used my 'world' credit card to buy quite a bit of electronics from various vendors with no problems. But for over a month now, my subscription renewal to "The Economist" has been refusing the same credit card. After three attempts, I have given up as the guys at the Singapore office of "The Economist" won't listen to my pleas for a payment alternative.. they just keep telling me to resubmit the credit card payment. International payments can get weird and subject to change. I don't want to do a SWIFT bank transfer as the transaction fees add up to about $45 - $50 USD.


    Politics and paranoia occasionally make buys convoluted and expensive. But Parallax will do its best to try to deliver.
  • Matt GillilandMatt Gilliland Posts: 1,406
    edited 2014-09-16 11:52
    Hi zulkafilabbas - Welcom to the Forums!

    The short answer is Yes we ship to Pakistan. However, you might want to do as banjo suggests to find out what the shipping charges would be, compared to the value of what you want to order.

    -MattG
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2014-09-16 22:17
    It is difficult for any company to keep up with shipping policies to various countries world-wide. There are just too many countries.

    The United Nations recognizes 196, not including Taiwan and the Vatican. While Coca Cola says it is sold in all 213 'countries' in the world. So anyone claiming to ship world-wide to all countries cant' quite be sure of that other 8%.

    FedEx and DHL seem to enjoy handling delivery to the out of the way destinations. UPS seemed to have held back. Postal serives vary widely on a country-by-country basis.
  • TorTor Posts: 2,010
    edited 2014-09-16 22:36
    I receive reasonably-priced USPS First Class International shipments from Parallax to Norway, and now to Japan. Works fine. FedEx, UPS and the like are way too expensive for international shipments for individuals, or at least to justify the costs for the kind of items I tend to buy. But, as has been said, you'll also have to look at what kind of shipping works best for the actual local delivery. Domestic post is more unreliable in some countries than others, and which countries those are doesn't seem to be related to where they are actually located (just look at the exception lists of e.g. Ebay sellers).
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2014-09-17 01:19
    It is still worth asking if the shipper is prompt, or if the shipper is inflexible about alternatives.

    I recently hit both ends of the spectrum when shopping. One item was purchased from the USA with FedEx fees of $83USD which seems excessive for a FedEx Small Box. The actual merchandise weight totaled at less than 40grams.

    And a similar order for alternative cheap parts from a 'free shipping' Hong Kong vendor has gone into limbo... I have no idea when it will arrive. I didn't realize until after a placed that order that I had an earlier bargain deal with this vendor placed in February of this year that didn't actually arrive until August.

    In Taiwan, I use USPS delivery if the value isn't too high, but I am wary of expensive items actually getting through.
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