Calgary Colemans

Hello,

Slightly early I know...but it's snowing here so I'm getting all festive!!

How do you all send pressies home to the UK? I mean, what is the cheapest/best way to get a box full of pressies over there...or is it safer to do it in batches(smaller packaages)??

I was hoping to send everyone a gift...along with a few canadian bits and bobs for the family to try....maple biscuits etc

Nicky

Atlantic Xpat

We tend to send one package to my parents for distribution to the rest of the family. Either than or buy stuff online in the UK which is easier!

Last posting date for SURFACE mail to UK is October 26th.

hot wasabi peas

www.amazon.co.uk! click... click.... done!

Canadians don't eat those maple cookies... you know that, right?

bazzz

Buy stuff on Amazon.co.uk, etc, and you'll save a fortune on delivery costs. And if you can get them to build a wist list, you don't have to worry about getting them a mountain of useless crap they don't want.

daft batty

We sent stuff last year and it cost a fortune. Wrap everything as small as possible as it goes on dimensions as well as size

After everyone on both sides of the pond has wasted £££$$$ on postage we now either order on line in the UK or ask them to send money or books, dvds via amazon.

As long as we get a card we are happy, presents arent important really. We only spend $10 on each other anyway in an attempt to get away from the spending. --- Plus we dont have much money!

R2D2

I stick to small, light packages in Jiffy Bags and send them surface...it'll save you a fortune. It means having it all organised by the end of Oct, but heh, us girls are good at that.

The first Xmas I got stung by sending boxes airmail.....never again.!

iaink

The personal canadian touch is nice in the early years. We used to buy here and ship by Canada Post. Check weights first! I made the mistake of slipping a Xmas card in with the parcel, went 5g over 1kg (or 500g or whatever the threshold is) and paid a heavy price to save a buck on a stamp

Now the novelty has worn off we simply order gifts online at amazon UK and have them wrap and deliver them from a local source....its a lot more cost effective.

Madmac

We buy everything from Debenhams, John Lewis, Argos, Amazon, CD-wow online.

No way am I paying the postage. <Scots thriftiness gene takes over>

calgary2006

Try www.hampers.com
Really good selection of wine/hampers etc- even includes a "greetings from Canada Christmas cake". The delivery and customer service has been excellent. They are UK based and deliver worldwide.

Souvenir

Airmail rates for parcels are horrendous. The first year I was here I waited until the beginning of December to buy my son a pressy. It was a box of Lego. A largeish box but not heavy. Lego $90. Airmail = $170.

These days I bung his mother some cash and she lies about who bought the present.

<I do spoil him rotten when I'm there, though>

Calgal

For those of you who have family that like M&S stuff, you can order online with them from here as well! They do Hampers, too!

joelsa

If you buy from, say, Amazon.co.uk and you pay with, I take it, a canadian credit card. Don't they sting you for the exchange rate when you pay your credit card bill this end? I always thought you didn't get a very good rate of exchange. Am i wrong?
Jo xx

Madmac

We retained our UK credit cards and pay with them.

MrGreen

We did this for the first and last time last year. It cost far more in postage and packing than it did for the items, which was ridiculous so we'll be doing something else this year. Probably buying online with Uk debit/credit card.

Atlantic Xpat

I generally find credit card exchange rates pretty reasonable and in any event they are 'a price of doing business'. Believe me, the savings over Canada post will outweigh the few points in exchange rate you might get dinged!