Maybe someone can help me with this question. When I go to Italy I want to purchase some hand blown glass items and I am not sure of approximate charges to send to the US. Has anyone done this before? Thanks

In May 2004 we paid 80 Euro to ship a picture from Florence to the USA. It measured 1 ft x 30 inches and the price included packing by Mailbox Etc. It isn't cheap. Hope this helps.

In Sept. we shipped a very large box of ceramics from Italy to Seattle. We paid, $57. Not too bad. The blown glass would not weigh as much as the ceramics did. (We had 12 large mugs, set of 4 plates, 2 platters, 2 large water pitchers, 6 tiles).

Sandra

It is very expensive to ship from Italy. We usually carry back when ever possible. We either take a collapsable bag or purchase a cheap bag in the market. Would it be possible for you to bring them back in carry on luggage? If so take some bubble wrap with you.

Sandra:
Your shipping charges sound extremely reasonable. Was this a packing store like Mail Boxes etc.? Did they pack it or you? I live in Alaska, and am going to Italy in September, and am packing light so I know I will want to be shipping some items home.

Since I posted my last message, I realized that the $57 was the duty we had to pay. Our shipping cost we paid at the ceramics shop before we left, and that was close to $75. Sorry if I mislead anyone.

Sandra

In 2001, we bought a set of goblets in Murano and had them shipped insured by the glass manufacturer. I don't remember the cost of the shipping as compared to the cost of the goblets but it must have been reasonable. The fact that they packed and insured them was important to me. Also the hassle of having to find a shipping point was something I didn't want to fool with then.

In 2005, I did have to go to the Fedex office near Florence and I call tell you how to get there if you need to know.

Bill

Sandra-
Thanks for the clarification. $75 is still a good price for all you had shipped.
P.S.-loved your trip report, and just looked at some of your photos-very inspiring.

Cindy - not to the US but to Canada (I don't imagine it is all that different. We shipped three huge pieces of pottery - a platter about 28 inches wide, a large jug, and a large bowl. They were sent in two boxes. The price for shipping them to Canada was 54 euro.

Cindy Ruth

Thank you so much for your kind words, I am so glad you enjoyed my report and the photos. I truly hope you have a wonderful time on your trip this Sept. Oh it makes me think of this time last year, planning our trip in Sept. I want to return to Italy soso much.

Cindy Ruth,

Thank you so much, for your kind words, I am delighted that you enjoyed my report and the photos. I took over 3000 photos (easy to do with a digital camera).

I hope you have a great trip this Sept. Oh ....it makes me think back to this time last year, making all our plans for our first trip,as I am sure you are doing now. I long to return one day to Italy.

Sandra

When I shipped back 5 pieces of ceramics (plates of vaious shapes/sizes) it cost me 35 Euro. This was by freight and not air. They said it would take 80-90 days for it to arrive and on the 90th day it arrived. I had never seen a box that was packed so well, all pieces arrived in perfect condition. If you don't need to have it right away when you return home you may want to consider freight, cheaper then air.

Linda

When I bought some ceramics (several smallish plates and pitchers) in Sorrento, the shop packed and shipped them via the Italian post for about $30; they arrived in two weeks exactly. A larger box that I took to MailBoxes etc in Sorrento also took two weeks but cost about $175--they said only express service was available but it was no faster than the Italian post at three times the cost/pound. Ouch!

We bought some great cookware at a kitchen store in Florence. We let the "nogoziante" (shopkeeper) handle the packing and mailing asking that he delay shipping until we got home. He explained to us the cost of shipping would be about equal to the rebate on the VAT tax. We kissed the refund goodby, no hassels with applying for it, no lugging on the plane. We prayed we were not complete idiots - and within a couple of days after getting home our package arrived safe and as ordered. We just trusted him.

If you buy glass in Murano they'll happily ship your goods safely home, but if at all possible, you'll be better off carrying them with you (and getting your tax refund in the process). I carried quite a bit of glass packed securely for travel purchased for a friend of mine with me on the plane, with no problem whatsoever.

If it's to cumbersome, there'll be no problem shipping (it's done multiple times a day by every glass retailer in Venice), but it could also be reltively costly.