INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE - MAILING INSTRUCTIONS
All squares should be securely packaged up and posted to:
Knit-A-Square,
Private Bag X900,
Bryanston 2021,
SOUTH AFRICA
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Please check HELPFUL HINTS or post the question in
If you have any questions about mailing squares that are not answered below
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IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER
We pay duty on parcels.
Even a small dollar value on a parcel attracts far higher duties. Letters, parcels/packages and boxes continue to arrive safely without any registration or dollar values appended to them.
PLEASE DO NOT USE CLING WRAP as squares develop an odour.
Example of the mailing label:
If you are sending a large number of squares
it is helpful if they are bundled into 5’s or 10’s.
The KAS team appreciates receiving bundles of 35 (a whole blanket)
Do not be concerned if it seems to take 3 or 4 months for your name to appear.
It takes several weeks for surface mail to arrive. Then the time to travel to the local post office, be unpacked and recorded by KAS volunteers.
SLIP-INS.
Frequently, people send items such as soft toys and teddies in their parcels that we call “slip-ins”. It is most important that all packaging, labels, price tags etc. be removed. Once this is done, the item qualifies as ‘used’ and will not attract duty. It is usually not necessary to declare these on a customs slip since they have No Commercial Value.
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**CUSTOMS SLIPS
We are all aware that Knit-a-Square in South Africa operates on a shoestring budget. Monthly donations are used to keep the operation running and help to cover the cost of KasVan fuel for the distributions, office upkeep and a myriad of other small expenses each month.
One of the expenses that KAS has to deal with is the charge levied by the South African Customs and Excise. Some of these are unavoidable, even when we have filled out the Customs Slip correctly.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE TAKE GREAT CARE IN FILLING OUT THE CUSTOMS SLIP .
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POSTAL INFORMATION FOR VARIOUS COUNTRIES
In general, the least expensive way to ship is by Surface Mail. It takes longer for parcels to arrive, but since there is a constant flow of packages coming in, this is not a concern.
It appears that most countries have a “small packet rate” We have found that generally this is THE CHEAPEST way to ship.
The following comments are guidelines only. Please check with your post office for pricing and the most economical way to send your parcel.
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AUSTRALIA - INTERNATIONAL SEA MAIL
All parcels up to 2Kg go by air, no economy sea mail available for this size.
The following is the least expensive way to ship from Australia:
-Save your squares until you can make up a parcel over 2Kg.
REQUEST: ECONOMY SEAMAIL
Maximum allowable weight: 20 Kg.
Maximum length: 105 cm
Maximum girth: 140 cm (width + depth)
Also in Australia there must always be a $ value placed on the customs note...some post offices will allow you to put $0, otherwise, please put $1.00
https://auspost.com.au/parcels-mail/calculate-postage-delivery-time...
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CANADA - INTERNATIONAL SURFACE MAIL
It is wise to save items until you are close to the 2 kg weight to obtain the best rate.
REQUEST: SMALL PACKET SURFACE MAIL RATE.
Maximum size: Length + width + height = 90 cm (Max length 60 cm)
Maximum weight: 2 kg.
Parcels over 2KG must go International Postage Rate
A $ value must be placed on the customs declaration, please declare $1.00 as value.
https://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/far/business/findARate?exec...
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UK - INTERNATIONAL SURFACE MAIL
Please save up items until you are close to the 2 kg weight to obtain the best rate.
REQUEST: SMALL PACKET INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY RATE.
Maximum weight: 2 kg
Maximum size: 90 cm. (Length + width +height)
https://www.royalmail.com/price-finder
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UNITED STATES - INTERNATIONAL AIR MAIL
The US Postal Service does not offer the option of Surface Mail (SA is Zone 7)
First Class Mail International
Maximum length: 24 inches
Maximum length x height x depth: 36 inches
Maximum weight: 4 lbs.
Priority Mail International
Maximum length: 42 inches
Maximum length x height x depth: 79 inches
Important tip - Do not use Flat Rate Priority Mail boxes. You cannot fit enough in them to make it cost effective. Use regular boxes that fit within the size guidelines.
Best Bang for Your Buck:
The more the package weighs for Priority, the lower the cost becomes per pound. However, if the package weighs less than 10 lbs., you will pay more per pound to send one package Priority than if you send smaller packages First Class International.
The Bottom Line:
US residents, if you have less than 10 lbs. including the weight of the packaging/container to be shipped, send smaller packages not exceeding 4 lbs. each that meet the size requirements for First Class Mail International. If you mailing weighs 10 lbs. or more (including packaging/container), send one package Priority Mail International.
https://www.usps.com/international/welcome.htm
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FOR OTHER COUNTRIES, PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL POSTAL SYSTEM
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Tags:
Thanks for updating this important information Linda!
Linda this is perfect in any way. Thank you so much. I will add this as a link to the future squares lists.
Thanks Linda for putting this all together. :))
Thanks ladies. I hope it is helpful.
PLEASE PLEASE ENSURE THAT THE CUSTOMS TICKET DECLARES THE PARCEL AS A 'GIFT'
The parcel below as been declared as 'CLOTHING' consequently
Knit-a-Square is liable for a
customs duty of invoice of $38 [£29]........
Ronda has had to refuse the parcel until it has be re-evaluated to an affordable sum!!!
I know and totally understand that some folk are concerned about declaring items in their parcels as anything other than what they are, but the fact is, Ronda cannot afford the fees that customs will charge her on items listed as clothing.
Unfortunately, the postal/customs system in South Africa does not recognize our members kindness in sending clothing for its underprivileged citizens, so it is imperative that if you should choose to send clothing (including hats/beanies/handwarmers) to South Africa, you declare them as 'knitted squares for charity'.
Thank you for your understanding.
Spot on Bev!
Hi :)
I tried posting my squares at the post office in Australia, and was told i need a special barcode or something else to post my parcel without paying for postage. I was wondering if anyone knew how to do it?
Thank you
Hi Tiara.
I don't know anything about posting squares to South Africa without paying postage on them. I am from Western Australia.
It maybe if Knit A Square was a registered charity in Australia?....which it is not. Perhaps there is a postage free option for Australian charities, i.e. posting knitting/crocheted items to charities within Australia, but I haven't heard of that either.
I have been sending parcels from W.A. to South Africa for about seven years now and have always had to pay, usually sending by seamail, as that is the cheapest option. My local post office even demands that I put a minimum of $1 value on the customs slip, even though some states can put a $0 value.
Please what is the position regarding UK parcels being accepted by South Africa during the Covd-19 crisis? I thought I had read on the forum that there was a ban in force, but I cannot find any update. I have 2 parcels with 70 squares ready to go. I have no local post office to make enquiries there and have to travel 9 miles to the nearest town. Thank you.
Items from the UK can be sent to South Africa and they are being received in The Barn. Check out The Barn discussion to see photos.
INFORMATION FOR MAILING FROM FRANCE.
I heard today from my post office that I must now fill in a special customs form for each parcel that I send. This is in addition to the declaration forms that are stuck on the outside of the parcel. I have to fill in the exact weight of EACH item in the parcel. This will be fun when I am sending 170 squares in one parcel!!! Also I can no longer put the value as 0,00€. I must declare a minimum of 1,30€.
They have already raised the price from September 1.
I wonder what else they will find to upset everyone.
The Donate button provides 2 options:
Because of PayPal/banking fees, KAS asks that your donation be 5USD [or more]. Anything less, means your donation is eaten up with fees. Thank you!
Our goal is to remove the monthly deficit that Ronda and her team have to deal with. You can:
1. Make a donation whenever you are able.
2. Sign up for an ongoing monthly donation (subscription).
3. Shop at the KasShop!
Please follow this discussion for monthly updates, current financial reports and ideas on what we can all do to help. Click link :
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